The IRC’s Richmond office offers a variety of unpaid internship opportunities throughout the year.

Steps to becoming an IRC Intern:

This is an unpaid internship.

  1. Get to know the IRC in Richmond and learn more about how you can be involved by attending a monthly information session. To RSVP for the information session, email the Volunteer Coordinator at [email protected]. 
  2. When you are ready to join the IRC as an intern, search for available opportunities here. Narrow the search by location and Employee Category (Intern).
  3. Once applications are reviewed, qualified candidates will be invited for an initial interview with staff. Highly qualified candidates will be invited for a second interview which may be held in-person or virtually.
  4. All offers are contingent on passing a background check.
  5. When your placement is confirmed, the Volunteer Coordinator will work with you and the appropriate staff person to complete onboarding documents. All newly accepted interns are required to attend a training session to learn about office policies, confidentiality, and communication guidelines and to make all efforts to participate in ongoing training opportunities.

The IRC in Richmond offers internships during the summer and the academic year (fall + spring).

Summer Internships:
June - August
15+ hours / week. More are preferred.

Academic Year Internships:
September - May
10+ hours/week.

Interns are selected to assist with various departments at the IRC, including:

Casework: Interns will assist casework staff in providing direct client services, including shopping for and setting up households for arriving refugee families, providing Cultural Orientation, transporting and accompanying clients to required appointments such as Social Security office, Health Department, Department of Social Services and providing orientation to the Richmond public transit system. Interns will also perform administrative tasks such as completing applications for services on behalf of clients, creating documentation for case files, and making appointments. Valid driver's license, vehicle insurance, good driving record, and regular access to a vehicle required.

Employment: Finding and maintaining employment is a key element to refugee self-sufficiency. The intern will assist IRC employment staff to identify potential employers and job opportunities for refugee clients. The intern will complete job applications, assist with resume writing, prepare clients for job interviews, fill out new hire paperwork, shop for needed work clothes and tools, and accompany clients to their first day of work. Depending on the intern's schedule, h/she may act as a teaching assistant in job readiness classes. The intern will also provide administrative support including documenting job search activities and delivering appointment notices to clients' homes. Valid driver's license, vehicle insurance, good driving record, and regular access to a vehicle required.

Health: The Health Intern will work closely with the IRC Health Liaison to assist clients with their health care needs. This may include care coordination, advocacy, and transportation assistance. Valid driver's license, vehicle insurance, good driving record, and regular access to a vehicle required.

Trafficking Victims Assistance: Under supervision of the Health Liaison, interns will assist with enrollments, assessments, and service plans; applying for identification documents; making physical and mental healthcare appointments; accompany clients to appointments; assist with completing new patient registration; and advocate for clients' language needs. Additional duties include help clients access and understand public benefits, make referrals to relevant community partners, accompany Health Liaison to relevant conferences and community discussions during internship. Valid driver's license, vehicle insurance, good driving record, and consistent access to a reliable vehicle required.


*Please note that all internships are unpaid.