FETCHING POLICY JOBS IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Activities are designed to make students acquainted with the application and selection processes to policy jobs in international and European Union affairs. The module culminates with an individual mock interview simulation. Targeted feedback, provided collectively and in one-to-one format, will help students to prepare at best for their future attempts to be recruited in different policy areas, both in governmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as in think tanks or even operators from the private sector. A group interview is also organized, as these are increasingly used to assess candidates in policy job competitions, along with a so-called flipchart presentation exercise.

Not applicable.

As regards “knowledge and understanding”, the course is designed to make students acquainted with the application and selection processes to policy jobs in international and EU affairs, as well as with the specific challenges stemming from the interactions in a job interview. A series of lectures on job interviews dynamics and an introduction to the most effective techniques for preparations will help students to develop their awareness and be better ready for the hyper competitive job market of the international affairs industry. With regards to “applying knowledge and understanding”, students will be confronted with three main simulation challenges: an individual structured job interview, a group interview designed around a complex negotiation scenario, and an individual flipchart presentation. These three steps are all increasingly used (often combined) in the selection processes for both governmental and non-governmental policy jobs in International and EU affairs. Students will receive mentoring also on their ability in “making judgements”. For example, a seminar will explicitly train them on how to quickly assess interview questions and mentally categorize them, as well as on what best techniques can be employed to always answer effectively and to the point, including in situations where interviewers and assessors try to put candidate under extreme pressure. Concrete examples will be provided on how to elaborate meaningful answers related to the content of the job or the attitude required for the profession. Students are expected to develop through practice, and by attending all three mock simulations (participation is compulsory), their ability to “communicate with impact”. Thanks to collective and one-to-one feedback, students will be guided also on how to strengthen their overall learning abilities.

The lab runs over a 24-hour span. Activities are introduced with sufficient time for students to plan properly and thoroughly their individual application work, and get ready for the mock simulations. Following a series of introductory lectures on job interview dynamics and preparations techniques, students will be confronted with three main simulation challenges. 1. Group interviews will be organized to test students’ capacities to interact with other colleagues in a professional negotiation context, while dealing with a complex and technical scenario. 2. Flipchart presentations will confront students with the challenge of organizing information, at short notice, for effective oral reporting. Thematically, this will be linked to the subjects of the group exercise. 3. Individual structured job interviews will be organized at the end of the course, following a mock application process. Initially, a fac-simile call for applications is circulated. Job opportunities will be presented on various policy areas, so to allow each student to find at least one interesting vacancy for which she/he can try to “sell” skills, expertise and motivation. Among others, job vacancies will be issued in the fields of asylum and migration policy, security, development cooperation, political affairs, human rights, rule of law, socio-economic policies, staff issues and human resources management, institutional communication and outreach. Students will be asked to choose in these areas between posts that are offered either at international governmental organizations (to serve in both headquarters and field offices) or in the civil society sector. Each student will have to pick one job opportunity only, to which she/he must apply by a given deadline, which is fixed two weeks before the days of the mock interviews. Students will be asked to apply for posts by submitting the following documents: (i) a formal cover email; (ii) a one-page motivation letter; (iii) a detailed Curriculum Vitae, respecting the official template of the organization chosen. Students must work out their respective application packages individually, and they are expected to submit them electronically, directly to the instructor and the lab assistant, ahead of the identified deadline. Once applications are all reviewed by the evaluation committee, students will receive an acceptance email with confirmation of being shortlisted and a specific timeslot for individual interviews will be assigned. Students will then undergo through the interview process at the university, sitting before a panel of at least two or three officials from different international institutions and an additional member serving as panel secretary and observer. Structured interviews will last around 30 minutes for each student, followed by thorough individual feedback and then group discussion. Students will receive individual feedback focused on their respective performances (targeting both attitude, approach to questions, and overall preparedness), as well as on the documents submitted in the application package. A closing session is organized right at the end of the interview day, with a view to discuss lessons learned and mentor again students collectively on the dos and don'ts of the application process, the group interview, the flipchart presentation and the individual structured interview.

Targeted material will be distributed in the course of lectures and seminars.

Induction seminars will provide students with the necessary understanding of recruitment challenges related to policy jobs in international and EU affairs. When facing the mock interview, students will experience the simulation of a "real" interview panel. By providing one-to-one feedback on the spot, students will be guided based on their individual needs.

Students will be assessed in the context of the mock interviews and the flipchart presentation exercise. The individual interview will be conducted by a panel, composed also of other guest practitioners with consolidated experience in the selection of young professionals in various international organizations. The group interview will be organised on the model of a complex negotiation exercise, with practitioners observing in a note-taking capacity but without interacting with the candidates. Interaction is resumed in the context of the flipchart presentation that follows the group interview exercise.

Not applicable.

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