How do I find an internship?

Yes, internships are not easier to find than jobs and definitely less advertised. There are a few internship positions that come back in the same organisations year after year but most tend to be on an ad hoc basis and are often staffed on an informal basis rather than on a competitive way. Agencies tend to receive so many spontaneous applications that they don't bother to advertise a position. This means that your approach to securing an internship should also be different to what you would do when looking for a job.

And that's also why there are less such opportunities on our website either. Of course, whenever we come across opportunities for an internship, through personal contacts or what we can find on the internet, we do post it on the website, and we will do our best to increase that as we contact alumni. 

We believe that an internship can turn out to be the most interesting part of your NOHA experience. However, this will only be the case if it does correspond to what you are expecting, and to get to that, you will need to ensure that either you get an internship with an organisation you really identify with or working on an issue that you feel strongly about - ideally you will get both criteria. 

To get there takes a bit of work and research but in the end, going this way will be more effective than sending standard CVs to a random sample of aid agencies. Considering the number of CVs they receive, you will need to ensure it is outstanding and highlights the benefit you can bring to the agency.

Take time to get information about the agency and find out how your competences and qualities match their expectations. For this, you can look at relevant website and/or other sources and take into account your previous experiences in the humanitarian sector or any other social work you might have done. In addition, you should take into account your reporting and analytical skills, your management and organisational skills, publications you might have written and of course your personal knowledge of the themes of interest for the agency. We are aware that it may feel challenging for you to prepare your CV, especially at this early stage of your career. Therefore, you may consult a professor and/or classmates for advice about the format and content of the CV. Also, take the time to write your application letter, with only relevant information, and make it neither too long, nor too short. 

Being focused is really worth the effort, because if you do it right, it might also open the door for a job. If you have a good match, and both you and your employer are happy about the internship, it is much easier to secure a job afterwards. This is especially true for longer internships, but then you have to make sure that you have worked out all the details with the agency, as a long internship can be a considerable investment. As much as possible, be sure to clarify important conditions of the internship, such as location, salary and duration, before you start.

By the time you get into the second semester, you should have a good idea of the issues you are interested in and the type of aid agencies you could picture yourself working for. Define your angle based either on the issue or on the organization you are targeting. If you have a specific issue you are interested in, you should try to identify the organisations that are active in this area - the NOHA Alumni Community website has a list of aid agencies and lists those who have hosted NOHA students in the past. Target your CV based on the strengths and motivation you have when it comes to the subject at hand. Don't limit yourself to sending just an email and a CV. If you feel it is relevant and will allow you to better target your letter, call beforehand to get more information on the work of the agency and possibilities for internships and the name of the best person to send your file to. Most of the agencies are well organized and will reply quickly. If you have a number of preferred agencies, with the subject matter being less of a priority, then research the agencies in question to ensure you have understood their identity and mission well and frame your application accordingly. 

Also bear in mind that many internship are found through personal contacts, so mobilize those closest to you (classmates and professors within NOHA, previous colleagues, friends, etc...) to maximize the chances to see your CV ending up in the right place.

To conclude, it is, unfortunately, true that finding an internship is not easy. However, it is also an opportunity to polish your job hunting skills and be ready to go for it when you have graduated!