Greetings of the day to all you lovely people❤️
This post is for anyone from India who is inclined towards foreign policy, governance, diplomacy or anything related to the Government of India. I am currently serving as an intern (Term 1, 2021) at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). I’m sure that many, like me, are eager for opportunities like these but find ourselves clueless as to how to go about things. Also, I could not find a single review or website that throws light on how these internships work and what exactly can be expected out of it. So, I hope this post helps.
To begin with, let me first tell you that you don’t have to be an Einstein to get through the process. Yes, the competition is quite high but this is absolutely normal for an opportunity of this kind and is definitely not impossible to crack. I found out about the internship through a very dear professor - Alice Mathew , who has always been an encouraging figure in my life. I will forever be grateful to her.
Coming back to the main question - HOW DID I JOIN THE MEA AS AN INTERN?
- You must first apply through the official MEA website directly. There is NO registration fee and the website asks for basic details of the candidate. I will leave the required links at the end of this post for more clarity.
- There are two terms. Term 1 (Jan to June) and Term 2 (Jul to Dec). Each of these terms cover specific states. So, you need to apply in accordance of your respective state.
- The selection process is entirely online and the period of internship is between 1 to 6months as per your convenience.
- An honorarium of 10000INR is provided to selected candidates and to and fro air fare is covered by the MEA.
- Here’s what I did - I applied through the registration link provided in the official MEA website. I was asked to fill in basic details and attach a cv/resume/biodata. Be careful with whatever you submit and be honest. Since the interns are given a chance to actively participate within the campus of the ministry, they ensure that there is no scope of getting away with any kind of mischief. Have solid proof for whatever you submit. Example - If you’ve mentioned volunteering in an NGO - MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ANSWERS READY FOR QUESTIONS THAT MIGHT BE THROWN AT YOU REGARDING THIS.
- Brownie Point: Definitely add co curricular activities that revolve around development / research / debating / social service / key leadership roles, etc.
- Note: Your details (identity, marks sheet, criminal background, etc) will be checked in and out by the Ministry. Fill your form diligently.
- Once I submitted my application, I received a mail for confirmation and was asked to wait until further notice. After a few weeks, I got a subsequent email mentioning the fact that my application got approved for further procedures. I was informed that an online interview would take place on a particular date and time slot.
- On the mentioned date, the interview was conducted. Personally, it was one of the best interviews of my life. There were two interviewers and both concentrated on different subjects. One conversation leaned towards my biodata and how I am as an individual. The other revolved around different opinions on diverse topics like liberalism, Gandhism and Geopolitics. The key to perform well here (in my opinion) is to just be yourself. You cannot possibly “prepare” for this interview as it tries to bring out just “you”.
- Post the interview, in about two weeks, I finally received an offer letter for my internship. However, this whole procedure was just for selection. Once selected, one has to go through a rigorous procedure of verification. A department from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will have telephonic conversations with you to confirm whatever you have submitted and ask you related questions. This is precisely why I previously mentioned to be completely honest in your application. There is absolutely no reason to worry if you’re confident about everything you’ve told them.
- Once all of this is done - Congratulations! You’re officially an intern at the MEA. Note- The communication around the whole process is through email only. Make sure you keep checking your email without fail as they expect you to reply within a certain period of time. Also, you need to possess a graduate degree (any stream would do) and NOT be over 25years of age to apply for this internship.
I have tried my best to be as concise as possible. I genuinely hope this helps someone who needs it. I’ve tried to cover only the selection process of this internship through this post. I will eventually post another write up describing my experience here as an intern. However, if you’re still curious - YES! It is definitely as exciting and fancy as it sounds 😂 and is a ‘once in a lifetime’ kind of opportunity. I so wish I could share more pictures of what the job actually is like, but due to “confidentiality” reasons, I am not allowed to.
Until my next post - signing off.
Have a lovely day! ♥️
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