Apply for the United Nations International Labour Organization Internships(Paid Internship open to all nationalities)

ILO Internship Programme

ILO’s Internship Programme provides a wide range of opportunities for high calibre graduate/postgraduate students and recently graduated candidates who are looking for a “hands-on” learning experience in fields related to the ILO’s mandate and activities. The aim of our internship programme is to give the interns exposure to ILO daily work over a three to six month period.

To apply for an internship at the ILO, you must be enrolled in the last year of a graduate degree (Master or equivalent) or in a higher degree programme relevant to the ILO’s work or have completed such a programme in the year preceding the application. You must also possess a working knowledge of at least one of the ILO’s working languages (English, French or Spanish) and be able to adapt to an international, multicultural, multilingual environment. There is no age limit for applicants.

The ILO opens the Internship Roster, which is a call for applications, 2 to 3 times per year. When the application period closes, the profiles of eligible candidates are made available to departments seeking interns within a given roster period. As such, internships can start on the 1st or 15th of any month throughout the year.

Keep in mind…

• The cost of travel, passport, visa, insurance coverage for illness and accidents and accommodation, as well as living expenses during an internship at the ILO, are the sole responsibility of the intern or his/her sponsoring institution;  
• In case an intern is not supported by an institution (university, government or other), a stipend to cover basic subsistence costs is paid by the ILO;
• Close relatives of serving ILO officials are not eligible for an internship. Likewise candidates who have already worked at the ILO or participated in the Internship programme are ineligible;
• Only three applications per recruitment advertisement period are accepted.

ILO Internship Programme provides an opportunity for talented individuals to:

(a) increase understanding of relevant issues at the international level by involving them directly in the work of the Office and the application of ILO principles, programmes and strategies;

(b) gain practical experience with the ILO directly related to their field of study.

The internship programme is not intended to lead to a career in the ILO. There should be no expectation of further employment at the end of the internship.

**Please note that you can apply to a maximum of three internship profiles during the current application period. If you apply to more than three internship profiles, your application will not be considered for any profile.** Note that you may withdraw your candidature at any time via the Jobs Applied section of your profile.

It is highly recommended that you submit your application as soon as possible to avoid last minute technical issues or delays. Late applications will not be considered.

The ILO values diversity. We welcome applications from qualified women and men, particularly those with disabilities and from non- or under- represented member States. If needed, reasonable accommodation will be provided to those with disabilities in the recruitment phase as well as during the internship to promote equality of opportunities. If you are unable to complete our online application form due to a disability, please send an email to ilojobs@ilo.org

How to apply:

1. Search for an internship profile via the page on ILO Jobs 

2. Select the internship profile you would like to apply for, and create a profile on ILO Jobs 

3. Complete your candidate profile and apply to the internship profile

4. Be sure to attach a cover letter in the last section of the application, as applications without a cover letter will not be considered and you cannot attach a cover letter after the deadline. 

Deadline: Varies, depending on internship

Selection process:

Following a first screening by the Human Resources Development Department (HRD), hiring departments will short-list applicants. You will be directly contacted should an internship opportunity match your profile. If you have not been contacted by any department within six months after your application, you can consider that you have not been selected by any department for this roster. If still eligible, you may apply to the next roster. 

If shortlisted, you may be contacted by the hiring department for a written test and/or interview. The ILO may use communication technologies such as Skype, Video or teleconference, e-mail, etc for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.

Stipend:

As an intern in Geneva, you will receive a stipend of 2450 CHF per month from the ILO, unless you receive funding through another institution (for example your university or a foundation). If you receive partial funding, ILO will cover the difference to ensure you receive 2450 CHF per month. Your travel to Geneva will be at your own expense.

Insurance:

Please note that the ILO does not take responsibility for any costs arising from accidents and/or illness incurred during the internship. You will be responsible for your own insurance coverage for illness and accidents for the duration of the internship at the duty station (whether Geneva or the field).

Fraud warning:

The ILO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process whether at the application, interview, processing or training stage. Messages originating from a non ILO e-mail account – @ilo.org – should be disregarded. In addition, the ILO does not require or need to know any information relating to the bank account details of applicants.