Internship Programs

IOM Internships

Paid Internships

The goal of the IOM internship program is to provide candidates with an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the agency’s work and broaden their practical and theoretical knowledge about themes related to global migration flows. The organization offers training programs for their interns, which are accompanied by senior professionals who can contribute not only for the development of internal activities, but also to the progress of their careers.

In pursuit of its mission, the OpenIGO network has prepared a comprehensive eBook and support and guidance services, with the aim of highly increasing your chances of success in these competitive processes. These services include revising your UN internships application documents (curriculum vitae/resume and cover letter) and a mock interview, as per the United Nations model. We also offer a range of packages that combine the eBook with different services.

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IOM Overview

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is an intergovernmental organization that is dedicated to ensuring that global migration flows happen in an orderly fashion, respecting the principle of human dignity. Headquartered in Le Grand-Saconnex (Switzerland), IOM has 169 member states, with offices in more than 100 countries around the globe. The agency sees migration as an opportunity to stimulate economic, social and cultural development and defends the rights of all people to freedom of movement. Therefore, IOM operates in partnership with governments and other civil society institutions, promoting: i) technical expertise for the peaceful and humane resolution of problems regarding migration; ii) carrying out research; and iii) providing humanitarian help to migrants, including refugees.

IOM’s main focus: Promoting the extension of protection to migrants in a global scale.

Themes addressed by the IOM:

Migration and development

Description of the IOM Internship

What are the fields of study required for the IOM Internship?

This internship program includes students and recent graduates from the most diverse fields of knowledge. The areas of study with the highest demand in this program are:

International Relations
Political Science
Law
Information Technology
Information Science
Computer Science
International Public Administration
Procurement and Logistics
Accounting and Finance
Communications

What are the tasks performed by the selected for the IOM Internship?

The activities performed vary according to the opening and the requirements of the different departments to which interns are allocated. However, generally speaking, the main duties are:

Provide support to administrative and operational duties;
Carry out research, collect and analyze data about relevant themes for the agency’s activities;
Draft and review reports and other types of documents;
Take part in training, meetings and events with other members of the agency.

What is the duration of the IOM Internship?

The internship period ranges from at least 2 months to up to 9 months at most.

What is the weekly workload of the IOM Internship?

There are openings for part-time and fulltime (40 hours per week) internships.

Where are the locations of the IOM Internship?

Most openings are intended to the organization’s headquarters in Le Grand-Saconne (Switzerland) but other opportunities may appear in their Liaison and Regional Offices spread around the world:

Regional Offices: Africa, Americas and the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Central Asia.

When does the IOM Internship start?

The initial date of the internship shall be coordinated between the intern and the organization.

Is there any feedback following the completion of the IOM Internship?

At the end of the internship, the supervisor is in charge of preparing an assessment report of the intern’s performance.

Subsequent employment:

Participation in the internship is not related to future employment with the agency. However, the work experience in the agency will be a distinctive feature in your curriculum, which may facilitate your hiring by organizations inside or outside the UN System. Generally, interns are considered external candidates and can apply for open vacancies during and after their assignment.

IOM Internship - Salary

IOM offers a montly subsistence allowance (MSA) to help interns with their basic living expenses. MSA is calculated based on each candidate’s specific academic background and the distance between their country of origin and the agency’s office – which is why the amount varies on an individual basis. In Geneva, the allowance varies from 500 to 1500 CHF (Swiss Franc).

This amount does not apply to students sponsored by an institution or the government of their country of origin.

IOM Internship - Requirements

What is the education requirement of the IOM Internship Program?

Be enrolled in a graduate school program (Master’s or PhD), or;
Be enrolled in the last school year of an undergraduate school program (Bachelor’s level or equivalent), or;
Have graduated from an undergraduate or graduate course in the last 12 months, or;
Be sponsored by a governmental or non-governmental institution and/or academic institution to work in a specific area relevant to the IOM and the sponsor institution.

What is the language requirement of the IOM Internship Program?

Candidates must have proficiency in, at least, 1 of the 3 official languages of IOM (English, Spanish or French).

What is the age requirement of the IOM Internship Program?

Applicants must be between 19 and 36 years old to be eligible for the internship.

What is the nationality requirement of the IOM Internship Program?

Applicants must be citizens of an IOM member state.

What are the competencies required for the IOM Internship Program?

The main competencies required are:

Teamwork skills;
Communication skills;
Knowledge in conventional software (Word, Excel, Power Point).

What are the restrictions of the IOM Internship Program?

An applicant may not be a child or sibling of any organization staff member.

IOM Internship - Application process

When to apply for the IOM Internship Program?

There is no specific time during the year for submitting your application for an internship. Application deadlines vary depending on the openings and the needs of organization. Therefore, it is important to search for internship opportunities in the IOM E-recruitment System and website.

How to apply for the IOM Internship Program?

The internship application process is done via the IOM E-recruitment System, where all openings are published, and comprises of the following steps:

Initial registration;
Filling out the candidate profile (academic and professional background);
Search for an opening in your field of interest;
Filling out the application form;
Submit the application.

For opportunities at IOM’s Country Offices, the interested applicant must send their application directly to the e-mail of the desired office.

What are the phases of the selection process for the IOM Internship Program?

The selection process may vary depending on the department or office to which the intern is applying, but generally comprises the following steps:

Creating a profile and preparing an application;
Submitting the application;
Evaluation of the application;
Competency-based interview;
Selection notifications.

How is the IOM Internship Program interview?

Usually, only selected applicants will be contacted for the interview, which lasts about 30 minutes and may be done via Skype or phone. The main points covered in the interview vary according to the opening and department chosen. In general, however, the questions address subjective or behavioral aspects, such as your expectations about the job, your interests in the area of expertise you are applying for and your previous experiences.

What are the documents to submit for the IOM Internship Program?

Cover Note/Letter;
CV/résumé;

If you were granted (or may be granted) a scholarship you have to attach a letter from your sponsor or university confirming the purpose of the assignment, as well as the amount of your grant.

What is the evaluation criteria of the IOM Internship Program?

You will be evaluated regarding your previous experiences and skills, as well as your educational background.

IOM Internship - Costs

The organization offers no financial aid to cover costs related to preparing for or doing the internship. However, you may request financial aid from a sponsoring institution, for example, a university and/or government agency in your country.

Visa:

You or your sponsoring institution will be responsible for the costs and arrangements of obtaining the visa (if needed to do the internship). The agency may provide a support letter to the selected candidates so as to facilitate acquiring the visa.

Insurance:

You or your sponsoring institution will be responsible for the costs of enrolling in a valid global medical insurance plan. However, IOM offers the Compensation Plan (CP), an insurance that covers work-related accidents. All interns have to provide a medical certificate of good health along with their vaccination records prior to the start of the internship.

Accommodation:

You or your sponsoring institution will be responsible for accommodation expenses during the internship period.

Other:

You or your sponsoring institution will be responsible for the costs and arrangements of the trip to the workplace to which you have been assigned.