How to Write a Diplomatic Service Officer Resume (With Example)

Updated 22 March 2023

Diplomatic service officers represent a nation's government and citizens in foreign countries by building and maintaining strong political and economic relationships. If you are applying for a role as a diplomatic service officer, you will likely need to submit a resume outlining your suitability for the position. Learning how to write an effective diplomatic service officer resume can help you put yourself forward as an ideal candidate for your desired role.

In this article, we review a list of steps outlining how to write an effective resume for a diplomatic service officer role and provide a resume example and template you may find useful.

Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organisations mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.

How to write a diplomatic service officer resume

Below is a step-by-step guide you may find helpful when writing a diplomatic service officer resume:

1. Study the job description

Before you begin writing your resume, review the job description of your desired role and highlight any experience, skills or qualifications the employer has listed as prerequisites for the job. With this information, you can create your resume in a way that addresses exactly what the employer is searching for. This can help you attract the attention of hiring managers and differentiate yourself from other candidates.

For example, you might note that the employer prefers a candidate who is skilled at preparing reports and has experience building relationships with public officials. Knowing this, you could describe instances where you've successfully strengthened international relations by developing positive relationships with various officials. You might also emphasise your report writing skills in your skills section and provide examples of specific reports you've written, such as documents concerning political developments or ecological sustainability.

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2. Highlight keywords

During your planning stage, it can also be helpful to highlight any keywords the employer has included in the job posting. Hiring managers often use applicant tracking system (ATS) software to help them identify whether a candidate's resume matches what the employer is searching for. These advanced scanning tools typically rank applications according to keyword frequency, so it can be beneficial to use these words throughout your document. To help you prepare, here are some keywords an employer might include for a diplomatic service officer job posting:

international development
intercultural communication
strategic communication
foreign affairs
diplomacy
national security
public administration
public speaking
policy analysis
international business.

3. Provide your contact details

After you've studied the job posting, begin your resume by listing your contact details at the top of the document. First, insert your full name in a large and bold font. Underneath your name, include your phone number, email address and the city and state or territory in which you live. Here's an example of how this may appear on your resume:

Charles Hamilton
(08) 5555 8930 | charles.hamilton@email.com | Perth, Western Australia

4. Write a professional summary

A professional summary is a brief paragraph that's typically between two or three sentences long. You can use this to outline your years of experience as a diplomatic service officer and showcase one or two of your most significant skills or accomplishments. Including a professional summary at the top of your resume can help you immediately capture the interest of a hiring manager. It's also an excellent way to use keywords to attract a recruiter using an ATS.

5. Describe your work experience

The work experience section of your resume is where you can provide prospective employers with detailed descriptions of the roles you've occupied and duties you've performed as a diplomatic service officer. Start this section with your employment details, including the title of a current or previous job and dates you were employed. On the following line, write the name of the employer and the city and state in which you worked. Here's an example of how this may appear on your resume:

Diplomatic Service Officer | May 2017–November 2020
Fairfield International | Perth, Western Australia

Underneath your employment information, add a bullet list where you describe key duties you performed in the role. Aim to choose duties that closely match those required in your desired position. For example, the job posting might state that a major responsibility of the role involves building new diplomatic relationships. You could show you have experience in this by writing as one of your bullet points, Established constructive relationships with foreign governments by negotiating mutually beneficial international agreements.

6. Include your relevant skills

Because the role of a diplomatic service officer requires specialised knowledge, it's an excellent idea to include a skills section on your resume where you list your specific abilities. These can include technical abilities, such as knowledge of international law, strategic planning, national security or report writing. Because diplomatic service officers often communicate with officials from different nationalities and backgrounds, it can also be beneficial to list your soft skills. Here are some soft skills you may consider for a diplomatic service officer role:

interpersonal communication
time management
organisation
leadership
problem-solving
stress management
adaptability.

7. Outline your educational achievements

Securing a position as a diplomatic service officer usually requires a relevant bachelor's degree in political science or a related field. As a result, hiring managers are likely to assess whether you have completed the requisite training. Including an education section on your resume allows you to demonstrate your education in international diplomacy by listing any degrees or certificates you possess.

Format this section by inserting the title of your degree or certificate, followed by the name of the institution at which you studied. If you've completed multiple degrees, present them in order from most to least advanced. For example, if you have a master's degree and a bachelor's degree, here's how you can list them in your education section:

Master of International Law and Diplomacy, The University of Western Lindfield

Bachelor of Political Science, The University of Western Lindfield

Resume template for diplomatic service officers

Here's a template you can use as a formatting guide when creating your resume:

[First name] [Last name], [Degree or certification, if applicable]
[Phone number] | [Email address] | [City], [State or Territory]

Professional Summary
[Two to three sentences highlighting your years of experience, relevant skills, education, certifications and achievements.]

Experience
(For the most recent role, list five experience items. For previous roles, list three.)

[Job title] | [Employment dates]
[Company name] | [City], [State or Territory]

(strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results
[job duty]
[job duty]
[job duty]
[job duty]

[Job title] | [Employment dates]
[Company name] | [City], [State or Territory]

(strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results
[job duty]
[job duty]

Education
[Degree and major] | [Name of school or university]

Certifications (optional)

[Certification name], [Host organisation], [Year of completion or expiration date]

Resume example for diplomatic service officers

Here's a resume example using the above template:

Peter Hunt
(08) 7010 2359 | peter.hunt@email.com | Perth, Western Australia

Professional Summary
Enthusiastic and ambitious diplomatic service officer with nine years of experience in international relations and public policy. Highly skilled at managing international trade agreements, with a proven track record of successfully translating documents and explaining policies to foreign officials.

Experience

Diplomatic Service Officer | March 2018–Current
HBFC International | Perth, Western Australia

Preparing and writing reports on political developments in foreign countries
Developing diplomatic engagement strategies for foreign governments
Coordinating with business interests abroad and researching economic trends to help identify investment opportunities
Hosting over 30 meetings and conferences for foreign ministers and various officials
Translating policy reports to make them intelligible for foreign citizens and officials

Diplomatic Service Officer | December 2013–February 2018
Werrington Corporation | Perth, Western Australia

Evaluated the potential impact of various political developments and provided foreign officials with recommendations on how to respond effectively
Met with a range of public officials to build positive relationships and strengthen international relations
Conducted research on political issues and voting patterns to develop informed campaign strategies for political candidates

Skills

Education

Master of International Law and Diplomacy, Winston Chaplin University

Bachelor of Political Science, Winston Chaplin University