Economic Development Intern

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 over 40 countries and 28 U.S. cities to restore safety, dignity and hope, the IRC leads the way from harm to home. Domestically, our 28 offices across the U.S. ensure new arrivals have food, shelter, and clothing, and work with refugees to help them gain self-sufficiency.     

Scope of work: The Economic Empowerment program assists refugees to become economically self-sufficient by providing career development training and financial coaching. Our program assists clients in obtaining education, apprenticeships, jobs, financial coaching and microloans to promote self-sufficiency. The intern will work closely with the Economic Empowerment team to help promote client economic growth and encourage clients to work towards their long-term goals.

Responsibilities:

• Work directly with IRC Employment Specialists and Financial Coaches to implement and monitor performance on the Career Development Program
• Teach Advanced Job Readiness Trainings including: introduction to career development, business writing, networking, interview preparation and financial literacy
• Counsel and guide clients through the process of working towards long-term career goals by providing: individual trainings, resume and cover letter preparation, one-on-one job application assistance, etc.
• Provide group and individual trainings aimed at successful workforce integration
• Accompany clients to job preparation activities and interviews; coach clients on interview preparation
• Assist clients in setting up bank accounts, teach financial literacy workshops and assist clients with loan applications
• Assist clients in completing new hire paperwork, employment program documentation and other administrative tasks as needed
• Audit employment program files to ensure documentation adheres to program requirements and update program databases regularly
• Advocate for clients’ rights in the labor market by providing references for clients and meeting with employers to educate them about the benefits of hiring IRC clients
• Other duties as identified by Employment Specialists

Learning Objectives:

• Intern will learn to create effective professional and job specific resumes and cover letters
• Intern will learn how to cater curricula to fit federal guidelines while remaining responsive to employer/client needs
• Intern will learn to communicate effectively with clients and  interpreters
• Intern will learn individual coaching techniques to engage and empower clients
• Intern will learn effective outreach strategies for building strategic relationships
• Intern will learn how to adapt training curriculum to clients’ needs and how to teach necessary life skills and professional development in a group setting
• Intern will learn about how to successfully and appropriately advocate for clients’ rights and needs in the labor market
• Intern will learn about networking, financial literacy and how to obtain a professional job
• Intern will learn how to implement program safeguards to protect domestic violence survivors, vulnerable population and to empower women

Qualifications:

• Self-motivated; able to work independently
• Ability to collaborate with fellow interns to create/teach trainings. This is a team-focused internship.
• Excellent communication and writing skills
• Works well in a fast-paced environment and adapts quickly to change
• Confident in public speaking or interest to develop these skills
• Strong interest in refugee and asylee issues as well as in workforce development
• Language skills in Amharic, Arabic, Burmese, Dari, Farsi, French, Kinyarwanda, Spanish, Hindi or Swahili are a plus
• Three month minimum.  Required 20+ hours/week.  Preferred 35+ hours/week. 
• Preference to current students and recent graduates.*

TO APPLY 
Click Apply Now at the top of this page. Please attach a resume, cover letter, and a list of (at least) three references to your application. The deadline to apply is January 5th, 2026. 

This position is for the Spring semester and requires a minimum commitment of 20 hours per week. 32 – 37.5 hours per week preferred. Ability to come in-person to Silver Spring office is required.

Spring 2026 Interns are expected to begin their internship term by attending an in-person intern orientation on January 26th, 2026 from 9:15AM-3:30PM.  
 
We currently offer internships during the following semesters:  
 

Spring: January – May 
Summer: June– August 
Fall: September – December 
Internships are typically posted 2-3 months prior to the anticipated start date.  
 

Note: Internships with the IRC in Silver Spring are unpaid. Spring 2026 interns may be eligible for per diem reimbursement at the rate of $15/day to offset the costs of food and travel. For information on scholarship opportunities, contact your university or the IRC Silver Spring Community Engagement Coordinator Michalina Kulesza at michalina.kulesza@rescue.org.

*Candidates applying not enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program and outside of 12 months from graduation are welcome to apply.  These candidates will be processed as volunteers.  

To protect our clients, the IRC requires all selected applicants to complete background checks. We ask that you make a $30 donation to help us cover the associated costs. Currently, 87% of our funding goes directly to programming to support our clients, and your help to cover this cost will ensure that no funding is directed away from serving our clients. Instructions will be provided after you have been selected to intern or volunteer.  

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. 

The IRC is committed to fostering an accessible workplace. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and abilities to apply for positions that align with their qualifications and interests. If you are selected for an interview, please inform your recruiter if you require any accommodations during the recruitment process. Examples of accommodations may include extended time for interviews or assessments, flexible scheduling to accommodate medical appointments, or assistance with communication needs. The IRC has offices in many locations, each with varying capacities to provide specific accommodations. While we are committed to doing our best to meet your needs, please note that certain accommodations may depend on the resources and facilities available at each location. Please know we will carefully consider all requests and make every effort to ensure a supportive and accessible recruitment process.