The IRC’s US offices offer a variety of unpaid internship opportunities throughout the year. Prospective interns should be currently enrolled in an educational institution or within 6 months of graduation and are required to submit an application and resume. For more information, contact VolunteerTucson [at] rescue.org (subject: Volunteering%20in%20Tuscon) .
Internships at the International Rescue Committee in Tucson provide college students and recent graduates with opportunities to gain professional experiences and exposure to different fields. Interns learn to work in a multi-cultural environment, build professional networks within the community, and cultivate adaptability and creativity in a dynamic world.
On this Page:
Internship Process
Internship Positions
Internship Process
Application Steps:
This is an unpaid internship but course credit is often available.
- Get to know the IRC in Tucson and learn more about how you can be involved. To see a list of current internship openings, please see the position descriptions below. For specific questions, email us at VolunteerTucson [at] rescue.org (subject: Internship%20Info%20Request)
- Apply online. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
- Interview with the Volunteer Coordinator and Department Supervisor
- Receive offer and accept--conditional on background and reference checks
- Clearance checks and criminal history disclosures
- Apply for a Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card
- Volunteer Coordinator will work with you and the supervisor to schedule your first day.
- Attend an orientation and training session to learn about office policies, confidentiality, and communication guidelines. You are also expected to make all efforts to participate in ongoing training opportunities.
Commitment
During in-office periods, the IRC expects all interns to work 20-25 hrs/wk for 10 weeks during Summer, and 10-15 hrs/wk for 14 weeks during Fall/Spring (when classes are in-session). All internships take place during business hours (8 am to 5pm Mon-Fri) unless otherwise noted on the position description. More stringent requirements for availability or commitment may be additionally listed for certain roles. Examples: 3 full days, must be available Mondays and Fridays from 10am-3pm.
Interns must be at least 18 years of age, be able to pass a criminal history check, and have authorization to work.
Intern Application Deadlines
- Summer Interns: March 15th
- Fall Interns: July 15th
- Spring Interns: December 15th
Additional applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Students seeking to receive college course credit for their internship are advised to apply earlier.
REMOTE WORK TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS:
Interns will be required to use their own technology tools to work on virtual opportunities. IRC is not responsible for any personal device expenses such as personal smartphones, tablets, hotspots, data charges, etc.
All personal devices must:
- Be kept current with all operating system updates and security patches,
- Use a password or PIN with a minimum of 4 characters to log onto smartphones and tablets and 8 alpha and numeric characters for a Laptop.
- Have lock screen set to 10 minutes or less with a password required to unlock the device
- Configurations must be set to delete all data or lock after 10 unsuccessful attempts to enter a password or PIN. Lockout period must be no less than 30 minutes.
Additional policy details will be discussed during orientation and training.
MODIFICATIONS DUE TO COVID-19
While we continue to support our Tucson community through this crisis, we are also in a state of variability regarding our intern program. Thankfully, we are also very flexible. Please continue to apply as normal through our webpage here, as interviews and initial onboarding for summer interns will be conducted through virtual means, and see the below modifications to our intern policy:
Remote Work Period - March 2020 to TBD
Until further notice onboarding, training, and remote work will occur virtually as available, in some cases limited to 5 hrs/wk but may be up to 20 hrs/wk depending on role.
In-office/Field-work Period - TBD
When in-office intern work resumes, it will include further training and field activities; some remote hours may continue.
Contact VolunteerTucson [at] rescue.org (subject: Internship%20Inquiry) for the most recent dates and policies.
Internship Positions
Employment & Economic Empowerment
OVERVIEW:
The Employment and Economic Empowerment Intern supports Staff in assisting refugee clients secure their first jobs in the United States and guiding them towards successful integration into the American workplace. Interns will gain familiarity in cross-cultural training techniques, skills development and hiring procedures of area businesses.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Provides direct and administrative services to clients in the following areas:
- Resume preparation;
- Online and paper job applications;
- Job Readiness Training (JRT) classroom instruction;
- Client transport to interviews and other post-placement assistance;
- Research job opportunities;
- Client file management;
- Skill specific projects as assigned by Program Coordinator.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Knowledge of employer expectations, job retention, and job search techniques
- Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding client information
- Strong verbal and written skills in English
- Punctual and reliable
- Strong intercultural communication skills; demonstrated ability to work effectively with people from other cultural backgrounds
- Driver’s license, personal vehicle, auto insurance, a clean driving record, and willingness to drive clients in personal vehicle
- Technology requirements:
- Interns will be required to use their own technology tools to work on virtual opportunities.
- IRC is not responsible for any personal device expenses such as personal smartphones, tablets, hotspots, data charges, etc.
- All personal devices must:
- Be kept current with all operating system updates and security patches,
- Use a password or PIN with a minimum of 4 characters to log onto smartphones and tablets and 8 alpha and numeric characters for a Laptop.
- Have lock screen set to 10 minutes or less with a password required to unlock the device
- Configurations must be set to delete all data or lock after 10 unsuccessful attempts to enter a password or PIN. Lockout period must be no less than 30 minutes.
- Additional policy details will be discussed during orientation and training.
CLEARANCES:
All offers are contingent on successfully passing background and criminal history checks as required by federal and state law or by IRC policy.
COMMITMENT:
- SUMMER: Minimum 20 hrs/wk for 3 months
- FALL/SPRING: Minimum 10 hrs/wk for 14 weeks
- Primary availability during IRC business hours (M-F; 8:30am-5:00pm)
- Preference given to applicants able to make multi-term commitment
IN-OFFICE AND REMOTE ACTIVITIES:
In-office activity we estimate to resume sometime in 2021, but this is subject to change. During in-office periods, the IRC expects all interns to work 20-25 hrs/wk during Summer, and 10-15 hrs/wk during Fall/Spring (when classes are in-session). More stringent requirements for availability or commitment may be additionally listed for certain roles. Examples: 3 full days, must be available Mondays and Fridays from 10am-3pm.
Remote onboarding and activities will begin prior to in-office activity and will be agreed between you, your supervisor, and the Volunteer Coordinator. The number of hours available and required may be reduced during remote-working periods.
Reports To: Katrina Martinez