Help refugees find jobs! Be an Employment/Adjustment Intern!

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*Please note: We are currently full for Summer 2015. Please apply for Fall 2015.*

• RICS Employment Service Interns are among the first to welcome newly arrived refugees to Chicago and America. Help newcomers as they learn English and adjust to a new cultural landscape. As refugees assimilate to Chicago, interns work closely with Heartland’s Employment team to help refugees find and retain employment along the path to self-sufficiency. Interns help refugees learn about US hiring and employment practices and basic job readiness preparation, such as completing job applications and résumé prep, how to dress for an interview, interview practice, navigating CTA to get to job and interview sites, etc. Intern contribution as a member of the Employment Team is essential to the refugee resettlement process.Interns gain direct service experience in a fast paced, social services setting while working one-on-one with refugees in developing and polishing job readiness skills. Interns have opportunities to show off their knowledge of Chicago by accompanying refugees to job interviews around the city. Interns meet employers and learn about hiring practices in the hospitality, tourism/transportation, and manufacturing/distribution industries.

  Employment Intern - 4419 N Ravenswood Ave.

  Seasonally: Fall, Summer, Spring; 16-30 hours a week at least

  Responsibilities for this position include:

  • Conducting position specific interview practice with refugee job seekers
  • Creating résumés for refugee job seekers
  • Searching various internet job sites for open positions that meet the requirements of refugee participants
  • Completing online applications for refugee job candidates
  • Accompanying refugees to job interviews and job fairs; meeting employers
  • Assisting ESL teaching staff in job readiness classes
  • Providing logistical support to Employment staff as needed
  • Minimum 2 full days per week availability, minimum three-month commitment

  Qualifications:

  • Excellent communication and organizational skills
  • Interest in working with refugees in a multi-cultural, multi-lingual, and multi-ethnic environment
  • Patience and flexibility
  • Ability to work independently
  • Computer proficiency
  • Attention to detail
  • Language proficiency in Amharic, Arabic, Burmese, French, Kirundi, Kinyarwanda, Polish, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Turkish, or Uzbek is preferred, but not required
  • Multicultural experience is preferred, but not required.
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