NATO launches call for interns for 2021
As an international organisation, NATO is characterised by diversity. People from different backgrounds and cultures, work styles and ways of thinking work here. This is reflected in the Alliance’s internship programme, which offers opportunities in a variety of fields, including communications, finance, human resources, international relations, IT, law and political science. The 18th cycle of the programme opened on 30 March 2020 for placement in 2021. Each vacancy will be opened for four weeks.
Enriching and professional
What are the benefits of a NATO internship? We asked some recent interns for their thoughts.
- “Working alongside officers in the Defence Planning and Policy Division proved immensely rewarding and enriching with topics ranging from burden-sharing and the NATO Defence Planning Process to Space Policy. From early on, I was given an opportunity to put my skills and knowledge into practice by presenting background research relevant to various topics, as well as assisting in the proper functioning of committee work.”
- “The Budget Planning and Analysis team coordinates with all NATO Divisions, which necessitates good communication skills. It offers a unique opportunity to meet many people around NATO and learn about their work. I worked on several case studies and contributed to the production of budget reports, which required me to deal with huge amounts of data. These exercises greatly impacted my analytical, mathematical and writing skills. The team is small but very dynamic and dependent on each other, so I also improved my teamwork skills.”
- “The Engagements section of the Public Diplomacy Division deals with a broad spectrum of partners, including think tanks, NGOs, and academia, among many others. As an intern, one can expect to gain relevant experience in managing external networks and partnerships, dealing with diverse stakeholders, and planning and implementing public diplomacy activities and events both in NATO member nations as well as in partner countries. If you are interested in communications from a public relations and outreach perspective, the Engagements section would be the right choice for you.”
- “The Communication Services Section of the Public Diplomacy Division is a very dynamic and welcoming environment. NATOChannel is one of the parts of the division that handles content that narrates with great videos the ongoing projects of the Alliance and delivers information on NATO’s identity. I have a background in International Relations but also have had some experience in script writing and creating media. So being taken in COMs helped me develop these skills and allowed me to contribute in creating content, all the while still letting me make use of my academic background when working on pieces that talk about cooperation and joint efforts between the Allies.”
A wealth of opportunities
The range of possible thematic orientations is broad: graduate students of aeronautics, engineering, graphic design, journalism, law enforcement, library science, or translation, might also find a unique opportunity to gain international experience in the field of peace and security.
Although some interns stay on at NATO after the internship to complete ongoing assignments or to take up full-time employment, many move on to other international organisations. Whatever their long-term ambitions, NATO interns gain invaluable experience as they strive to achieve them.
To apply or learn more, visit the NATO Internship Programme page.