IR career starters - July 2026
We're delighted that Alexander Borum, a special advisor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark diplomatic corps, has kindly agreed for us to reproduce his periodical list of internships, traineeships, fellowships and entry-level positions in IR on our website.
Despite the searing heat, July offers new and old subscribers a great oppotunity to unwind, recharge and refocus efforts.
Pursuing a career in international affairs is by no means easy, and with an influx of new subscribers, itβs a great excuse to revisit the many guide articles that I have produced over the years!
Student/Graduate/Young Professional Guides
A great starting point is my general guides on how to ease yourself into career building, depending on your life status; setting goals, getting on a good trajectory, and having a plan are all crucial parts of kicking things off and staying on track!
How to: CV, Cover, Test, Interviews and LinkedIn
For concrete advice on the key aspects of the job hunt, I have a set of very focused guides that help you put together a solid CV, write a good cover letter, do well on competency-based tests and in interviews, and make the most of LinkedIn.
AD5 and Young Professional Programmes
For those looking for upper-tier options, I have also compiled an overview of young professionals programmes and traineeships, as well as a highly specialised guide to seeking a career position with the EU by competing in the AD5 concours.
All my guides are available on my website
All the best,
Alex
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications Intern for Localisation Mangement Unit, Copenhagen [PUD] [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Economic Recovery and MEAL Intern, Copenhagen [DEV] [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Protection Assistant, Kadugli (2) [SEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Humanitarian Mine Action Team, Aleppo (6) [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Protection Assistant- PSS, Ethiopia (3) [HEA] [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Protection Assistant - GBV Caseworker, Sanja [HUM] [SEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Protection Assistant - PCM, Sanja [HUM] [SEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Protection Assistant β Community Based Protection (CBP), Humera [SEC] [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Protection Assistant - Monitoring, Ethiopia (3) [ACA] [SEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Shelter and Settlement Assistant, Barvinkove [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Safety Assistant (Radio Operator), Kyiv [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Sino-German Cooperation on Climate Change, Beijing [DIP] [ENV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Green Climate Fund business development, Eschborn [ENV] [ECO]
π International Peace Institute π
ππ§πππ«π§, Women, Peace and Security, New York [SEC] [LAW]
https://www.ipinst.org/about/employment
ππ§πππ«π§, LGBT Rights Program, Berlin [LAW] [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Development & Outreach Department, Paris [HUM] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Development & Outreach Department, Tokyo [HUM] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Development & Outreach Department, Sydney [HUM] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Development & Outreach Department, Geneva [HUM] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Asia Division Intern, Tokyo [DIP] [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Asia Division Intern, Sydney [DIP] [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, International Justice Program Intern, - [LAW]
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications Intern, Brussels [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Coordinator, Africa, New York [PUD] [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Officer, Accounting, - [ECO]
π European Council on Foreign Relations π
ππ§πππ«π§, Programme Support Intern - Events & Advocacy, Sofia [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Programme Coordinator - Asia (m/f/d), Berlin [DIP]
π Council on Foreign Relations π
ππ§πππ«π§, Programming, Corporate and CEO Programs [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Corporate Member Relations [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Development [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, AI Engineering [TEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Audience Strategy and Growth [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Data Visualization [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Digital Content, Editorial [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Digital Content, Video [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Podcast [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Product Development [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Education, Digital Content [EDU]
ππ§πππ«π§, Executive Office [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Foreign Affairs, Advertising [DIP] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Foreign Affairs, Data Science [DIP] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Foreign Affairs, Editorial [DIP] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Global Communication and Media Relations [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, National Program and Outreach [DIP] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Africa Policy Studies [DIP] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, China Strategy Initiative [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Chinese History [ACA] [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Climate Realism Initiative [ENV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Conflict Studies [SEC] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Digital and Cyberspace Policy [TEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Directorβs Office, Center for Geoeconomics [DIP] [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Europe Studies [DIP] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Finance, Business, and Technology [ECO] [TEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Geoeconomics [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Global Health, Economics, and Development [HEA] [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, History, Foreign Policy, and International Economics [DIP] [ECP]
ππ§πππ«π§, India, Pakistan, and South Asia [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, International Institutions and Global Governance [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, International Political Economy [DIP] [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Latin America and Geoeconomics [DIP] [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Nuclear Security [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Publications [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Russia Studies [DIP] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Task Force Program [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Technology and National Security [TEC] [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, U.S. Foreign Policy (Future of American Strategy) [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, U.S. Foreign Policy [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Government Affairs [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, New York Meetings [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Washington Meetings [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Associate, Greenberg Center for Geoeconomics, New York [ACA] [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Associate, China Strategy Initiative, Washington [ACA] [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Program Assistant, LEAD AI, Washington [TEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Associate, U.S. Foreign Policy, Washington [ACA] [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Program Assistant, Meetings, New York [PUD]
π European Army Interoperability Centre π
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications, Brussels [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Editor, Brussels [PUD]
π Carnegie Endowment for International Peace π
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications, Beirut [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Research, Beirut [ACA] [SEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Program Assistant, Nuclear Policy Program, Washington [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, - Japan Chair (Summer 2026) [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, - Korea Chair (Spring and Summer 2026) [DIP]
Communications and Operations Intern - Economic Security and Technology Department (Spring 2026) [PUD] [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, - Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program (Spring 2026) [ACA] [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, - Korea Chair (Spring 2026) [ACA] [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, - Renewing American Innovation Project (Spring 2026) [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, - Project on Prosperity and Development and the Sustainable Development and Resilience Initiative (Spring 2026) [DEV]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Fellow or Senior Fellow - Indian Energy and Climate Policy [ENV]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Fellow & Project Manager for Imagery Analysis - iDeas Lab [ACA]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Associate Fellow or Fellow - Economics Program and Scholl Chair in International Business [ECO]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Energy Security and Climate Change Program - Fellow [ENV] [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Program Coordinator & Research Assistant - Chair on India and Emerging Asia Economics [ACA] [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Program Coordinator / Research Assistant - Americas Program [ACA] [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Logistics Assistant, Damazin [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², ICLA Technical Assistant Bangladesh Coxβs Bazar, Teknaf [LAW]
ππ§ππ«π², ICLA Technical Assistant Colombia Northeast, Arauca [LAW]
ππ§ππ«π², HR and Administration Technical Assistant DR Congo, Sud Kivu [PUD] [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Finance Technical Assistant DR Congo, Sud Kivu [ECO] [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Finance Technical Assistant Ukraine, Mykolaiv [ECO] [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Protection Assistant Uganda, Kampala [SEC]
ππ§ππ«π², HR and Administration Technical Assistant Nort-East Ukraine, Kharkiv [PUD] [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Protection Assistant Ecuador, Lago Agrio [SEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Finance Assistant Ecuador, Lago Agrio [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², ICT Technical Assistant Uganda, Isingiro [PUD]
π Asia-Europe Foundation π
ππ§πππ«π§, Culture Department, Singapore [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications Department, Singapore [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Education Department (Higher Education), Singapore [EDU]
ππ§πππ«π§, Education Department, Singapore [EDU]
ππ§πππ«π§, Executive Office, Singapore [DIP] [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Digital Transformation Department, Singapore [TEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Governance and Sustainable Development Department, Singapore [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Human Resources Department, Singapore [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Assistant Consultant, Washington [ACA] [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, General, London [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Assistant, Kyiv [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Banker-Green Finance, London [ECO] [ENV]
π Transparency International π
ππ§ππ«π², Finance Associate, Berlin [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Junior Operations and Fundraising Officer, Fort-Dauphin [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Programme Officer - WASH and Schools, Fort-Dauphin [HEA] [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer Project Miatrika, Fort-Dauphin [ACA] [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, UK Programmes & Office Assistant, Remote [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Media and Communications Coordinator, Fort-Dauphin [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Programmes Manager - Conservation and Rural Livelihoods, Fort-Dauphin [ENV] [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Programme Officer - Environmental Conservation, Fort-Dauphin [ENV]
ππ§ππ«π², Programme Officer - Conservation and Rural Livelihoods, Fort-Dauphin [ENV] [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Programme Officer - Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development, Fort-Dauphin [ENV] [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Senior Conservation Research Assistant, Fort-Dauphin [ACA] [ENV]
ππ§ππ«π², Programme Officer β Solar and Schools, Fort-Dauphin [EDU] [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Officer, Fort-Dauphin [ACA] [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Education & Training Programme, Brussels [EDU]
ππ§ππ«π², Voluntary Fieldworker, Crete [HUM] [DEV]
π Civil Rights Defenders π
ππ§ππ«π², Programme Officer Eurasia to Civil Rights Defenders in Ukraine, Kyiv [LAW]
ππ§ππ«π², Programme Assistant to the CEO, London [DIP] [ENV]
π Transparency International EU π
ππ§πππ«π§, Illicit Financial Flows β policy traineeship, Brussels [ECO] [LAW]
ππ§πππ«π§, Law Student Internship, Remote, U.S. [LAW]
ππ§πππ«π§, Programs Intern, New York [LAW]
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications Intern, New York or Remote [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Design, Monitoring and Evaluation (DME), New York or Remote [ACA] [LAW]
ππ§ππ«π², Uganda Program Associate, Kampala [LAW]
π Open Society Foundations π
ππ§ππ«π², Associate, Program Management, Mexico City or Bogota [EDU]
ππ§ππ«π², Multimedia Associate, - [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Ukraine Human Rights Associate, - [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Communication, Bangkok [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Energy Policy, Bangkok [ENV] [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Gender Inclusive Climate Finance, Bangkok [ENV] [LAW]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Associate, Bangkok [ACA] [ENV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Student Assistant- Vocational Training, Bonn [DEV] [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Student Assistant Global Nutrition Team, Bonn [HEA] [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Assistant Policy and External Relations, Bonn [DIP] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Research Intern, Beirut [ACA]
ππ§πππ«π§, Media & Communications Intern, Beirut [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Analyst, Beirut [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Junior Digital Media and Communications Officer, Beirut [PUD]
π Hague Centre for Strategic Studies π
ππ§πππ«π§, Water, Peace and Security (WPS) internship (start date August 2026), The Hague [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, General Internship (start date July/August 2026), The Hague [SEC] [DIP]
ππ§ππ«π², Data Scientist & Software Developer (Junior), The Hague [ACA]
π Netherlands Institute of International Affairs Clingendael π
ππ§πππ«π§, Climate Security - Critical Resources Team, The Hague [ENV] [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, Youth Intern, Nairobi [ACA] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Chad : Country Finance Volunteer β Nβdjamena [HUM] [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Chad : Monitoring and Evaluation (MEAL) Volunteer β NβDjamena [ACA] [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Morocco : Country Finance Volunteer β Rabat [HUM] [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Democratic Republic of Congo : Country Finance Volunteer β Kinshasa [HUM] [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Democratic Republic of the Congo : Country Security Officer β Goma [SEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Afghanistan : Country Transparency & Compliance Officer β Kabul [LAW]
ππ§ππ«π², Democratic Republic of the Congo : Area Logistics Officer β Kalemie [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², France : Grants Management Officer β Paris [HUM] [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Mozambique: Project Development Officer β Pemba [DEV] [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Chad: Country Transparency and Compliance Officer β NβDjamena [LAW] [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Sudan : Area Logistics Officer β Roving [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Sudan : Area Security Officer β Roving [SEC]
ππ§ππ«π², France : Officer in Charge of International Development β Paris [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Democratic Republic of the Congo : Country Finance Officer β Kinshasa [EC] [DEV]
ππ§ππ«π², Sudan : Country Logistics Officer β Port-Sudan [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Sudan : Cash Project Officer β Port-Sudan [HUM]
π National Endowment for Democracy π
ππ§ππ«π², Grant Operations Assistant, Washington [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Grants Assistant, Washington [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Associate Project Officer - Western Balkans, Albania, Tirana [DIP] [LAW]
ππ§πππ«π§, Credit Risk, Paris [ECO]
π Lifelong Learning Platform π
ππ§ππ«π², Policy Assistant, Brussels [DIP]
ππ§πππ«π§, Refugee Health Promotion Intern (UNPAID), Wichita [HEA] [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Client Engagement Intern (Unpaid), Elizabeth [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Intensive Case Management Intern (Unpaid), Elizabeth [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Immigration & Citizenship Intern (Unpaid), Elizabeth [LAW]
ππ§πππ«π§, Youth Programming Intern (Unpaid), Elizabeth [EDU] [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Development Intern (Unpaid), New York [DEV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Financial Capabilities Intern (Unpaid), Elizabeth [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Economic Empowerment Intern (Unpaid), Elizabeth [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Post Resettlement Caseworker Intern (Unpaid), New York [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Preferred Communities Caseworker Intern (Unpaid), New York [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Youth Intern (Fall 2026), Silver Spring [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Data Entry - Intern, Aden [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Healthcare & Benefits Navigation Intern (Unpaid), New York [HEA] [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Health Education & Promotion Intern (Unpaid), New York [HEA] [EDU]
ππ§πππ«π§, Asylum Seeker Legal Team Intern (Unpaid), New York [LAW]
ππ§πππ«π§, Asylum Program Support Intern (Unpaid), New York [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, NY Childrenβs Health Promotion Intern (Unpaid), New York [HEA] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Employment Program Intern (Unpaid), New York [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Immigration Legal Team Intern (Unpaid), New York [LAW]
ππ§πππ«π§, Operations Intern (Fall 2026), Silver Spring [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Refugee Resettlement Intern (Fall 2026), Silver Spring [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Refugee Barrier Reduction Intern (Fall 2026), Silver Spring [LAW] [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Financial Education Capabilities Intern (Fall 2026), Silver Spring [ECO] [EDU]
ππ§πππ«π§, Immigration Legal Services Intern (Fall 2026), Silver Spring [LAW]
ππ§πππ«π§, Walk-in Services Intern (Fall 2026), Silver Spring [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Summer/Fall 2026: Development & Communications Intern (Unpaid), Silver Spring [DEV] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Extended Case Management Intern (Fall 2026), Silver Spring [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Economic Development Intern (Fall 2026), Silver Spring [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Anti-Trafficking Intern (Fall 2026), Silver Spring [LAW] [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Employment & Skill-Building Intern (Fall 2026), Silver Spring [HUM] [EDU]
ππ§πππ«π§, NYSA Photography Teaching Assistant Intern (Unpaid), New York [EDU]
ππ§πππ«π§, Instructional Design Intern, Elizabeth [HUM] [EDU]
ππ§πππ«π§, Food & Land Access Intern, Salt Lake City [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Project Management Assistant - LS2, Skopje [LAW]
ππ§ππ«π², Team Assistant - LS1, Ankara [LAW]
ππ§ππ«π², Project Management Assistant - LS2, Ankara [LAW]
ππ§ππ«π², Project Management Assistant - LS2, Sarajevo [LAW]
ππ§ππ«π², Project Officer - LP2, Belgrade [LAW]
ππ§ππ«π², Project Management Assistant - LS2, Belgrade [LAW]
ππ§ππ«π², Junior Project Officer - LP1, Skopje [LAW]
ππ§ππ«π², Project Officer - LP2, Sarajevo [LAW]
ππ§ππ«π², Team Assistant - S1, Valletta [LAW]
ππ§ππ«π², Finance and Admin Assistant, Brussels [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, People, Partnerships and Peace, Brussels [DIP] [SEC]
ππ§πππ«π§, African Economies and Climate Action, Brussels [ECO] [ENV]
ππ§πππ«π§, Events and Administration Intern, Brussels [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Youth Networker ACRO, Mexico or Trinidad and Tobago [LAW] [PUD]
π Middle East Institute π
ππ§πππ«π§, Programs and Events, Washington [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Library Assistant, Washington [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Assistant: Policy Center, Washington [ACA] [DIP]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Technology Fellow: Digital Safety and Security, New York [TEC] [SEC]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Technology Fellow: AI and Philanthropy, New York [TEC]
ππ§ππ«π², Program Associate, Mission Investments, New York [ECO] [LAW]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Associate for the India Chair [DIP] [ACA]
ππ§ππ«π², Events and Digital Media Associate, Washington [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Research Associate, China Program, Washington [DIP] [ACA]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Policy Fellow or Senior Policy Fellow, US Development Policy Program, Washington [DEV] [PUD]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, Fellow, Climate policy & development, London [ENV] [DEV]
π ππ₯π₯π¨π°, ODI Trade Fellow, Nairobi [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Finance Officer (Grants and Compliance), Brussels [ECO] [LAW]
π Minority Rights Group Europe π
ππ§ππ«π², Finance and Administrative Assistant, Budapest [HUM] [ECO]
ππ§ππ«π², Europe Programmes Assistant, Budapest [HUM]
ππ§ππ«π², Programme Officer, Budapest [HUM]
ππ§πππ«π§, Brand Partnerships Intern - Fall 2026, Virginia [PUD] [LAW]
ππ§ππ«π², Graphic Design Associate, Global Marketing, Remote (US) [PUD]
ππ§ππ«π², Assistant, Employee Experience, - [LAW]
ππ§πππ«π§, Climate, Economics and Finance, Bangalore [ENV] [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, CHAMP Communications Intern, The Hague [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Online Media and Website Intern, The Hague [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Visual Design Intern, The Hague [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, Communications Intern, Executive Office, Washington [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, EU Funding and Engagement Intern, The Hague [ECO] [PUD]
ππ§πππ«π§, WRI Business & Accounting Intern, The Hague [ECO]
ππ§πππ«π§, Fall Intern, International Trade β Washington, D.C. [ECO]
Photo by Greg Rosenke on Unsplash