Current Tufts student Ariel Derby shared the following about being a Summer Intern at Jewish Vocational Services (JVS) …
What did you do as an intern at this organization?
I served as an Assistant Career Coach for immigrants and refugees. In this role, I worked one-on-one with immigrants to help them prepare for and attain careers in the Boston area. Together we worked on their resumes and cover letters, practiced job interviews, and filled out job applications.
How did you find this internship?
I found this internship on Handshake.
What did you enjoy most about your internship?
I most enjoyed forming cross-cultural connections with clients, particularly those I worked with on a weekly basis. It was so rewarding to help them take concrete steeps towards building a career and I valued hearing about their unique experiences, backgrounds, and aspirations.
What did you find challenging?
Communicating with non-Native English speakers was challenging for me, a virtual intern with very limited French and Spanish. The online format made communication even more difficult, and I often found myself asking clients to repeat themselves excessively. However, my supervisors helped me practice how to manage those situations, and I found that my clients were very patient and understanding. We were able to work together to complete tasks and I appreciated the opportunity to practice my language skills!
What advice would you offer to someone who wants to make the most of an internship like yours?
I would encourage interns to speak to as many different people as possible–both clients and co-workers. As much as I learned from working with various clients, I also gained professional insights by working with so many different staff members. It helped me get a feel for the organization as a whole and better picture what a career in such an organization could look like for me. I would also encourage interns to bee open with their supervisors about what they are interested in doing/what they want to get out of their experience. After I told my supervisor that I liked a particular type of task best, she scheduled me more of those and gave me more opportunities to do the type of work I was interested in.
About the Organization
JVS’s mission is to empower individuals from diverse communities to find employment and build careers, while partnering with employers to hire, develop, and retain productive workforces.
