Council Internships: Working for your future
World Affairs Council interns are celebrated for their hard work. In return for that dedication and energy, our interns see the world on a personal basis: names in the news become people they’ve met; overseas news stories evolve into local missions of understanding.
Many of our traditionally unpaid interns have gone on to careers in the public and private sectors and use their Council experience to deal with international and national projects. The Council seeks sharp college or graduate level talented, passionate, and energetic individuals to help us accomplish our daily missions. (Our intern program may translate into college credit – consult your academic advisor.)
Eligibility
The World Affairs Council accepts a limited number of inters at its downtown Dallas office each semester.
- Students currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a college, community college, or university (two–four year institution)
- Recent graduates from an undergraduate or graduate program at a college, community college, or university no more than 6 months before the first day of the internship
Qualifications
- Strong desire to work and learn in an international environment
- Ability to write formal documents including letters and reports
- Experience with databases or data entry
- Effective communication skills and the ability to collaborate professionally in a multicultural setting
- Reliability and flexibility
Commitment
Interns are required to commit a minimum of 15 hours a week; hours are flexible depending on students’ schedules and the needs of the office. Attendance is also mandatory for the intern orientation (held on the first day of each session) and at least three speaker programs.
WACDFW staff works a hybrid schedule and will accommodate interns’ schedules to reflect working days in office.
Internships are unpaid; however, we provide parking validation or DART stipend, free attendance to Council speaker programs, and a variety of professional development workshops.
Apply for an Internship Today!
All application materials must be submitted before the application deadline at 5:00 PM CT. Due to the high volume of applications received, individual inquiries may not be answered. Applicants should also be prepared for a formal interview. Recognizing that many potential interns are in school or studying abroad, we accommodate virtual interviews but prefer in-person interviews whenever possible.
Spring 2024 Application Deadline: November 3, 2024
Start Date: January 8
End Date: April 26
Summer 2024 Application Deadline: March 15, 2024
Start Date: June 3
End Date: August 9
Fall 2024 Application Deadline: June 14, 2024
Start Date: August 26
End Date: December 6
Spring 2025 Application Deadline: November 1, 2024
Start Date: January 6
End Date: April 25
Please follow the instructions below to apply:
- Completed Internship Application
- Current resume
- Cover letter
- A two-page, single-spaced writing sample that adheres to one of the following choices:
- Press release
- Book review on an international topic
- Research paper on an international issue
- Essay answering the following question: How would a World Affairs Council internship fit with your academic and/or career goals?
Email: Internships
Mail:
World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth
Attn: Internship Coordinator
325 North Saint Paul Street
Suite 4200
Dallas, TX 75201
For more information, please contact Tory Tolar, our Internship Coordinator at vtolar@dfwworld.org
Departmental internship positions are available during all terms: Fall, Spring, and Summer
Education Intern (Global Young Leaders Program)
The Global Young Leaders Program educates North Texas students and teachers on how international events affect their lives, their communities and their country. Responsibilities include preparing and updating information packages for workshops and leadership trainings, updating our database, and attending education events if possible.
International Visitor Program & Protocol Interns
The International Visitor Program coordinates U.S. State Department-sponsored visits of adult and youth delegations from around the world. The intern will assist with all programmatic aspects of the International Visitor Leadership Program including drafting proposals for upcoming projects, maintaining a list of current Dallas/Fort Worth area resources and communicating with volunteers for incoming delegations. Other projects may include assisting the Protocol office with events at Dallas City Hall.
Marketing & Communications Intern
The Communications internship is a great opportunity for applicants that enjoy working in a fast-paced environment and want to enhance their communications skills. This role is primarily research and writing focused first but must be able to provide creative ideas to help achieve our goals. Interns help in all areas of marketing for the Council’s programming including creating social media/website graphics and research for website write ups.
Membership & Development Interns
The Membership & Development require interns who have excellent writing skills, experience with customer service and an ability to work in databases and with other detail-oriented tasks. Daily responsibilities include maintaining and updating membership records in the Council’s database, writing and editing member correspondence, providing information to current and potential members, researching prospective funding sources, assisting with gift acknowledgment process and attending Council speaker programs.
Programs Interns
The Programs department gives interns the opportunity to develop written, research, and organizational skills through a variety of assigned projects. Interns are asked to research and compose bios for incoming speakers, craft remarks, research materials and assist with all administrative tasks associated with program planning and execution. Interns will also be exposed to different aspects of managing a non-profit organization, including program fundraising, board relations, and membership development.