• They are created to face issues that individual countries cannot solve alone.
• Represent and seek a balance between the interests of member states.
• Act as arbitrators in disputes between member states or third countries.
• Carry out initiatives globally or regionally through programs in their fields of expertise.
• Research and analyze issues at global or regional level; develop policy lines or specific regulation (e.g. EU).

• It requires extensive previous internship experience, plan your career early.
• Extremely high competition: candidates come from all over the world.
• Application processes are detailed and may require many documents beyond CV and cover letter.
• Recruiting processes are lengthy, 3 to 6 months is normal.
• Processes are consistent year to year and transparent, giving candidates predictability.
• Large organizations post diverse opportunities on a regular basis.

• Internships: the most common entry point, open to penultimate- and final-year students and recent graduates; typically lasting up to 6 months and not always paid.
• Young Professional Programs: structured programs that combine professional experience and development; designed for recent graduates and typically lasting more than one year.

Candidates must usually hold the nationality of one of the IGO's member states.

Some useful resources for understanding what it’s like to work in IGOs:

• How to Land a Job in International Organizations – IE University
• How to Apply: UN Careers
• So, You Want to Work in International Organizations – IR Blog
• Students’ Guide to a Career in International Affairs – LinkedIn
• Young Professionals’ Guide to a Career in International Affairs – LinkedIn
• Blue Book Traineeship: My Success Story on the First Try

UN Agencies & Other Multilaterals
IGOs have well-structured, transparent, and recurring programs. Hundreds of IGOs exist, so if you are interested in a specific field or region, search for relevant organizations directly.

• United Nations “Central Services”: YPP – Young Professionals Program
• United Nations Agencies: Internship Opportunities
• European Union: Blue Book – Traineeships
• European Union: Competitions (Officers)
• NATO: Internship Programme
• European Central Bank: Traineeship
• World Bank: WBG Pioneers – Internship Program
• Inter-American Development Bank: Internship Program
• OECD: Internship Programme
• Council of Europe: Traineeship Programme

Here are 5 tips for writing a winning letter
Apart from the general elements of a cover letter, include the following in your CL for an IGO opportunity:

• Show that you share the IGO's mission and values.
• Use the IGO's specific lingo — show that you understand the field.
• Highlight your international experience and multicultural background.
• Mention your language skills — multilingual environments are the norm.
• Show your ability to adapt to different cultures, as mobility may be expected.

This sector covers national, regional and local policymakers.

• They plan and implement public policies, funded by taxpayers, to serve the general interest.
• Their work spans education, health, infrastructure, security, foreign affairs, taxation and social services.

There are two main ways to access the public sector, depending on the country: either via competitive public examination or through a standard recruitment process. Make sure you understand how it works in the country where you are looking for a public sector job.

• Salaries tend to be lower than private sector, but job security and stability are generally higher.
• Job access processes are well-structured, predictable and transparent, but quite lengthy.
• Competitive public examinations are common, even if interview-based processes are growing.
• Competition can be intense, especially in high-profile public bodies.

• There is a wide range of internships available, open to penultimate- and final-year students and recent graduates.
• Education level is typically the main formal requirement; experience is valued but rarely required formally.
• You normally need to hold the nationality of the country offering the opportunity.
• EU Member State governments are often open to all EU nationals.

What does it mean to work in the public sector?
Read these articles for a first insight:

• Five Reasons Why Working in the Public Sector Is a Great Idea – Better Govs
  Why Some People Prefer to Work in the Public Sector – Esade Do Better
• Why Some People Prefer to Work in the Public Sector – Esade Do Better

We focus on international relations agencies, as we are in the Global Impact Sector. Note that internship opportunities often require you to be enrolled at a national university. This is a sample, search online for agencies in other countries. For specific fields (defense, agriculture, etc.), check national, regional, or local government websites.

Spain

• MAEC – Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Internship Program
• AECID – Development Cooperation Agency: Internship Program
• ICEX – Foreign Trade Agency: Internship Program

European Union

• EEAS – European External Action Service: Traineeship Program

USA

• Department of State: Internship Program
• US Commercial Service: Internship Program

In many countries, permanent public sector positions require candidates to pass competitive examinations and submit a formal dossier. A typical dossier may include:

• Official academic transcripts and degree certificates.
• Certified proof of language proficiency (Cambridge, DELF, DELE).
• Postgraduate diplomas or short training certificates.
• Official proof of relevant work experience or internships.

• They promote social causes across a wide range of fields, from human rights to the environment.
• Their activities range from direct intervention for disadvantaged groups to advocacy, awareness-raising, or research.
• They operate at the local, national, or global level (e.g., Red Cross/Red Crescent).
• Most specialize in a specific social cause, goal, or field; large NGOs may cover several.
• They are heavily dependent on public or private funding; some generate income from products or services.

• The labour market in this sector is currently slowing down; movements are cyclical.
• Recruitment processes vary by NGO size and culture: from agile to highly formalized.
• NGOs have the same functional roles as companies: strategy, marketing, operations, finance.
• Salaries tend to be lower than in the private sector, depending on NGO and location.
• The sector is increasingly professionalized; internships and entry-level jobs exist.

• Volunteering is a great entry point, choose a field aligned with your career goals.
• NGO activity is largely project-based: hiring responds to specific and often temporary needs.
• Internships exist in larger NGOs, normally not structured as formal programs — check websites directly.
• Experience, language skills, multicultural ability and demonstrated commitment carry significant weight.
• Some large international NGOs have Young Professional or Graduate Programs, but they are less common.

Check these webpages to better understand what it’s like to work in an NGO:

• Working for NGOs: Should I Work for an NGO? – Ellwood Consulting
• Tackling the Clichés About Working for an NGO – Welcome to the Jungle
• Hacesfalta – Working in NGOs (Spain)

Most NGOs publish opportunities on their own career portals or specialized platforms.

Spain

• Oxfam Intermon
• Save the Children
• Cruz Roja Española
• Greenpeace España
• Ayuda en Acción

UK

• British Red Cross
• Oxfam UK
• Save the Children UK
• Amnesty International UK

USA

• Human Rights Watch
• WWF
• CARE
• Amnesty International USA

Job Platforms

• Hacesfalta (Spain)
• ReliefWeb (Humanitarian)
• Idealist – Jobs
• Idealist – Internships
• CharityJob UK

This is a sample. NGOs exist at every level and across every social sector, so investigate to find the ones that best fit your interests.

Working in an NGO requires genuine commitment; recruiters look beyond your academic record and CV. Volunteering is an excellent way to enter the NGO job market.

Some tips:

• Choose volunteering opportunities that align with your professional interests in the sector.
• Treat volunteering as professional experience: be reliable, take on responsibilities, and build relationships.
• Volunteering is one of the best ways to demonstrate your commitment to a cause.
• Volunteering can give you a realistic understanding of how the sector works.

• They represent the interests of social, economic, or political groups before policymakers, including IGOs and national, regional, or local governments.
• Public Affairs professionals work in companies, NGOs, trade unions, industry associations, political parties, or consulting firms.
• They advocate for causes, monitor policy processes, launch communication campaigns, or draft regulatory proposals.
• Their functions include policy analysis, stakeholder networking, government relations, and monitoring political agendas.
• Institutional communication involves helping groups define and convey messages and build strategic relationships.

• Activity follows political cycles: demand peaks during elections or major regulatory reforms.
• It covers a wide range of fields, from industry interests and human rights to regional interests represented before IGOs.
• Brussels, Geneva, and Washington are the main hubs; opportunities also exist at the national, regional, and local levels.
• Public Affairs consulting firms serve a wide variety of clients.

Passion for a cause is essential, whether social, environmental, or industry-specific. From there, you can focus on one of these profiles:

• Analytical profiles: start as an intern in data research, policy monitoring, or regulatory analysis.
• Communication profiles: contribute to strategic communication in companies, NGOs, or consulting firms.
• Event organization is another relevant entry-level function.

Internships are the most common entry point, with processes that are generally faster and less formalized than those in IGOs.

If you are thinking about a career in the Public Affairs industry, check out these websites:

• How to Find a Job in Brussels – PubAffairs Bruxelles
• How to Start a Career in EU Lobbying – EUJobs.co
• Career Opportunities in EU Advocacy and Lobbying – EuroBrussels

Given the variety of fields and actors in Public Affairs, start by choosing the sector that interests you most. Then identify the organizations advocating for that cause, including companies, NGOs, industry associations, trade unions, regional governments, or consulting firms, and monitor their job pages regularly. There are no large, structured programs in this sector, so a systematic, proactive approach is the best way to get started.

These are some relevant job portals:

• EuroBrussels
• Jobs in Brussels
• EU Jobs
• GlobalJobs

Apart from consulting firms and advocacy organizations, many large corporations have their own Public Affairs or Government Relations departments. This is especially common in sectors with high regulatory exposure, such as energy, pharmaceuticals, technology, financial services, and telecommunications.

Companies such as Google, Microsoft, Pfizer, BP, Iberdrola, and Telefónica have significant in-house Public Affairs teams and occasionally offer internships or entry-level positions.

To find these opportunities, go directly to the careers portal of companies in your sector of interest and search for Public Affairs, Government Relations, or Regulatory Affairs.

• Study as much as you can about your field of choice.
• Talk with professionals and experts, including your professors.
• Play an active role in IE Clubs related to your field.
• Focus your academic research (thesis) on your field of interest.
• Write for relevant newsletters, blogs, or websites.
• Attend field-related events to build your network.
• Follow the policy agenda: read official documents, legislative proposals, and position papers.
• Join professional associations related to your area of interest.

These three sectors play distinct but complementary roles in the Global Impact ecosystem.

• Think Tanks: independent research and policy organizations that analyze public issues and develop policy proposals through reports, briefs, events, and other initiatives. Clients include governments, foundations, IGOs, and companies.
• Academic Research Institutions: universities and research centers that produce the knowledge base that informs public debate and policy.
• Media: newspapers, digital outlets, and broadcasters that inform the public, hold power to account, and shape the public agenda.

They share several common features: high competition, a strong value placed on specialization over generalism, and the importance of personal networks.

• Think Tanks: small teams, selective hiring, project-based positions, and significant staff turnover.
• Academia: highly formalized access and a structured career path (research assistant → postdoc → junior faculty), with career progression heavily dependent on publication records.
• Media: a wide variety of roles, an informal and fast-paced environment, and increasing pressure driven by digital transformation.

Internships and junior positions are the main entry points. Experience and demonstrated interest can carry as much weight as formal credentials.

• Think Tanks: internships and research assistant roles; informal, project-based recruitment processes; writing skills and policy knowledge are highly valued.
• Academia: research assistant positions are available for undergraduates; a postgraduate degree is required for a full research career; competition for PhDs and fellowships is intense.
• Media: internships and junior roles; a practical portfolio (student media, freelance work, blogs) can be as valuable as formal qualifications; entry-level hiring is mostly ad hoc.

Learn more about what it’s like to work in these three fields:

• Five Lessons from Working for a Leading European Think Tank – On Think Tanks
• Expectation Versus Reality: The Early Career Researcher’s Guide – British Ecological Society
• Ten Young Journalists Open Up About Their Struggles to Break In – Nieman Lab

There are no structured programs in any of the three sectors, so a proactive approach is essential.

• Think Tanks: identify organizations in your field and monitor their websites.
  UPenn Think Tank Directory
  On Think Tanks Jobs
• Academia: look for open competitive calls on institutional websites and specialized platforms.
  Euraxess
  Academic Positions
• Media: look for internships and junior positions on company careers pages and specialized job platforms.
  Journalism Jobs

Your academic work is the beginning of your professional portfolio. The sooner you treat it that way, the better. In all three sectors, do not wait until you graduate. Your thesis, articles, and research projects are your first professional credentials.

• Think Tanks: publish opinion pieces or policy analysis in blogs or student media, and build a visible profile before graduating.
• Academia: choose your thesis topic carefully, present at student events, and co-publish with supervisors. Your publication record starts here.
• Media: contribute to student media, launch a blog, and pitch articles. In journalism, what you have written can matter more than where you studied.

• Social enterprises and impact-driven companies generate revenue through products/services, but their last scope is social (e.g. B Corps, sustainable food, clean energy startups).
• Sustainability and CSR departments in mainstream corporations they define the company ESG strategy, ensure supply chain sustainability and stakeholder engagement and manage corporate philanthropy.

• This is one of the fastest-growing fields in the labor market with a strong demand for junior profiles.
• Social enterprises are normally flat structures, small teams. Salaries are lower but the level of responsibility is higher at entry level.
• CSR/ESG in corporations. These are growing departments with corporate salary levels and increasing competition as the field matures.

• Internships are the most common entry point in both sub-sectors.
  • Social enterprises: project-based, throughout the year; commitment to mission as valued as formal qualifications.
  • CSR/ESG in corporations: structured programs; typical roles: Sustainability Analyst, ESG Analyst, CSR Junior.
• Consulting firms with ESG practices (ERM, Deloitte, PwC) offer exposure to multiple sectors from day one.

• Read these resources for an insight in the sector.
  • Careers in the Sustainability Sector – IE University
  • Green Jobs 2025: How to Break Into Sustainability Careers – Apply4Me
  • Corporate Social Responsibility Careers – ACE
  • Working at a Social Enterprise – Second Day
  • Building a Career in Social Impact – University of Puget Sound

• The recruitment processes are different in each case, so we suggest you to check the job information sources, such as the next pages
  • Mainstream companies with ESG departments (search "sustainability", "ESG" or "CSR" in their portals):
  • IKEA Careers
  • Unilever Careers
  • Nestlé Careers
  • Acciona Careers
  • SG Consulting Firms or Deparments
  • ERM – Early Careers
  • Deloitte – Sustainability
  • PwC Careers (filter: sustainability)
  • Especialised Job Platforms
  • Escape the City

• From now, you can improve your professional profile in the field of sustainability
  • Follow the sustainability agenda: ESG regulations, corporate reports, developments in your area of interest.
  • Write about it: publish opinion pieces, blog, contribute to student media.
  • Build your network: connect with professionals, attend events, join IE clubs on ESG/sustainability.
  • Volunteer with organizations working in your area of interest.
  • Look for sustainability projects, events or clubs within IE.
  • Train yourself in specific technical knowledge you may need in your chosen field.
  • You may need strong analytics skills, be sure to show them, or to improve them if necessary.