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

o            First Cohort: August 19th – December 9th

o            Second 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.