Recruitment and Selection

IISD will be recruiting approximately 10 young professionals for the 2008 - 2009 YCLSF program.

This year's recruitment period will run from April 7 to May 12, 2008. The deadline for submitting applications is May 12, 2008 or until all positions have been filled.

IISD receives about 300 applications every year. We take pride in going through each application thoroughly and selecting appropriate individuals for specific host organizations. IISD staff will have completed and reviewed all of the applications and will be calling those selected for interviews in late May and June. Interviews will take place either by phone or in person.

This process may lead to your name appearing on a second short list, which means we are ready to put forward your application to the host organization. The host organization makes the final selection of the intern.

Please note that IISD negotiates your posting with the overseas host organization, taking into consideration your qualifications, experience and needs. Interns will sign a consulting contract with the host organization and IISD. However, neither IISD nor the host organization is your employer. You are an independent contractor.

If you have been selected, you will receive a phone call from the program officer or manager confirming your acceptance for the position. A package of information and a letter stating your acceptance will be mailed to you.

Placements begin in August.

However, selection isn't considered final until the medical examination has been approved by IISD, you have successfully completed the pre-departure orientation and have signed the contract with IISD and the host organization.

Duties and Responsibilities

Medical Examination

An offer from IISD is conditional upon a satisfactory and complete medical examination. You will receive a special medical form that needs to be filled out by your doctor. It is mandatory that this form be completed according to instructions and returned to IISD as soon as possible.

Pre-departure Orientation – Youth Building Sustainable Futures and Career Enhancement Session

All interns must undertake an orientation session at IISD before their placement. While in Winnipeg, young Canadian leaders will participate in training modules on sustainable development issues such as climate change, trade and sustainable development, business and the environment, youth and sustainable development, development, the Internet and natural resource management. The goal of the briefing is to assist IISD's young Canadian leaders prepare for their assignment overseas. Specific objectives are to:

• provide a basic understanding of the history, development and organization of IISD and the different program areas;
• be given the opportunity to meet IISD staff;
• provide a more complete understanding of current issues surrounding sustainable development;
• raise awareness and appreciation of the host country, including its geography, people, culture and living conditions;
• understand the adaptation process and gain knowledge on how to minimize culture stress and homesickness;
• improve effective communication skills, including conflict resolution;
• receive health and insurance briefings; and
• understand the administrative procedures relating to their assignment.

You will be notified as to your briefing dates when you have been selected for an overseas position. Accommodations during this period will be provided by IISD.

IISD regards the training session as part of the assessment process of its interns and therefore reserves the right to withdraw the selection of a candidate at any stage of the application process, including the pre-departure orientation, if he/she proves to be unsuitable for personal or professional reasons.

Debriefing – Career Enhancement Session

After completing their internships, young Canadian leaders participate in a one-week career enhancement session in Winnipeg. This session is intended to provide returning participants with the opportunity to reflect, analyze, synthesize, appreciate, adjust and to evaluate their experiences. As well, interns will be expected to present their work experience to IISD staff. Specific objectives of the career enhancement session are to:

• provide information on networking and using the internship experience to ones advantage;
• assess todays job market;
• promote cultural re-adaptation and hold an evaluation retreat;
• make presentations and share experiences; and
• evaluate the program.

During Your Placement

Interns will be required to submit at least two reports, one in the middle and one at the end of their internship. Periodically, interns will be asked to submit information to the program manager or other staff at IISD. Interns will draft a job search strategy for themselves during the final week at IISD and give a presentation on their experiences to IISD staff during the debriefings. At the end of the internship, interns are expected to actively seek employment.

Time Commitment

Young Canadian leader participants will be expected to commit to the full six to eight months of their internship. A placement cannot be changed once the participant has agreed to it, except under special circumstances. Interns are expected to work the regular working hours of the host organization. Holidays and vacations should be worked out between the intern and the host organization.

Logistics

Supervision

While at IISD, interns will report to the YCLSF program manager. During international placements, interns will report to a supervisor assigned by the host organization, but will also maintain regular contact with the YCLSF program manager via e-mail. The intern will also be expected to submit regular reports to the YCLSF program manager.

Health Insurance

IISD will provide the interns with a health package, which complements provincial health coverage for the duration of the internship. Interns are responsible to ensure they are covered under a provincial health plan. If for some reason you feel that it does not cover everything, please feel free to obtain additional health coverage. It is the intern's responsibility to read the information and to know what the health plan covers.

Immunizations

Some countries may require that you have immunizations. We strongly recommend that interns go to their doctors as soon as they are accepted into the program to find out which immunizations are needed. Interns are responsible for covering the cost of their immunizations.

Personal Insurance

It is the interns responsibility to arrange for personal property insurance that covers theft and loss or damage to personal belongings while in another country.

Visas

Interns are responsible for obtaining the necessary visas to work in the country of their host organization. IISD will assist in making the necessary arrangements and cover the cost of the visas for the duration of assignments overseas.

Passport

All interns are required to obtain a passport at their own expense and must send a copy of the information page upon acceptance of the placement. Passport applications are available at post offices. It can take up to two to three weeks to process a passport application. Please allow for mailing time.

Payment

The intern will receive approximately $8803.60. EI and CPP contributions will be deducted from this amount.

Interns are responsible for paying for their basic living expenses while overseas. Costs will vary according to country and job location. The host organizations have been asked to either provide a stipend towards the cost of your accommodation or free accommodation. This will also vary from host organization to host organization. Due to the high costs of living in the U.K., Switzerland, Norway, Germany and other countries you will need to be very strict in managing your funds. These internships cannot be seen as a moneymaking venture. The money you will receive will cover your cost of living only. It is recommended that you have additional funds to provide yourself with any entertainment, communication and extracurricular activities. In return, you will be placed with a leading and highly-respected organization to gain valuable work experience and skills for your future employment endeavours. If you have a student loan, it may be possible to defer payment during the course of your internship.

Travel to Orientation

At the start of the internship, IISD will provide each intern with a return airfare ticket from their place of residence in Canada to Winnipeg. The return portion of the ticket will be at the end of the internship.

Travel from Winnipeg

Interns are responsible for their international travel to and from Winnipeg and the host organization.

Housing Overseas

Whenever possible, host organizations will either provide their intern with free accommodations or a monthly stipend to offset the cost of accommodations. Sometimes host organizations already have a place for their intern to live. Host organizations are asked to assist interns in finding suitable housing.

Interns who are placed with IISD in Winnipeg are required to pay for their own accommodations from the internship award.

Change of Status

Misinformation on your application or failure to notify IISD of any change could result in withdrawal of your nomination before departure or being asked to return to Canada if you are already in the field.