Attention all French majors and minors! For those of you struggling to find internships, or even if you just want to peruse options for ones in the future, look no further. I have compiled a short list of some French and French-related companies I have stumbled across in the recent past that may be of use for you. As language majors, I know it can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint exactly what you want to do or what you are qualified to do in that field, and the task to search can be daunting and confusing. Listed below are a few internships and links to help you start or narrow down your search.
❖Jérôme Lohez Foundation – This is a nonprofit scholarship foundation in NYC that works “to foster French and American unity and cultural understanding, by supporting scientific and technological exchanges in higher education, in honor of those diverse citizens who perished in the 2001 attacks in New York”. Click here for their posting on Internships.com, which indicates that they are looking for part-time, unpaid interns. Their website can give you a little more background information about the foundation but does not seem to list their internship offers. Your best bet is to contact founder Dening Lohez (info@jl911.org) and ask to be in touch with Nicole Moldovan, who deals with hiring interns.
❖French Morning – This NYC-based e-magazine, completely in French, targets (obviously) French people living or traveling to the United States as a city guide. It does not advertise openly for interns, but when I contacted the email posted on their website (esaintmartin@frenchmorning.com) I found out they begin choosing their summer interns in February, so keep this in mind for next year. With sections titled “Loisirs” (leisure, hobbies), “Restaurants” (this one is obvious), “Arts” (this, too), and “Vie Practique” (practical life) this definitely seems like a magazine worth looking into if you are interested in writing, editing, or any other linguistic or journalism-based work in French.
❖Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) – Many of you have probably already heard of this humanitarian organization as Doctors Without Borders, which was, in fact, started in France in the 1970’s. MSF offers paid summer internships in each of the following areas: Communications, Development, Program, Human Resources, and Executive departments. Some sample internship positions include Editorial and Multimedia, Marketing, Public Events, and Foundations and Corporations. Their deadline is April 13th and you can submit all materials (resume and cover letter) online to internships@newyork.msf.org.
❖Embassy of France – Located in Washington, D.C., the Embassy of France offers internships for their Office of Press and Communications on a rolling basis to full-time, American students. It is recommended to apply as early as possible for your desired time frame, as these positions are very competitive and candidates must undergo a special application process to be considered. If interested, you may email info@ambafrance-us.org for more information or visit their job opportunities section of their website.
❖French Institute Alliance Francaise (FIAF) – This NYC nonprofit organization’s “mission is to create and offer New Yorkers innovative and unique programs in education and the arts that explore the evolving diversity and richness of French cultures”, according to their website. FIAF has different branches like Cultural Events, Language Center, and the John and Francine Haskell Library, each of which you could work in as a possible intern. By going to the career section, you can see that you can apply by emailing your resume and cover letter (in English) to Leslie Cole at lcole@fiaf.org. There is no deadline posted.
❖Dannon and Groupe Danone – Though Dannon is not French itself, its mother company – Groupe Danone – is, so this may be an exciting opportunity for French majors with other special interests. If you go to Dannon’s job search and type in the desired location + “any” under “department”, you will find internship and full-time positions posted. Right now, there are postings for Human Resources, Public Relations, Social/Digital Media,and Communications internship positions in White Plains, NY, which is not too far outside the city. Or, check out Groupe Danone‘s website and see if interning there would be a better start for you. Groupe Danone seems to hire for longer-term internships (think six months +) but the website shares stories like this of them hiring interns for full-time positions midway through the actual internship.
❖United Nations (UN) – Okay, so I know this one is a bit daunting so I thought I would save it for last. Maybe many of you as foreign language majors are interested in foreign relations or maybe you aren’t at all. Just in case you wanted to browse, check out the UN’s internships page and read their current intern bios. Right now there is nothing posted for summer or fall 2012, but their current interns’ stories seem really inspiring if this is something you are interested in. Internships are offered in the following areas: Partnership Development; Issue Areas – Children’s Health, Women & Population, Technology, Climate & Energy, US-UN Relations, Sustainable Development; Public Affairs; and Finance and Grants Administration. Check back to see when they post opportunities for upcoming semesters.
Bonne chance!