Career Development Intern – Spring 2025

BACKGROUND
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. At work in over 40 countries and 28 U.S. cities to restore safety, dignity and hope, the IRC leads the way from harm to home. Domestically, our 28 offices across the U.S. ensure new arrivals have food, shelter, and clothing, and work with refugees to help them gain self-sufficiency. 

SCOPE OF WORK
The Career Development Program assists employed clients in securing job upgrades to improve economic conditions and align with career history and/or career objectives. The intern will work to promote client self-sufficiency and encourage clients to work towards long-term career goals.  

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide one-on-one job application assistance including creating resumes, cover letters, and preparing refugee and asylee clients for job interviews.
• Teach job readiness trainings on topics including: introduction to career development, business writing, networking, interview preparation, and financial literacy.
• Advocate for clients’ rights in the labor market by providing references for clients and meeting with employers to educate them about the benefits of hiring IRC clients.
• Other duties as identified by Employment Specialists.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Intern will learn to create effective resumes and cover letters.
• Intern will learn to communicate effectively with clients across cultures and with interpreters.
• Intern will learn effective outreach strategies for building strategic relationships.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum commitment of four months and at least 30 hours per week. 35 hours per week preferred.
• Ability to work in-person preferred.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently.
• Ability to work collaboratively to create and implement trainings.
• Excellent communication and writing skills; including cross-cultural communicative skills.
• Works well in a fast-paced environment and adapts quickly to change.
• Confident in public speaking, or interest to develop these skills.
• Strong interest in refugee and asylee issues as well as in workforce development.

TO APPLY
Click Apply Now at the top of this page. Please attach a resume, cover letter and list of references to your application. The deadline to apply is January 6th, 2025.

This position is for Spring 2025 and requires a minimum commitment of 4 months and at least 30 hours per week. 35 hours per week preferred. Ability to work in-person preferred.

Spring 2025 Interns are expected to begin their internship term by attending an in-person intern orientation on January 27th, 2025 from 9:15AM-3:30PM. 

We currently offer internships during the following semesters:  

Spring: January – May  Summer: June – August  Fall: September – December

Internships are typically posted 2-3 months prior to the anticipated start date.

Note: Internships with the IRC in Silver Spring are unpaid. Spring 2025 interns may be eligible for per diem reimbursement at the rate of $15/day to offset the costs of food and travel. For information on scholarship opportunities, contact your university or the IRC Silver Spring intern coordinator at Michalina.Kulesza@Rescue.org.

*Candidates applying who are not currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program, or are outside 12 months of their graduation are welcome to apply. These candidates will be processed as volunteers.  

To protect our clients, the IRC requires all selected applicants to complete background checks. We ask that you make a $30 donation to help us cover the associated costs. Currently, 87% of our funding goes directly to programming to support our clients, and your help to cover this cost will ensure that no funding is directed away from serving our clients. Instructions will be provided after you have been selected to intern or volunteer. 

IRC leading the way from harm to home.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

If you need assistance in the application or hiring process to accommodate a disability, you may request an accommodation at any time. Please contact Talent Acquisitions at IRC.Recruitment@rescue.org. As required by law, the IRC will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with a known disability.