Consul

Description

Consuls represent governments in foreign institutions such as embassies in order to facilitate economic and political cooperation between the two nations. They protect the interests of their home nation and provide bureaucratic assistance to citizens living as expatriates or travelling in the host country.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to consul:

consul-general
honorary consul
attaché
chargé d’affaires

Minimum qualifications

Master’s degree is generally required to work as consul. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Consul is a Skill level 4 occupation.

Consul career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to consul.

diplomat
international relations officer
embassy counsellor
ambassador
foreign affairs officer

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of consul. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of consul with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of consul.

Government representation: The legal and public representation methods and procedures of the government during trial cases or for communication purposes, and the specific aspects of the governmental bodies being represented in order to ensure accurate representation.
Foreign affairs: The operations of a foreign affairs department in a government or public organisation and its regulations.
Government policy implementation: The procedures related to the application of government policies at all levels of public administration.
Public finance: The economic influence of the government, and the workings of government revenue and expenditures.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of consul.

Offer assistance to national citizens: Offer assistance to national citizens abroad in emergency situations or for matters related to the national jurisdiction.
Maintain relationships with government agencies: Establish and maintain cordial working relationships with peers in different governmental agencies.
Issue official documents: Issue and certify official documents to national citizens and foreigners such as passports and certificates.
Analyse problems for opportunities: Identify and anticipate problems in order to choose a course of action, come up with appropriate solutions or even identify opportunities for further development.
Develop international cooperation strategies: Develop plans which ensure a cooperation between international public organisations such as researching different international organisations and their goals and assessing possible alignment with other organisations.
Advise on public finance: Advise public organisations such as governmental organisations on their financial operations and procedures, to ensure optimal efficiency.
Develop professional network: Reach out to and meet up with people in a professional context. Find common ground and use your contacts for mutual benefit. Keep track of the people in your personal professional network and stay up to date on their activities.
Consider economic criteria in decision making: Develop proposals and take appropriate decisions taking into account economic criteria.
Assess risk factors: Determine the influence of economical, political and cultural risk factors and additional issues.
Build international relations: Build positive communication dynamics with organisations from different countries in order to build a cooperative relationship and optimise information exchange.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of consul. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Business management principles: Principles governing business management methods such as strategy planning, methods of efficient production, people and resources coordination.
Foreign affairs policy development: The development processes of foreign affairs policies, such as relevant research methods, relevant legislation, and foreign affairs operations.
Family law: The legal rules that govern family-related disputes between individuals such as marriages, child adoption, civil unions, etc.
Diplomatic principles: The practices of facilitating agreements or international treaties with other countries by conducting negotiations and attempting to protect the interests of the home government, as well as facilitating compromise.
International commercial transactions rules: Pre-defined commercial terms used in international commercial transactions which stipulate clear tasks, costs and risks associated with the delivery of goods and services.
Immigration law: The regulations to follow to ensure compliance during investigations or advice in immigration cases and file handling.
Economics: Economic principles and practices, financial and commodity markets, banking and the analysis of financial data.
International law: The binding rules and regulations in the relations between states and nations, and legal systems dealing with countries rather than private citizens.
Commercial law: The legal regulations that govern a specific commercial activity.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of consul. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Apply diplomatic principles: Apply the processes involved in the creation of international treaties by conducting negotiations between representatives of different countries, protecting the home government’s interests, and facilitating compromise.
Speak different languages: Master foreign languages to be able to communicate in one or more foreign languages.
Coordinate government activities in foreign institutions: Coordinate the activities of the home country’s government in foreign institutions, such as decentralised government services, resource management, policy management, and other government activities.
Facilitate official agreement: Facilitate an official agreement between two disputing parties, ensuring that both parties agree on the resolution which has been decided on, as well as writing the necessary documents and ensuring both parties sign it.
Analyse foreign affairs policies: Analyse the existing policies for the handling of foreign affairs within a government or public organisation in order to evaluate them and search for improvements.
Show intercultural awareness: Show sensibility towards cultural differences by taking actions which facilitate positive interaction between international organisations, between groups or individuals of different cultures, and to promote integration in a community.
Apply immigration law: Apply immigration legislation during the checking of a person’s eligibility to enter a nation, in order to ensure legislation is complied with upon entry or to deny the person access.
Respond to enquiries: Respond to enquiries and requests for information from other organisations and members of the public.
Ensure cross-department cooperation: Guarantee communication and cooperation with all the entities and teams in a given organisation, according to the company strategy.
Advise on foreign affairs policies: Advise governments or other public organisations on the development and implementation of foreign affairs policies.
Organise cultural events: Arrange events in cooperation with local stakeholders which promote local culture and heritage.
Manage government policy implementation: Manage the operations of the implementation of new government policies or changes in existing policies on a national or regional level as well as the staff involved in the implementation procedure.
Perform political negotiation: Perform debate and argumentative dialogue in a political context, using negotiation techniques specific to political contexts in order to obtain the desired goal, ensure compromise, and maintain cooperative relations.
Look after trade delegations: Look after groups of government officials or company executives coming to the country in order to assess the potential for economic cooperation.

ISCO group and title

1112 – Senior government officials

 

 


 

 

References
  1. Consul – ESCO
Last updated on August 8, 2022