Irish Aid UNV Internships

dory

Hello.
Just wondering, has anyone any experience with applying for this? For those of you not in the know, Irish Aid send between 10 - 16 people away to the UN for a year every year to get experience in International Development. The deadline for this year's is next Wednesday.
I'd like to know what kind of person gets called to interview and what kind of questions would be asked at the interview stage. This is usually very competitive and with the embargo on public sector jobs I'm guessing it will be even more so this year.

Info on the positions is here; http://www.irishaid.gov.ie/article.asp?article=1491 They have 18 positions so maybe they'll send that many this year.

And mods, I had thought about putting this in the volunteering section, but I really think it would have a better chance at a response here. Cheers.

Sweets70

Well I can help you with some of those. I spoke to the people running it at the Irish Aid fair on Saturday. Between one and two years experience. A post - graduate degree. An advantage if you spoke French or Spanish. It will be 16 placements, and not all of those listed will go ahead, and some will change. Final placements will be released the middle fo October. I too would love to know some of the interview questions, and it will probably be super competitive. If you have over 3 years experience it would be better applying to VSO. IF you have over five you can apply directly to the UNV programme.

Edit: It is an entry level position and anyone with over three years experience is discounted.

pow wow

I know a girl who got into it a couple of years ago but don't know much about the interview process. I was going to apply myself this year but none of the proposed jobs on the list are in my field (fingers crossed for next year!).

Sweets70, when you say they discount people with 3+ years experience, what kind of experience do you mean? Most of us of a 'certain age' would have more than 3 years work experience - do you mean 3 years relevant experience or 3 years experience in any work?

dory, did you try for any of the DFA internships that were out earlier in the year?

Sweets70

What they say themselves

'not more than three years' full time employment or business experience'.

Make of that what you will. The feeling I got, from seeing the people enquiring and the answers they gave, its a entry level grad oppurtunity (all people I saw were in their 20's), designed for recent graduates with a year or two under their belt. They seem interested in clever/ambituous people they can train up as career aid/development workers.

If you have over 5 years experience, the UNV programme which they were promoting on the day as well, is the one to go for. VSO is a great programme too and after 3 they take people. And they too are a way into a development career as the guy from VSO was saying: he talked about volunteers returning and then continuing to work in the sector.

However the message coming from them is: you should apply anyway if your interested. Also they don't really want you to apply for a specific job, but more state an area of general interest in the Covering Letter. Those placements aren't definite. So if I were you Pow I'd fill up a form anyway.

pow wow

Thanks Sweets70 - will do! I was concerned about the 3 years because although I'm still in my mid-20s, I worked for a few years before uni so technically have more than 3 years full-time experience before my undergrad/masters. I'll give it a shot anyway, you don't ask you don't get right?

Thanks!

Sweets70

Well thats just it. Might as well give it a shot, and you have to be in it to win it. You never know and they weren't giving away specifics on the day and were very tight lipped when some people asked them: what specifically would help. I do know last year they were expecting 270/80 responses and where going to narrow it down 70 for the first round interviews. They got well in advance of three hundred responses.

Silas

If you dont have any experience in aid work abroad is there any point applying. I have like an arts and law degree and a masters in law in criminal law and human rights and would be really interested in that internship. My question would be whether my lack of field experience hinder me?

Sweets70

Look at the placements online (provisional) and see what degree/masters they are looking for, for the ones that interest you. They're all different. I know that experience of living and working in the Developing World (however small I don't know) was a requirement for first round interviews last year. Apply anyway you have nothing to loose.

dory

I only just saw the replies to this thread now.
Thanks for the input, pity no one knows what they ask at the interview!
I didn't try for the DFA ones earlier because I was still doing a masters. I think I tick all the boxes of what they require so I guess I'll just have to sit and wait. Interviews start in ten days so they have to let people know soon!

Sweets70

So has anyone had any news regarding this? Have interviews started yet?

dory

They're supposed to start Monday so anyone who is going to hear should have heard already.
That said, I thought the same about another internship earlier in the year - and I gave up on it. Two days later got an email apologising for the delay, they weren't expecting such interest etc. I suspect the same may happen here.
Would still just like to know if they have called people yet so I could cross this off my list!

Sweets70

Well to be honest I'd like to know too, but I guess we will find out either way eventually. I know that they do e mail everyone who applies. Last year they send out rejections just one week after the closing date, so this is really bizarre. Unless they have been inundated, and I'm going to use an overused phrase now, being the year that’s in it, I guess that's not a surprise.

dory

Interviews were announced today!

fi314

I just got called for an interview today:D

Still not sure what type of questions they might ask............

dory

Good job! When is your interview? I would love to know what they ask. I'm trying to think of any possible thing they could ask but they could throw anyway at me really.

fi314

Next Fri, wonder if many are getting interviewed, i heard it was over 70..

dory

Ohh best of luck. I'm away next week so I had to put it off until the following Monday. Hope they don't already have their heart set on a certain 16 before I arrive.

Sweets70

Well they don't actually decide themselves. They just draw up a panel. 2 or 3 people for each post and the people in Bonn or in the field offices decide who they want.

fi314

Has anyone heard back. Think I am at the final stage...

or anyone been on one of these interns, love to hear other peoples experience

dory

What do you mean you think? They should have told you by now if you're being nominated for one of the positions, think everyone from the second stage interviews got a nomination so now it's sit and wait time.

I got a really great email from a current intern. PM me if you'd like to hear what she's up to.

fi314

Sorry I mean to say got the nomination, got a random email from UNV telling me to register on the roster so they can complete the formalities, sounded really positive but don't want to tempt fate by saying I got it until I get confirmation from Irish Aid. Fingers crossed though....

Did you get a nomination?? Be great to hear what your friend up too

dory

http://www.irishaid.gov.ie/article.asp?article=1082

It's starting again!

If anyone has a masters, second language and some experience volunteering abroad you should apply. I'm one of this year's crew. Very good experience.

pow wow

dory wrote: »

http://www.irishaid.gov.ie/article.asp?article=1082

It's starting again!

If anyone has a masters, second language and some experience volunteering abroad you should apply. I'm one of this year's crew. Very good experience.

Wrong link :P 2011 is here http://www.irishaid.gov.ie/article.asp?article=1678

They'll also be at the Volunteering Fair this Saturday in Dublin for anyone who is interested.

frguru

Hi folks. Was wondering if anyone has any tips and or information regarding this? I have a interview with them in a couple of weeks and would love some information on what i should expect. seems like it could be a great experience.

Rock of Gibraltar

dory wrote: »

and some experience volunteering abroad

I very much disagree with the DFA with this policy of hiring only those with volunteering experience abroad.
It isn't a UNV requirement for any other of their internships that i've come across.

They'll loose out on many very qualified people with this requirement. To take the extreme possibility the DFA would prefer someone with a classics degree and two weeks volunteer holiday as an unskilled labourer building houses somewhere in Africa to someone who studied development economics and is a qualified accountant but has spent no time in a developing country.

Fair enough if its the deciding factor between two equal candidates but it shouldn't be an application requirement.

velleity

frguru wrote: »

Hi folks. Was wondering if anyone has any tips and or information regarding this? I have a interview with them in a couple of weeks and would love some information on what i should expect. seems like it could be a great experience.

Hi,

can I ask when you heard from them and how they got in touch?

I'd applied and haven't heard anything yet, but been away so not sure if it's a no or if I just missed them.

frguru

velleity wrote: »

Hi,

can I ask when you heard from them and how they got in touch?

I'd applied and haven't heard anything yet, but been away so not sure if it's a no or if I just missed them.

They emailed me about a week ago. I dont know anyone else who applied so dunno if they have sent out all their responses yet.

pow wow

Rock of Gibraltar wrote: »

I very much disagree with the DFA with this policy of hiring only those with volunteering experience abroad.

I can see your point but they have so many qualified people applying they have their pick of whoever they want, and I would imagine most would have overseas experience. Adding an extra requirement means less applications to trawl through I suppose. The requirement is much like graduate schemes who insist you've interned somewhere, when plenty of people can't afford to work for nothing. It's not at all fair and I've no doubt they're missing out on plenty of people who would perform well as UNV interns, but they have to set the bar somewhere.

frguru

Rock of Gibraltar wrote: »

I very much disagree with the DFA with this policy of hiring only those with volunteering experience abroad.
It isn't a UNV requirement for any other of their internships that i've come across.

They'll loose out on many very qualified people with this requirement. To take the extreme possibility the DFA would prefer someone with a classics degree and two weeks volunteer holiday as an unskilled labourer building houses somewhere in Africa to someone who studied development economics and is a qualified accountant but has spent no time in a developing country.

Fair enough if its the deciding factor between two equal candidates but it shouldn't be an application requirement.

As far as I am aware you only needed experience volunteering OR travelling in developing countries which would cover a pretty wide demographic. It is hardly unreasonable considering the reactions some people can have when moving from a western society to working in a developing nation. The last thing they want is to invest in someone who is highly qualified only for them to turn around a month into a placement to say they want out of the programme due to the conditions on the ground.