Who is a career diplomat and what do they do? A career diplomat is a person who represents his/her country in another country as the ambassador or as diplomatic staff (secretary, consul, attaché, etc.). He/she may also represent his/her country at an international organisation.
What are the activities of the career diplomat ? His/her activities may vary (politics, trade, visa and passport administration, etc.). Within this specialisation, he/she deals with questions or issues to do with co-operation, or conflicts and problems, between his/her mother country and the country of his/her diplomatic mission. If he/she works with an international organisation, he/she focuses on resolving questions of, for example, his/her country joining that international organisation with respect to the field on which he/she focuses, issues of joint policy in this sphere, etc.
Where is it done and under what conditions? In offices or similar spaces, in meeting rooms and halls, at receptions and other significant official functions.
What tools/equipment do they use? Telephones, word processors, computers, tape recorders, and other common office and conference equipment, including translation systems.
What do you need to succeed? You need a university education, ability to learn foreign languages, ability to use words fluently, to deal with people, a cultivated appearance and conduct, quick reactions.