Pros
A great place to intern at for anyone looking to gain a hands-on experience. Unlike other organizations where interns/volunteers are involved primarily in the administrative work, the IRC heavily relies on their volunteers in all aspects of their work. As an immigration intern, I was directly involved in service delivery, working with refugee-clients on a daily basis. As an intern/volunteer at the IRC, you are treated as a professional equal by staff members and are granted a great amount of responsibilities. While interns are supported by the staff, they are expected to manage their interaction with clients, client case loads, as well as their work approach independently. This is a great opportunity to learn how the organization works from the inside and a great way to get your foot in the door.
Cons
It is a very challenging, fast-paced working environment. Interns often have to adopt a "learn-as-you-go" approach in their work. This experience would be the most beneficial for a pro-active person with a can-do attitude who can make decisions quickly and feels comfortable in ambiguous situations.