Employment Intern

Job Description

TITLE: Employment Intern LOCATION: Elizabeth, NJ START DATE: 09/01/2022 DURATION: 3-4 months POSITION REPORTS TO: Shirley Simone, Employment Specialist

BACKGROUND: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. At work in more than 40 countries and over 20 U.S. cities, the IRC provides resettlement, education and empowerment support to refugees and displaced people.

SCOPE OF WORK: The Economic Empowerment Team in the IRC-NJ Resettlement Office assists newly resettled refugees, asylees and humanitarian entrants from Cuba and Haiti to integrate in their new home communities and achieve self-sufficiency. Reporting to the Employment Specialist, the Economic Empowerment Intern will support the Employment Services caseload of up to 50 clients by conducting direct client outreach and providing employment services and case management support. This is an unpaid internship opportunity.

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 clients with case management support to complement employment services, as needed, including completing applications for a range of benefits and assistance programs (for example, unemployment insurance, temporary disability insurance, food assistance/SNAP benefits, Medicaid, rent assistance and affordable housing programs, etc.) · 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. · Other related duties as assigned.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 1. Gain hands-on experience and on-the-job training to provide employment services and economic empowerment coaching to a large and diverse client caseload. 2. Gain experience working in an office environment both virtually and in-person and using standard office platforms and the client database. 3. Learn about the IRC’s US resettlement work and specifically economic empowerment initiatives both on the job and through IRC or partner-led trainings or other learning and development opportunities.

Qualifications

REQUIREMENTS: · 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. · Spanish language fluency required, including ability to provide Spanish-English interpretation by phone or in person. · High degree of familiarity working with standard computer office programs such as Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, Teams and Google Voice required.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.