Employment Development Intern

BACKGROUND:

Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee is a leading, non-sectarian, non-profit organization providing emergency relief, protection, rehabilitation assistance, resettlement services, and advocacy for refugees and victims of oppression or violent conflict.Domestically, our 26 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 INTERN WORK:

As a member of the employment team, Employment Interns are responsible for assisting refugees enrolled in our Matching Grant program (to be explained through on-site training) become self-sufficient through employment. Each intern is given a secondary responsibility within the employment team with those duties ranging from teaching job training classes to helping manage appointments for refugees with the Employment Specialist and/or Employment Services Manager. Additional duties are assigned to interns based upon Employment Program needs, and the skills, abilities, and interests of the intern. This is an unpaid internship opportunity.

COMMITMENT:

•3 Months

oFirst Cohort: August 19th – December 9th

oSecond Cohort: September 9th – December 20th

•12-15 hours per week

•In-person presence in IRC office REQUIRED

RESPONSIBILITIES:

•Conduct client outreach by phone or in-person to complete employment assessments and gather information on new job placements.

•Assist clients to draft their first resumes and continually update resumes to reflect an expanding work history and skill set.

•Assist clients to complete job applications, including online, email or paper applications.

•Prepare clients for job interviews by conducting mock interviews and mapping out public transportation.

•Assist employment specialists with job club classes.

•Provide interpretation for the Employment Specialist and other members of the Economic Empowerment team, as needed.

•Provide occasional coverage for the IRC office main phone line, directing messages to the appropriate staff member.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

1.Gain hands-on experience and on-the-job training to provide employment services to a large and diverse client caseload.

2.Gain experience working in an office environment and using standard office platforms and the client database.

3.Gain experience with United States employment law, especially in relation to refugees and asylees.

4.Learn principles of representing and advocating for clients

5.Learn principles of case and case file management.

6.Improve resume writing, job searching, interviewing and personal skills.

Minimum Qualifications:

REQUIREMENTS:

•Must be currently enrolled in a graduate/undergraduate program, or have graduated less than 6 months ago

•Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in English; fluency in additional foreign language preferred.

•Background check is required

•Prior experience or demonstrated interest working with refugees and asylees highly desired.

•Excellent interpersonal communications skills and ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.

•Ability to take initiative and work independently on assigned tasks and a high-degree of comfort working in an external-facing, client support role.

•Strong problem-solving skills and client service orientation including the ability to be resourceful and creative to address client needs.

•Good time management and organizational skills.

•A positive attitude and ability to adapt to a dynamic work environment.

•Ability to maintain client confidentiality.

•High degree of familiarity working with standard computer office programs such as Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, Teams and Google Voice required.

Intern will report to: Omar Alsalim, Employment Services Supervisor

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 or disability.