The WTO Secretariat maintains a limited internship programme for post-graduate university students wishing to gain practical experience and deeper knowledge of the multilateral trading system. Only a limited number of such internship posts is available.
As part of the internship programme, we also offer the WTO Accessions Internship Programme (http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/acc_e/acc_internship_e.htm), sponsored by the Government of China, within the framework of the MOU on the "China's LDCs and Accessions Programme" established in July 2011. Four internship positions are available on an annual basis under this Programme.
Interested candidates should follow the procedures and conform to the eligibility criteria set out below.
Intake to the programme is on a continuing basis, with no specific recruitment period. There is no opening or closing date for applications.
Duration: Up to 24 weeks.
General Functions
Assignments given to interns are intended to enhance interns' knowledge and understanding of the WTO and of trade policy more generally. However, the needs of the Division recruiting an intern will be paramount in determining the precise nature of assignments.
RULES AND PROCEDURES FOR INTERNS
Eligibility:
Interns are recruited from among nationals of WTO Members state.
Interns will have completed their undergraduate studies in a relevant discipline (e.g. economics, law, political science, international relations), and shall have completed at least one year of their postgraduate studies.
The minimum age for an intern shall be 21 years and the maximum age 30 years.
A roster of suitable candidates is maintained from which interns are selected. In addition to the regular internship programme, the need may also arise to recruit interns at short notice for particular tasks. These recruits will also be drawn from the roster. Names will not be maintained on the roster for longer than one year.
Contractual Terms and Conditions:
Paid interns receive a daily allowance of CHF 60 (including week-ends and official holidays falling within the selected period). No other remuneration of any kind shall be paid.
Internships take place in Geneva, Switzerland only. Travel expenses to and from Geneva cannot be paid by the WTO, and such travel is not covered by the Organization's insurance. Interns are also responsible for their own insurance cover for illness and accidents while they are working at the WTO.
The WTO may also employ unpaid interns funded from external sources.
Internships are generally of a duration of up to 24 weeks, the length of the internship depending on the project the interns is requested to work on, and on the needs of each Division. The granting of an internship does not entail in any way the right to an extension thereof nor to a vacancy in another part of the Secretariat. Interns may nevertheless apply to external vacancies. Internships can start at any time during the year.
An internship can be terminated by the WTO Secretariat or by the intern with one week's notice.
The Director responsible for an intern will write an evaluation report at the end of the internship, and the intern will also be required to evaluate the internship. Both evaluations will be placed on file.
An agreement will be established between the intern and the Director of the Human Resources Division, specifying the conditions of service and details of any remuneration.
Interns are treated like secretariat staff members during their stay insofar as their obligations, in particular with regard to confidentiality.
Please note that all candidates must complete an online application form.
To apply, please visit the WTO's E-Recruitment website at: erecruitment.wto.org. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.
WTO E-RECRUITMENT FAQS
What if I have forgotten my username and password?
Go to the login page, enter your e-mail address in the space provided at the bottom of the page, and then click Send. Your user name and password will be sent to the e-mail account you indicated in your personal profile.
If you have a problem or do not remember the e-mail address you used, please contact the E-Recruitment Administrator.
Why should I use the on-line system?
The benefits of applying online are:
* Create your own personal account for future visits.
* Return to view and update your personal history form at any time.
* Apply to more than one vacancy notice.
* Upload a cover letter, photo and other relevant documents.
* Monitor the status of vacancy notices for which you have applied.
* Receive e-mail correspondence about vacancy notices for which you have applied.
How can I include a degree I have not yet received?
Please indicate the expected year of completion in the text box at the very bottom of the Education page.
Where is the submit button?
There is no submit button. The submission of the verification page serves as the completion of your Personal History Form. After your Personal History Form is complete, you may then apply to WTO vacancies.
May I upload documents?
No. We do not accept uploaded documents of any form. This is for many reasons, including virus concerns.
Do I need to copy and paste documents?
We do not require these documents. They are strictly optional.
A covering letter may be copied and pasted in order to express further details about your qualifications for the vacancies you have applied for.
We ask that publications, certificates and other such reference materials not be sent unless requested to do so if there is further interest from the organization.
Do I need to adjust my browser settings to use the WTO E-Recruitment system?
You do not have to adjust your browser settings to use the system, but the following configuration will ensure that your browser is fully optimized to use the system:
If you are using Netscape: Click Edit->Preferences->Advanced->Cache. Under "Compare the page in the cache to the page on the network," select "Every time I view the page."
If you are using MS Explorer: Click Tools->Internet Options. Click Settings under "Temporary Internet Files." Under "Check for newer versions of stored pages," select "Every visit to the page."
The official E-Recruitment address is:
https://erecruitment.wto.org/public
Please do not bookmark the page or save under your favourites.
If you have a personal firewall installed on your computer, you should verify its settings so that it will allow our site to be viewed.
If you encounter problems accessing your profile, or you are running an older version of your browser which needs to be updated, please update the version of your Browser by following the necessary steps on http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com
What do the checked boxes under the Personal History section represent?
The check boxes correspond to the sections of the Personal History Form. As you complete each one, a check mark appears in the corresponding box so you can quickly see which sections you have finished and which sections are still to be completed.
Do I need to adjust my browser settings to use the WTO E-Recruitment system?
You do not have to adjust your browser settings to use the system, but the following configuration will ensure that your browser is fully optimized to use the system:
If you are using Netscape: Click Edit->Preferences->Advanced->Cache. Under "Compare the page in the cache to the page on the network," select "Every time I view the page."
If you are using MS Explorer: Click Tools->Internet Options. Click Settings under "Temporary Internet Files." Under "Check for newer versions of stored pages," select "Every visit to the page."
My personal profile is complete, how do I apply for a vacancy?
Click on Apply to Vacancies at the top of the page. This will take you to the vacancy list, where you can select which vacancies you want to apply for.
How long does the selection process normally take?
The selection process may last several months.
Where can I find the closing date for the Vacancy?
Closing dates appear at the top of each vacancy notice.
Is there a limit to the number of documents I can copy and paste?
You can copy and paste one general covering letter, and upload one photo in the section "Documents / Picture" in the Personal History Form.
Who will read the comments that I submit?
Your comments will be sent directly to the E-Recruitment Administrator. We are always working to improve this system, and welcome any useful comments or suggestions that you may have.
Why isn't my information being saved?
As you complete each section, make sure that you have filled out all of the required fields. A required field is indicated by a red asterisk (*). If a required field is not completed, the section will not be saved.
Be sure to click the Save button at the bottom of the page.
If you have been doing this and the system is not saving your information, please contact the E-Recruitment Administrator.
How do I withdraw my application for a vacancy?
To withdraw an application, please contact the E-Recruitment Administrator. Be sure to specify the vacancy reference number.
My area of expertise is not listed.
Please contact us in order to have it added.
click here to e-mail E-Recruitment Administrator.
Where can I add information regarding my other personal skills, hobbies and interests?
Please add this information in the relevant fields under the Additional Information (Optional) section of your profile.
Why don't my previous chosen areas of expertise appear any longer?
The WTO's areas of expertise have recently been revised. If your previously chosen areas of expertise are no longer listed, this means that they have been removed from our expertise list. Therefore, we kindly ask you to review the new list and update your choices in this section.
Will I receive a confirmation after I have applied?
You should receive an e-mail confirmation when you begin your initial application and a copy of it will be entered into your profile status. After each time you apply for a vacancy, a confirmation message will appear in your personal profile.
You will find the confirmation under the menu link "Correspondence sent".
Because of the many variables which can delay or stop an e-mail message from reaching you, we ask you to rely on checking your application status for messages and confirmations and not solely the reception of a confirmation e-mail.
Why is the vacancy decision taking a long time?
We have many applications to process and many criteria to examine for each applicant. The selection process can take a number of weeks to even a few months due to the rigours of placement.
Please continue to note the status of your applications. We do update them when their status changes.
Due to the large number of communications we receive, we kindly ask that you use this page instead of contacting us directly.
My area of expertise is not listed.
Please contact us in order to have it added.click here to e-mail E-Recruitment Administrator.
What if my language (or mother tongue) is not in the list?
If your language (or mother tongue) is not located in the selection menu, please inform the E-Recruitment administrator.
Where can I find the closing date for the Vacancy?
Closing dates appear at the top of each vacancy notice.
What if my degree or diploma is not located in the list?
If your degree or diploma is not located in the selection menu, please select "other" from the list. In the text box below the menu, please indicate the precise title of the degree/diploma.
Inform the E-Recruitment Administrator. He or she will add it to the list as soon as possible.
May I apply for more than one vacancy?
Yes, you may apply for more than one vacancy.
Please read the requirements for each vacancy carefully and apply only for those that match your qualifications.
Can I attach a covering letter to a specific application?
You can attach a covering letter to each vacancy that you are applying for. To attach a covering letter to a specific application, go to the "My Applications" section in your personal profile. Choose the vacancy to which the covering letter applies and under the column "Covering Letter," click, "Add."
Do I have to fill out the entire Personal History Form?
The left menu on front page of your personal profile indicates which sections from the Personal History Form are required and which are optional. Before we can consider your application, you must complete all of the required sections in the Personal History Form.
As you work through the Personal History Form, a check mark appears in the box next to each section you complete.
May I still send my application via regular mail, e-mail or fax?
If you applied using the E-Recruitment Administrator, please do not send your CV via regular mail, e-mail or fax. When you complete your application, you will receive a message that confirms that we have your full application on file. Due to the high volume of applications we receive and to avoid confusion, we prefer that you send us only one application.
