Economic Development Intern (Spring 2027)

International Rescue Committee•Silver Spring, MD

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Economic Empowerment program helps refugees become economically self-sufficient through career development training and financial coaching. It assists clients with education, apprenticeships, jobs, financial coaching, and microloans. The intern works with the Economic Empowerment team to support clients’ economic growth and long-term goals. The internship includes implementing and monitoring the Career Development Program with Employment Specialists and Financial Coaches; delivering job-readiness, career-development, and financial-literacy training; coaching clients on career goals, applications, resumes, and interviews; and supporting clients with banking, loan applications, employment documentation, and program records. The intern also helps clients prepare for job-related activities, advocates for their labor-market rights, and builds relationships with employers. This is an unpaid internship in Silver Spring. A minimum three-month commitment and at least 20 hours per week are required, with 35 or more hours preferred. The position requires in-person work at the Silver Spring office. Spring 2027 interns are expected to attend an in-person orientation on January 25, 2027, from 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eligible interns may receive $15 per day in per diem reimbursement for food and travel. Applicants who are not enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program and are more than 12 months from graduation will be processed as volunteers.

Requirements

Be self-motivated and able to work independently.
Be able to collaborate with fellow interns to create and teach trainings in a team-focused internship.
Have excellent communication and writing skills.
Work effectively in a fast-paced environment and adapt quickly to change.
Commit to at least three months and at least 20 hours per week; the posting also states that in-person work at the Silver Spring office and a minimum of 15 hours per week are required.
Attend the in-person Spring 2027 intern orientation on January 25, 2027, from 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Nice To Haves

Confidence in public speaking or interest in developing public-speaking skills.
Strong interest in refugee and asylee issues and workforce development.
Language skills in Amharic, Arabic, Burmese, Dari, Farsi, French, Kinyarwanda, Spanish, Hindi, or Swahili.
Current student or recent graduate.
Availability to work 35 or more hours per week.

Responsibilities

Work with IRC Employment Specialists and Financial Coaches to implement the Career Development Program and monitor its performance.
Teach advanced job-readiness training, including career development, business writing, networking, interview preparation, and financial literacy.
Guide clients toward long-term career goals through individual training, resume and cover-letter preparation, and one-on-one job application assistance.
Provide group and individual training to support successful workforce integration.
Accompany clients to job-preparation activities and interviews, and coach them on interview preparation.
Assist clients with setting up bank accounts, participating in financial-literacy workshops, and completing loan applications.
Help clients complete new-hire paperwork, employment-program documentation, and other administrative tasks.
Audit employment-program files for compliance with documentation requirements and regularly update program databases.
Advocate for clients’ labor-market rights, provide client references, and meet with employers to explain the benefits of hiring IRC clients.
Perform other duties identified by Employment Specialists.