## Comms Intern Report 2024

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Comms Intern Report 2024](https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/oap/oap-home/2024/communications-intern-report-2024-final.pdf)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/-/media/files/oap/oap-home/2024/communications-intern-report-2024-final.pdf.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/-/media/files/oap/oap-home/2024/communications-intern-report-2024-final.pdf.json)

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### Recruitment schedule in 2024
- 4/5 — Application Submission
- 5/6 — Written Examination
- 5/8 — Interview
- 5/14 — Offer
- 6/5 — Internship Start
- 11/30 — Internship End

### Applicant background and motivation
- The intern is a second-year student at Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs, Master of International Affairs, concentrating in International Finance and Economic Policy.
- Motivation: interest in working at an international organization, experiencing a multicultural working environment, and engagement with the IMF’s role in providing macroeconomic policy recommendations and addressing challenges such as climate change and gender equality.

### Application process
- Submitted materials: CV, cover letter, samples of communications work, and two letters of recommendation.
- Written test: two-hour written test requiring drafting social media posts in English and Japanese and developing a proposal for a communications event.
- Interview: 30-minute online interview covering motivation, career goals, the written-test proposal, and communications experience.

### Main tasks and responsibilities
- Create social media posts for a Japanese staff interview series highlighting Japanese staff working at the IMF.
- Draft social media posts featuring quote cards and testimonials from scholars of the Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia (JISPA).
- Propose and develop interactive activities for an event booth at Global Festa, Japan’s largest international cooperation event.
- Obtain content clearance from all stakeholders through coordination with Japanese staff, scholars, and colleagues at IMF headquarters to ensure messaging accuracy and alignment with the IMF’s main goals.
- Additional tasks:
  - Draft an article for the OAP newsletter (published every two months).
  - Translate the English OAP website into Japanese during its renewal.
  - Update OAP leaflets to reflect the latest data.

### Memorable outcomes and engagement metrics
- Global Festa interactive activities: over 540 people participating.
- Designed quizzes and a pamphlet intended to be engaging, informative, creative, and fun for both adults and children.
- Specific content examples included a "100 Year Quiz" based on the Managing Director’s speech referencing economic possibilities and 21st century multilateralism.

### Lessons learned and communication challenges
- Gained first-hand insight into challenges of the IMF’s public relations activities: macroeconomics is complex and can feel distant from people’s everyday lives, making communication difficult.
- Key challenge experienced: simplifying the IMF’s message without losing its essence while developing public-facing activities.
- Insight: effective communication is vital for international organizations because the IMF can only fulfill its mission effectively when it is trusted and when people have a clear understanding of its work.

### Message to future applicants and internship value
- Internship offers excellent learning opportunities in public relations for an international organization and deepens understanding of macroeconomic trends and policy tools through event organization and participation in the Macroeconomist Training Program.
- Workplace environment at the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (OAP) described as fantastic, with colleagues who were supportive and willing to help and provide feedback.
- Recommendation: strongly recommended for those interested in gaining experience with international organizations or communications.

### Examples of content developed during the internship
- Quote cards for Japanese interview series.
- Global Festa activities.
- 100 Year Quiz based on the Managing Director’s speech that talked about economic possibilities and 21st century multilateralism.
- Created the OAP’s first-ever pamphlet for children.
- JISPA testimonials.
- Quote card for social media promotion.
- Testimonials on website and quote card.

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/oap/oap-home/2024/communications-intern-report-2024-final.pdf_