Summer 2024 Employment Services Intern (IINE Lowell)

The International Institute of New England is a 501(c)(3) non-profit serving refugees and immigrants in Boston, MA, Lowell, MA, and Manchester, NH. The Institute offers internships to students, graduate students, and recent graduates with demonstrated interest or experience in supporting refugee, asylee, and immigrant populations. Each internship includes an educational component, through which interns contextualize their experience and reflect on their service.

All internships are unpaid and correspond roughly with the US semester system:

• Summer Internship: late May/June through August 2024
  (Applications requested by March 31^st, considered thereafter until positions are filled)

First consideration is given to applicants that can commit at least 16 hours per week over the course of the semester outlined above. Applicants are encouraged to apply regardless of whether their schedule fits the semester system; IINE makes exceptions on a case-by-case basis. Slots fill quickly and candidates are encouraged to apply earlier than the requested date above.

Please note that this internship will be a hybrid format, meaning that some in-person hours at our Lowell, MA office are required.

Career Services Internship Overview

Our Employment Services program places newly-arrived refugees into their first jobs in the US, as well as refugees who are seeking job upgrades. Employment Specialists work one on one with clients to develop job resumes, search for openings, complete applications, and attend job interviews. Once refugee clients are placed in a job, Employment Specialists track retention at regular intervals and offer a variety of continued support and coaching for the individuals as they settle into their new job. Interns meet one-on-one with clients to provide additional resume and cover letter writing support, help practice for interviews with potential employers, and to answer questions clients may have once they start new jobs.

Reports To: Employment Services Case Specialist

Location: Lowell, MA (hybrid format)

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist the Case Specialist to provide feedback to clients working on resumes, cover letters, and job applications
• Practice with clients ahead of interviews
• Check in with clients about their applications and interviews
• Accompany clients to interviews and job fairs
  • Follow up with potential employers until a decision is made
• Help clients identify and apply to apprenticeship and training programs related to their career goals
• Teach Work Orientation Workshops
• Regularly summarize client accomplishments and feedback for Case Specialist
• Document client-facing activities through case notes and other forms of documentation

Qualifications:

• Interest in international, refugee, asylee, and/or immigrant issues
• Patience speaking with non-native English speakers/non-English speakers
• Professionalism, discretion, and maturity in dealing with confidential information
• Experience with US job application process
• Experience editing and formatting, especially resumes and cover letters
• Language skills in Arabic, French, Spanish, Pashto, Somali, Haitian Creole, Swahili, Kinyarwanda or Nepali preferred
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Highly organized with great attention to detail
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint

Learning Objectives:

1. Recognize and create strong resumes and cover letters, while honing editing and formatting skills
2. Successfully build relationships and refer candidates to potential employers
3. Successfully navigate the application, interview, and orientation processes typical of recruitment systems used by US employers
4. Identify and access community resources and services, particularly those that cater to the needs of refugees and immigrants.
5. Understand the US Refugee Resettlement program, as well as what part the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and resettlement agencies like the International Institute of New England play in receiving and integrating refugees.
6. Respectfully express and engage with ideas and values in a multicultural, multilingual environment.