Employment Specialist Intern

TITLE: Economic Empowerment Intern
LOCATION: Elizabeth, NJ
START DATE: September 8, 2021
DURATION: 3-4 months
POSITION REPORTS TO: Hiba Qaraman, 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. The ideal work schedule for this internship would be at least 15 hours per week, 3 days per week from 1:00-6:00pm.

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.