Intern Application Pack

Who we are: Social Platform is the largest European civil society alliance fighting for social justice and participatory democracy. Consisting of 47 pan-European networks of NGOs, Social Platform campaigns to ensure that EU policies are developed in partnership with the people they affect, respecting fundamental rights, promoting solidarity and improving lives.

Social Platform supports the European QualityCharter on Internships and Apprenticeships (but always in due respect to Belgian Legislation). The internship application pack has been created to offer an equal opportunity to all applicants. However we can only accept those applicants who must complete an internship as part of their studies (as a requirement of the curriculum). An agreement will be signed with the three parties, the University, Social Platform and the applicant following the guidelines of the University. Candidates are asked to duly check the agreement requirements with their University or educational institute before applying. Social Platform also accepts students who are placed by the Leonardo da Vinci programme. The internship is non-remunerated according to Belgian Legislation.

Spontaneous applications are accepted throughout the year for Internship programmes. It is important to state in your application the periods in which you must complete your internship. For those interns who will need to travel to Brussels to do the internship, travel costs can be covered by Social Platform.

Job Description

Areas of work:Depending on his/her background the intern would work in one of the following areas together with one staff member.

  • Social Inclusion policies (i.e. combatting poverty, minimum income and social protection policies)
  • Employment policies (i.e. access to employment for those furthest away from the labour market, quality employment, minimum wage)
  • Fundamental rights, equality and anti-discrimination policies
  • Social services, social economy and social enterprise
  • European structural and investment funds
  • Trade agreements (TISA and TTIP)
  • Communications
  • Organisational and membership development (i.e. organisation of events, capacity building and review of members)
  • Accounting / Fundraising (i.e. Bookkeeping, reporting and coordinating fundraising efforts)

The intern will work under the guidance and with the support of one of the staff members.

According to the area chosen and background, a work plan will be assigned for the duration of the internship. The intern shall manage his/her work plan and report regularly on progress to the supervisor.

Tasks will include writing articles for newsletters, taking minutes of internal or external meetings and conferences, undertake desktop research and analysis of documents.

Persons Specification

REQUIRED:

  • Experience or knowledge gathered from formal or non-formal education or from practical work in the chosen area
  • Interest in the chosen area of work
  • Very good level of English
  • Good computer skills
  • Be enrolled in an educational institution or a programme giving a scholarship
  • Be a European Union citizen

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

  • Good problem solving skills
  • Positive attitude
  • Ability to easily familiarise with unknown topics
  • Flexibility to work on a diversity of issues

What we offer

  • Work in a friendly and constructive international office environment in the heart of the Brussels EU district
  • Be part of a leading social NGO on the European level
  • Contribute to the effectiveness and success of our work for better social justice in the EU
  • Interact with our 47 members, which are social NGOs on the European level
  • Become familiar with the latest European social policies issues
  • Gain skills and knowledge in your area of interest
  • Flexible working time, minimum 4 days a week
  • An Internship Certificate signed by Social Platform
  • A signed euromobility pass when issued by the sending institution

The application pack should only be sent by email. CVs, motivation letters, reference letters and other material will not be accepted.

Short-listing will take place by evaluating the (anonymised) application forms against the person specification for the position.

If you have any question, please contact Ilias by email() or telephone at +32 (02) 508 1637.

During the recruitment process, we’ll contact you by email twice:

  • To confirm the receipt of your application (if you don’t receive this confirmation within three working days of your submission, please get in touch with Ilias)
  • To inform you whether you've been shortlisted for interview

STANDARD APPLICATION FORM FOR INTERNSHIPS

Social Platform has two types of internship placement schemes available:
  1. A non-remunerated internship to complete University or School studies as stipulated by Belgian Law. In this case the internship programme and length is decided by the Educational Institute and agreed by Social Platform as a host for the learning programme.
  2. An internship placement in collaboration with Erasmus Programme, non-remunerated by Social Platform but financial support given to the individual via the Erasmus scheme (there are more than 5,000 universities in Europe participating, contact your University to see if you can apply).
Please stipulate which type of internship you are applying for:
No 1 
No 2 

Confidential

All information given on the application, including Equal Opportunity monitoring information, will be treated in a confidential manner.

Please note that the first two pages of this application form (personal details, equal opportunities monitoring and declaration) will be detached from the rest of your application to promote equal opportunities in the short-listing process.

Please do not put your name or signature on the rest of the application form otherwise your application will be rejected.

Please complete in English:

Forename(s) or given name:
Surname:
Mr/Ms/Mrs
University or programme under which you will do your internship
Home address:
Postcode/City:
Country:
Email address:
Telephone:
Can we use these details to contact you if necessary?
Equal opportunities monitoring information
(Optional - not used in short-listing process):
Your nationality:
Your gender:
Your age:

Declaration

I declare that the information provided on this form is correct to the best of my knowledge and understand that any information submitted in connection with employment and subsequently found to be incorrect or deliberately misleading could lead to dismissal without notice.

Name
Date

Once completed, please return this form to Ilias Papageorgiou by email:.

FOR SOCIAL PLATFORM USE (DO NOT COMPLETE)

Anonymous candidate number:

FOR SOCIAL PLATFORM USE (DO NOT COMPLETE)

Anonymous candidate number:

Area/s you’re applying for:
(you can tick one or more areas)

□ Social Inclusion policies
□ Employment policies
□ Fundamental rights and anti-discrimination policies
□ Social Services of General Interest policies
□ Communications
□Organisational and membership development
□ Accounting / Fundraising

If selected, when would you be available and for how long?

EXPERIENCE

1.Education

General education (schools from age 11)

Name and address
of school / From/to / Qualifications obtained
(level and grade)

Further/higher education

Name and address
of college/university / From/to / Full-/
part-time / Qualifications obtained

2.Training and development

Please give details of any training courses attended which are of direct relevance to your application.

Course title / From/to / Course provider / Summary of content

3.Other relevant experience

Please give details of your occupation(s) starting with the most recent. Please include any unpaid work that is relevant to the post (mention when it is paid, internship, or volunteering).

Employer's name and
address (please start with current/most recent) / From/to
(month/year) / Position held including brief description of your main activities and responsibilities related to your application if applicable

4. Languages

Please specify your level of competence within a range of 1 to 4 (with 4 being the highest).

Language / Spoken / Written
English
French
Others (please specify):

Please limit your response to each of the following question to 200 words.

5. Interest in the organisation and the chosen area of work

a) Why are you interested in doing an internship at Social Platform?
b) Why are you interested in the specific area of work chosen?

6. Knowledge of area of work

How do you think you experience and skills can contribute to Social Platform work in your chosen area (see above)?

7.References

All offers of internship are subject to receipt of references. Please provide the names, addresses and telephone numbers of two relevant references such as a teacher, trainer, supervisor or employer. Referees will not be contacted without your prior permission.

a) Name
Position
Email
Telephone number
What’s your connection with this referee?
Can we approach this referee prior to the interview?
b) Name
Position
Email
Telephone number
What’s your connection with this referee?
Can we approach this referee prior to the interview?

Once completed, please return this form to Ilias Papageorgiou by email:.

Social Platform is the largest civil society alliance fighting for social justice and participatory democracy in Europe. Consisting of 49 pan-European networks of NGOs, we campaign to ensure that EU policies are developed in partnership with the people they affect, respecting fundamental rights, promoting solidarity and improving lives.