– Event planning and organization
– Conflict resolution and negotiation
– Communication and interpersonal skills
I landed my first Amnesty International internship because I had video-editing and photography skills. That’s what the organization needed to cover our vigils for the blogger Raif Badawi. Over time, when I earned the trust of my team, I was able to take on different tasks, that were more in line with my ambitions.
Don’t underestimate what you bring to the table for the organization. Even if you are very young, you have plenty of experiences to draw from. You could be well-versed in the latest social media tools, possibly surpassing the current social media manager’s familiarity (e.g. with TikTok or Mastodon). Your grasp of trends within your age group may align closely with the organization’s target audience, enhancing your ability to connect effectively. Additionally, your fresh perspective and energy could invigorate the team, injecting vitality into a well-established environment. Your potential to introduce unconventional viewpoints may foster positive disruption, and as a relatively “blank slate”, experienced mentors and leaders may find joy in nurturing your development into a thriving professional.
If you are not so sure what other skills could be helpful, consider reading some of our articles:
Tailoring your cover letter to each job application is a strategic move that makes a significant difference in your job search. Unlike generic templates, a tailored cover letters directly addresses the specific requirements of the position, showcasing the relevance of your background and experience, and ultimately setting you apart. Below is an example how you could tailor the same experience “led a volunteer group” to different positions. Please note that you should never “invent” anything that is not true, but you can choose where you put emphasis, what you highlight and what you skip.
Internship Position | Tailored Skills Obtained from “Led a Volunteer Group” Activity |
---|---|
Human Rights Education Intern | – planning human rights workshops for volunteers – coordinating educational events and seminars – Assisting in the design of educational activities – Facilitating effective communication with diverse groups during human rights events |
Research and Advocacy Intern | – Spearheading volunteer-led research projects on human rights issues – Organizing advocacy events and campaigns to raise awareness – Addressing internal conflicts within the volunteer group to maintain focus on advocacy goals – Collaborating with various stakeholders to advance advocacy initiatives |
Community Outreach Intern | – Developing and leading community engagement initiatives – Organizing outreach events to promote human rights awareness – Resolving conflicts and fostering collaboration among community volunteers – Building partnerships with local organizations to expand outreach efforts |
While there is no universally accepted right way to do cover letters, there are a few things you should avoid in the context of human rights organizations.
There is nothing wrong about using AI tools to improve your cover letter. But keep in mind what we mentioned above: Tailor! Be specific! Be authentic! If your cover letter sounds too generic, exaggerates or feels out of touch with your real background, an AI written cover letter will be a disadvantage.
If you choose to use AI, the quality of your prompt matters. You should provide the tool with enough information to return more tailored and unique results otherwise your cover letter will be too boring and generic. Below is an example of a prompt. Flesh it out further. Consider adding some achievements, more nuance and detail.
“Please write a cover letter for the internship position as social media intern at Amnesty International. I have studied the Vienna Master of Arts in Human Rights and wrote my thesis about MOOCs as a tool for Human Rights Education. I have worked in a bar for three years and took dancing classes throughout high school. I also worked at a book store, where I was responsible for accounting and sales. I speak three languages fluently.”
And here are some excerpts of AI responses, that demonstrate how ChatGPT has “translated” the information into a cover letter:
You might want to tone it down a bit in your cover letter and highlight only what find most relevant. AI tools sometimes exaggerate and you don’t want to display a lack of humility or judgement. Working in a bar for three years will probably not make you an expert in human rights law.
While AI written content is normally grammatically flawless it also lacks soul and surprise. So instead of just entering a prompt and sending off your application, spend time editing it and make it sound more like yourself and be prepared that everything you mention in your cover letter could be subject of a more in-depth conversation in the interview. So if you are not convinced that your dancing classes were fostering discipline, teamwork and creativity, don’t mention it.
There are a variety of other strategies and tools that you can use when drafting your cover letter. Below are some that I’ve used in my job search frequently.
Before you write your cover letter, you might want to explore the website of your potential future employer. Familiarize with the terminology and language they use. Take a closer look at the job description as well. Mimicking an organization’s language and terminology helps you align your application with the organization’s culture and values. Organizations often use specific words and phrases that reflect their unique identity, and using these in your cover letter can signal that you’re a good fit culturally.
In academia and during our studies we are taught to write in a very specific way. Unfortunately, this kind of writing is less effective in other contexts. Your cover letter should be catchy with short sentences and easy to read and understand. Use readability tools to identify sentences that are too long and complicated.
Last but not least, ask friends, family or a former professor to read it. The feedback will help you improve it and you’ll learn something in every feedback loop. If this short guide was helpful and you successfully landed a job, please consider sharing your cover letter with us so we can make it accessible to our readers.
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