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We offer you a unique opportunity to acquire experience in different areas of expertise, in an international and multicultural environment enhancing your networking possibilities. In addition, you will have the chance to acquire significant knowledge of the Organization of American States (OAS), its mission, pillars, structure and projects in the hemisphere.
The Organization of American States (OAS) is the main political forum of the Region that promotes and supports Democracy, Human Rights, Multi-dimensional Security and Integral Development in the Americas. The OAS seeks to prevent conflicts and to bring political stability, social inclusion and prosperity to the region through dialogue and collective actions.
Tips
Work and college are very different realities. At work, your supervisors will not give you an opinion about your performance as often as you are used to, and do not regularly ask for your opinion. Most likely you will not be asked to solve vital issues during an internship. The internship is an opportunity to observe and learn.
Introduce yourself to your co-workers and share your aspirations with them. Socialize during lunch. Participate in activities outside the office. Create friendly relationships during the internship.
Arrive on time. Dress appropriately for work. Give 100%, on whatever task you are required to do.
Be humble … you are not expected to know everything. Try to understand how your actions have an impact within the macro view of the Organization.
Apply the theories you learned in college. Your input can help improve processes and create change. What makes a process efficient? In what way can you positively influence the work of the Organization? How has this experience changed your life?
Ask yourself how you can help and improve the work in your department. You can make a difference. Give and ask for feedback and contribute.
Important to know
- The OAS Internship Program does not offer any payment or stipend. Interns are responsible for all costs associated with travel, housing, maintenance and health insurance.
- All interns are required to participate in a weekly orientation program coordinated by the Department of Human Resources. A certificate of completion of the internship will be awarded to interns who have attended at least 80% of these activities.
- As part of the OAS Internship Program, interns are required to fulfill a performance evaluation. This evaluation is done at the end of the internship session.
- All interns are required to submit valid proof of insurance before starting the internship.
- If you have participated in the OAS Internship Program once, you cannot apply again or be accepted in any future internship sessions at the OAS.
- The information handled by interns during the performance of their duties is confidential; it belongs to the General Secretariat of the OAS and cannot be used for personal or professional gain.
Calendar 2021
Our Application System is currently open.
Applications: September 2 – 30
Considering the disruptions caused by the COVID-19, the OAS Internship Program is offering only virtual internships. In-person internships are expected to resume according to the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2021 Virtual Winter/Spring (Washington, D.C.) & Session I (National Offices):
Applications: September 2 – 30, 2020
Internship sessions: January 14 – April 30, 2021
Frequently Asked Questions
- GPA of at least 3.0 out of 4.0 in the American scale (or equivalent).
- Undergraduate students must be at least finishing their second year of studies.
- Be proficient in two of the four languages of the Organization (Spanish, English, French and Portuguese).
Required documents:
- Electronic Application Form (click here).
- Two letters of recommendation.
- Academic transcripts.
- If your internship will be accredited by your academic institution, please include an official letter from your institution with the corresponding indications (Official statement).
- Resume with Cover Letter (Resume without photo).
Incomplete applications will be on hold until all the requirements are sent to the OAS Department of Human Resources. They will be accepted until the last day of the applications period at 23:59 EST (Washington, D.C. time)
- Because the Organization of American States (OAS) is a multilateral organization that will allow you to have a real experience within the international scenario. Additionally, it is the most important political forum in the Western Hemisphere.
- Because the Internship Program is the adequate environment for learning and acquiring professional experience. Specific objectives are defined between the intern and the supervisor during the first week of the internship, which are monitored and evaluated at the end of the session.
- Because the organization offers a weekly orientation program that will strengthen your professional and personal skills.
- Because the OAS Internship Program has 30 years of experience, which has enabled us to improve the processes so that it fits the evolving needs of the interns.
The OAS Internship Program has been taking place at the headquarters of the OAS General Secretariat in Washington, DC for more than 30 years. However, in 2011 the Program was expanded to the offices in the OAS Member States.
The Internship Program is offered three times a year:
- Winter/Spring – Session I (January-May)
- Summer – Session II (June-August)
- Fall – Session III (September-December)
Students at the undergraduate and graduate level as well as young professionals, regardless of their nationality (it is not required to be a national of an OAS member state). Undergraduate students must be completing their second year of studies.
The Internship Program has no age limit; however, it is aimed at undergraduate, graduate students and young professionals. The average age of participants is 24 and the work assigned corresponds to this profile.
The OAS Internship Program is unpaid. Its purpose is to provide interns with a professional experience and to meet academic provisions when required. Interns are responsible for all costs associated with housing, health insurance, and any other costs for the duration of the internship.
Any intern who has a visa sponsored by the OAS must be a full time intern and cannot accept any other job outside the OAS.
Yes. The program has no restrictions in terms of nationality.
All areas or departments within the General Secretariat of the OAS have the potential to bring in at least one intern per session. The areas for which you can apply are visible in the electronic form you must complete for applying.
The OAS organizational chart is available in its website.
Interns at Country Offices work on different projects according to the priorities and needs of each Office.
These meetings are about different topics of interest within the OAS. Each meeting has a different speaker who offers an overview of a particular subject or project that is relevant to the Organization.
As part of the weekly meetings, the interns also have the opportunity to visit other international organizations in the area such as the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), among others.
Interns in National Offices will participate in an online complementary program of weekly activities related to the OAS, focusing on its different projects and pillars.
No. In order to participate in the OAS Internship Program in Washington DC, a special visa is required that may be requested upon official acceptance into the program.
It is determined by the candidate’s grading scale in his/her country. It means being in the top 25% of the corresponding scale. For example, if the grading scale is 100, the candidate should have an average of at least 75.
No. The documents are accepted in any of the four official languages of the Organization (English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese).
Part of the requirements to apply for the Internship Program is to have knowledge of at least two of the four official languages of the Organization (English, Spanish, French and Portuguese). However, most of the activities/ meetings are conducted in English or Spanish.
The online activities for the Country Offices are available in both English and Spanish, so it is necessary to be proficient in at least one of these two languages.
It is also necessary to have command of the language of the country where the internship will take place.
Certifying a second language is not a prerequisite for applying to the internship. However, the area that is interested in having you as an intern can seek certification if they wish, or conduct an interview in that language to evaluate the individual’s proficiency level.
- Comply with the tasks and schedule assigned by your supervisor.
- Attend at least 80% of the meetings/weekly activities of the Program.
- Respect and comply the Internship Agreement.
The form is designed in English but may be answered in any of the four official languages of the Organization (English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese). However, it is recommended to complete the application in English or Spanish.
You should indicate if you currently have a valid visa for the United States (tourist, student F-1, or J-1). If you have no visa you can respond N/A (Not Applicable).
Only selected candidates will receive an official letter of acceptance via email issued by the Coordination of the OAS Internship Program.
All selected interns should have received their letter of acceptance issued by the OAS Internship Program approximately one month before the official start date of the session.
The number of interns allowed per session is limited based on the headcount of the Organization. The number may vary but on average there are 60 to 80 interns per session.
Yes. You may apply as many times as you want.
No, you can only be an intern of the OAS once. The regulations of the Internship Program prohibit repeating or extending internships.
No. Interns are responsible for their own living and transportation expenses and for their medical insurance during the period of their internship.
Housing
We strongly recommend joining our Facebook Group where you can find other future interns that are also looking for a place to stay or share, and former interns that could offer recommendations about where to live in Washington DC.
Here you can find some housing options that have been used by interns in the past:
- Washington Intern Student Housing: WISH – http://internsdc.com
- Cassa Housing: http://www.cassahousing.com
Weather
- WINTER in D.C. lasts from December to the beginning of March. Average temperatures range from 20º to 50º Fahrenheit (between -6º and 10º Celsius).
- SPRING in D.C. lasts from late March through late May. Temperatures during the spring are often between 40º and 70º Fahrenheit (between 4º and 21º Celsius).
- SUMMER in D.C. lasts from June through August. Temperatures are generally between 60º and 90º Fahrenheit (between 16º and 32º Celsius).
- FALL in D.C. lasts from September through November. Temperatures are generally between 40º and 70º Fahrenheit (between 4º and 15º Celsius).
Airports
- RONALD REAGAN WASHINGTON NATIONAL AIRPORT (DCA) This airport is located in Arlington County, Virginia, and it is the closest airport to the Washington D.C. area. The airport is connected to the metro system and offers taxi and shuttle services. For this airport's location click here.
- DULLES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (IAD) This airport is located in Dulles, Virginia, 26 miles (42 kilometers) from Washington, DC. It offers shuttle and taxi services and there is a close metro station (silver line). For the location of this airport, click here.
- BALTIMORE WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL THURGOOD MARSHAL AIRPORT (BWI) This airport is located just outside of the city of Baltimore in Maryland, 32 miles (52 kilometers) from Washington, DC. It offers shuttle and taxi services and there is a train station close to the facilities of the airport. For the location of this airport, click here.
Health Insurance
All interns working at the General Secretariat of the OAS must acquire medical insurance with coverage in the country where they will do their internship and for the entire session. Valid proof of insurance should be sent to the Department of Human Resources before the beginning of the internship.
Where would you like to do your internship?
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