Internship Programs

OPCW Internships

Paid Internships

The goal of the OPCW internship programme is to provide candidates with an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the OPCW’s work and broaden their practical and theoretical knowledge about the fight against the use of chemical weapons around the globe. The organization’s diversified environment enables cultural and experience exchange with professionals of various nationalities and different educational and professional backgrounds. All interns are accompanied by supervisors, who will provide them with the tools and orientations needed for the activities they engage in. Therefore, an internship in this organization will be a valuable asset to your curriculum and a great distinctive feature in future selection processes, since you will have the opportunity to know and experience the work dynamics, internal policies and routine of the organization.

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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UN Internships – PDF eBook

OPCW Overview

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is a United Nations specialized agency that aims to implement the guidelines of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which are to prevent the use of chemical weapons in order to promote global security. Headquartered in The Hague (Netherlands), the agency consists of 193 member states and is made up of about 500 employees from more than 80 countries. Its activities include: i) promoting integration and international cooperation between its member states; ii) verifying and destroying chemical weapons; iii) providing protection against chemical weapons; and iv) monitoring of chemical industries in order to stop the creation of such weaponry.

OPCW’s main focus: Preventing the use of chemical weapons in the context of international conflicts.

Themes addressed by the OPCW:

Science and Technology
Chemical Weapons
Chemical Industry
Health and Safety Issues
Environmental Concerns and Provisions

Description of the OPCW internship

What are the fields of study required for the OPCW 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:

Telecommunications
Engineering
Science
Economics
International Relations
Business Management
Public Administration
Law
Chemistry
Or any development-related discipline

What are the tasks performed by the selected for the OPCW 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 analyse 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;
Help in the advertisement of the agency’s information.

What is the duration of the OPCW Internship?

The internship period ranges from at least 3 months to up to 6 months at most.

What is the weekly workload of the OPCW Internship?

The internship programs are full-time. Interns shall therefore work between 35 and 40 hours per week.

Where are the locations of the OPCW Internship?

The openings are for the OPCW’s headquarters in The Hague (Netherlands).

When does the OPCW 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 OPCW 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. During the internship period and within six months immediately after the program you will not be eligible to apply for or be appointed to any effective position in the organization. However, the work experience in the agency will be a distinctive feature in your curriculum, which may facilitate your hiring by other organizations inside or outside the UN System.

OPCW Internship Salary

The OPCW offers €450 (Euro) to their interns. However, payment is subject to the dispatch of a monthly certification of service issued by the intern’s supervisor, verifying the intern’s attendance and dedication to work.

OPCW Internship Requirements

What is the education requirement of the OPCW Internship Program?

Be enrolled in and have completed at least a year of a degree program in a university (or equivalent tertiary institution) or;
Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or higher) or;
Have graduated from a graduate school within a year prior to the start of the internship.

What is the language requirement of the OPCW Internship Program?

Candidates must have proficiency in English (written and spoken). Having functional knowledge of, at least, another language belonging to the UN System (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) may be an advantage in the selection process.

What is the age requirement of the OPCW Internship Program?

Applicants must be at least 18 years old at the time of enrollment.

What is the nationality requirement of the OPCW Internship Program?

Applicants must be citizens of an OPCW member state.

What are the competencies required for the OPCW Internship Program?

The main competencies required are:

Individual and team work skills, as well as the capacity to work in multicultural environment;
Communication skills (spoken and written);
Proficiency in the use of conventional software;
Strategic and analytical thinking, aimed at problem-solving;
Interest and knowledge about international development.

Other requirements:

Most internships require no work experience. However, previous experiences may be an advantage in the selection process.

What are the restrictions of the OPCW Internship Program?

An applicant may not be a child or sibling of any of the organization’s staff members.

OPCW Internship - Application process

When to apply for the OPCW Internship Program?

Enrollment is usually open in two seasons:

Around March for internships starting anywhere between May and October and;
Around September for internships starting anywhere between November and April.

How to apply for the OPCW Internship Program?

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

Initial registration;
Filling out the Personal History Profile (academic and professional background);
Search for an opening in your field of interest;
Filling out the application form (all applicants are required to fill in the cover letter);
Submit the application.

What are the phases of the selection process for the OPCW Internship?

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 OPCW Internship interview?

After the application, OPCW may contact the potential candidates by phone, in order to confirm their information and eligibility to the internship.

OpenIGO offers the mock interview service to get you prepared for this important phase!

Having a mock interview with a professional who has extensive experience and knowledge of the UN Internships interview model will help you be better prepared for this phase, greatly increasing your chances of being selected for the desired vacancy. UN Internships mock interviews are held via Skype (preferably), WhatsApp, Facetime or Hangouts, conducted by an interview specialist and last around 60 minutes.

If you have arrived at this point in the selection process, you cannot afford to miss the opportunity for additional qualification. The value invested is nothing compared to the energy you have invested up until now, and with the benefits you will obtain when you are approved! Access:

UN Internships Mock Interview

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

Cover Note/Letter;
CV/résumé.

It is of fundamental importance that your documents are carefully reviewed. This is exactly what our award-winning team will do for you.

At OpenIGO, we have analyzed documents from dozens of candidates and know precisely what is required for your application to stand out from the thousands of others received by the OPCW team every year. It is important to highlight that this service is confidential and your files will be deleted from our systems when the service has been completed.

A review of your documents will be carried out in two stages:

Proofreading – highly qualified native English proofreaders will check your writing, formatting, correct errors and suggest improvements;
Technical review – a team formed of PhD professors with vast experience at intergovernmental organizations will carry out a technical review of the documents that you submit to the OPCW internship, offering feedback for improvement. The fit of your documents with the OPCW policies and strategies will be evaluated. However, we also highlight that our team will not write or prepare any documents for you. Our aim is to enhance your application. The merit of passing the selection process is all yours.

Would you like to know more about our application review service? Access:

UN Internships Application Review

What is the evaluation criteria of the OPCW Internship Program?

You will be evaluated regarding your previous experience, skills and competencies, and educational background.

Other information:

OPCW highly encourages the application of qualified women, as a way to reduce gender inequality.

OPCW Internship - Costs

The OPCW 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).

Insurance:

You or your sponsoring institution will be responsible for the costs of enrolling in a valid global medical insurance plan.

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.

Links

Internship Programme:

https://www.opcw.org/work-us/internships

Contact for inquiries:
E-mail: internships@opcw.org