Internship Program at NATO Association of Canada

Internship Program at NATO Association of Canada

The NATO Association of Canada aims to engage Canada’s citizenry in global security by providing a forum for Canadians to learn about and discuss our country’s contribution to international affairs, peace, and security. The NATO Association’s Internship Program offers a unique opportunity for young Canadians between the ages of 18 and 30 to further their understanding of international relations by joining us at the NATO Association’s office in Toronto, Canada, for a four-month internship. The goal of the Internship Program is to help students and recent graduates transition from post-secondary education to a rewarding career in fields such as defence, security, international affairs, and business.

About the Internship Program

The Internship Program offers unique and challenging work for motivated individuals wishing to display their knowledge of NATO, international affairs, and Canadian defence. We provide interns with a platform to publish well-researched articles that communicate the importance of global security issues in the everyday lives of Canadians.

There are three Internship Sessions per year: January to the end of April (Winter Session), May to the end of August (Summer Session), and September to the end of December (Fall Session). The internship lasts for a duration of four months on a full-time basis and is an unpaid position.

Responsibilities

Interns have the following responsibilities:

• Publish one article that is 650-850 words in length each week (12 in total);
• Coordinate one program or initiative;
• Edit article contributions from Junior Research Fellows;
• Assist in event organization;
• Utilize social media to increase the reach of the NATO Association’s work;
• Contact prospective sponsors and attendees on behalf of the NATO Association.

General Qualifications

We look for motivated and knowledgeable individuals with an aptitude for research and journalistic writing. The intern should be capable of working in a diverse working environment and fulfilling the assigned responsibilities.

Benefits of the Internship

By interning at the NATO Association, you stand to gain:

• Valuable project management experience and professional skills;
• Access to high-profile events during your session at the NAOC;
• Publication opportunities on the NATO Association’s website and in other media;
• Networking opportunities with members of the government, foreign service, and industry — both domestic and international;
• A meeting with the President of NATO Association to discuss your future after the internship;
• A reference letter from the Honourable Hugh Segal, former Senator and Chairman of the NATO Association of Canada.

The Internship Program is designed to foster important skills in young people as they transition from the academic to the professional world. More information about what you send to learn as an NATO Association Intern can be foundhere.

The Internship Program is centered on project management and allowing interns to take ownership of their work. These projects are taken on voluntarily or created by interns themselves, allowing interns to develop their professional aptitudes through a hands-on approach to project management. While the organization does receive some benefit from this, the overall emphasis is on professional development and project management skills.

Unpaid internships in the province of Ontario must meet six conditions:

1. The training is similar to that which is given in a vocation school.
2. The training is for the benefit of the intern. You receive some benefit from the training, such as new knowledge or skills.
3. The employer derives little, if any, benefit from the activity of the intern while he or she is being trained.
4. Your training doesn’t take someone else’s job.
5. Your employer isn’t promising you a job at the end of your training.
6. You have been told that you will not be paid for your time.

How to Apply

Application Deadline for the 2017 Winter Session: November 15th, 2017, 

Applications for the Internship Program are accepted year-round, with the deadlines to apply for each term landing early in March, July, and November, respectively.

In your application package, please include the following:

• Curriculum vitae;
• Cover letter;
• Names and contact information of three references;
• A journalistic writing sample of 800-1000 words on international affairs.

Please send your application package before the stipulated deadline to internships@natoassociation.ca or by mail to:

NATO Association of Canada
60 Harbour Street, 4th Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M5J 1B7
Canada

Junior Research Fellowships

In addition to the Internship Program, the NATO Association of Canada offers Junior Research Fellowships to qualified applicants who wish to contribute to the NATO Association, but have commitments or other circumstances conflicting with the full-time position. The Junior Research Fellowship is a research and writing position, and involves writing one article each week over a 4-month period on a designated topic of interest. It is ideal for those with an aptitude for research who wish to publish articles on subjects of interest.

Applications for the Junior Research Fellowship are processed on a rolling basis. To apply, please send your application to internships@natoassociation.ca (see instructions above) specifying your interest in the Junior Research Fellowship and your program of choice: e.g., Canadian Armed Forces, Women in Security, Canada’s NATO, International Business and Economics, etc.

Read more and apply here.