Open Society Foundations

communications temp

June 2021 • New York City, NY

What I liked

I love how flexible and knowledgeable everyone is and how willing my team was to promote my learning. I got a variety of assignments where I utilized my administrative, organizational, research and critical thinking skills. I always felt like my supervisor gave me assignments that allowed me to actually contribute to the foundation's work and further promoted their mission of ensuring human rights on the global scale. I went from working in the communications department to moving into the advocacy department as well because I spoke to my supervisor about wanting to do more engaging projects. I also enjoyed how accessible everyone was during the day and how willing they were to engage with me and share their skills and expertise as well ad professional advice relating to grad school and career.

What I wish was different

I wish that we weren't remote and that the traveling option was still available, but that is something that will probably occur when COVID is more assuaged. I also wish I had more time as a temp to attend the events held by OSF but that was mostly an advantage of being an intern.

Advice

Network! Find the time to speak to everyone and also present your own ideas! All ideas are pretty well received.

Be the first to mark this as helpful

Communications Intern

June 2020 • New York City, NY

What I liked

Although everything was online I received training on grant-making, the different grantees of the foundation, and networking. I had access to almost everyone at the foundation and I was encouraged to send emails to learn more about their work and network. I had a lot of responsibilities such as making press lists, answering the contact inbox, writing a VOICES article (similar to an op-ed), attending Brown Bag meetings (events where the work of the grantees was highlighted), create webinar scan reports to get inspiration for our webinars, media monitoring of current events, and finally running the @OSFhealth Twitter. Additionally, recently I was able to reach out to another program (Women's Rights Program) to do work with them on a legal case in Mexico which was amazing because I want to come back next summer to work in their program specifically.

What I wish was different

I wish it hadn't been online because I wanted to foster closer bonds with people but I know that they did the best they could. Additionally, I wish that I had been in another department (since my focus isn't communications) but it ended up working out because I had access to all other programs as well and they were always eager to involve me in their work.

Advice

I would say that it is very reading heavy but the work done helps support the amazing work of grantees and the programs in OSF. I would emphasize the importance of not letting the contact inbox pile p because many people rely on interns to connect them to resources available. Finally, I would say that it's very important to ask for things, you have to be very self-motivated because everyone is very busy so you just need to reach out and ask for what you want. There are a plethora of programs and grantees, thus there is many opportunities to get involved.

Be the first to mark this as helpful