What Does a Diplomat Do?

What Does a Diplomat Do?

To learn more about a “typical day” as a diplomat and to understand what diplomats are trying to achieve in their work, I recommend reading Inside a U.S. Embassy: Diplomacy at Work. That book includes a lot of lofty language about what people are trying to achieve in the field of diplomacy but not a lot of specifics about the tasks involved therein. I like to put things in simple terms that everyone can understand. As such, here is a list of the kinds of tasks that consume most of your time as a diplomat. Over 90 percent of your duties as a diplomat should fall into one of these categories.

Read Emails, Reports, and the News

Respond to Emails

Write Reporting Cables

Read Cables

Deliver Demarches

Attend Internal Meetings

Attend External Meetings (Introductory Meetings, Requests for Assistance, Action, or Information, Messages of Dissatisfaction and/or Threats, Negotiations, Formalized Bilateral or Multilateral Engagements, Working Group or Roundtable Discussions, Informal Small Group Discussions)

Briefing Materials

Clearances

Decision Memos and Action Memos

Talking Points and Remarks

Build Schedules and Coordinate Logistics

Interview Visa Applicants

Provide Services to American Citizens

Highlights of Post Activities

News Summaries

Annual Reports

Propose New Ideas

Select Candidates for Exchange Programs

Manage Projects, Contracts, or Grants

Secure Funding

Make Decisions

Organize and Attend Events

Work Trips

Manage Staff

Administrative Tasks

Bid on Jobs