Alright everybody. We have a good number of people here, 19 people in our audience. Three of us from the Burkle Center right here in front of you. And what we want to do is really run this as a conversation, which should have been a meeting, but it's a webinar. So I want you guys to participate to the, to the best degree you can. Raise your hands, chime in, it's like Rita and Guinivere will help. I will. I'm the Deputy Director of the Burkle Center for International Relations. My name is Alexandra Lieben. With me, Rita Dahi and Guinivere Kimber, two of our fantastic interns of this current year. A few other ones will join us as well. But the purpose of this is to tell all of you what the internship is all about. And since it's about time to submit your applications for next year, we want to give you a quick overview. So let me share my screen. But basically, I want to run through this very quickly because the point of this exercise here is that you all ask questions of us and get the information, right. Let's do this thing.

Okay, it's today, we established that. So the Burkle Center internship has been around since 2007. It's one of the most prestigious and competitive internships at UCLA. And we've really year after year had the most amazing students. All of you interested in international relations in one way or another, some coming to us from a science background, others coming from political science, from history, from public affairs, from sociology, really a whole variety of disciplines. And that is a good thing because it's in the mixture, so that we find a lot of new material and things to think about. So whatever wherever you come from on campus, don't shy away from applying if you're interested in international relations. This is the team. Let me just minimize this here. So this is who you're gonna be working with. Kal Raustiala is our director. He is on the faculty at the Law school, and also here in Global Studies and is here at the Burkle Center. Then next is next up is me, Alexandra Lieben, already introduced myself. And then Samantha Sorin, who is our program manager. That's the core. In reality, is like most of the work you will do on a day to day basis will be with with Samantha and myself. If this would advance that would also be good for like in my class. Okay, who is eligible? Basically what we are doing, we tend to hire juniors and seniors, sometimes we've had sophomores but but mostly really juniors and seniors. Six hours a week is your commitment, that per UCLA regulations is what constitutes an internship. In addition to that is a one hour intern meeting that we have each each week. It's really good for the cohort to get together: talk about what events we've had, debrief past events, look look ahead to future events, look at the different tasks that everybody's doing. And we'll go over that in a second. And in addition to those hours are events, when you help us staff them. Like we have still a mixture, and we're not going to change that, of webinars and in person events. So in person events tend to require more people. But webinars also, you would split being backstage with us recording the webinar and others of you will be in the audience thinking about the topic and asking questions. What are you going to do? Help us with daily operations, everything that's going on, but mainly like event coordination, outreach, social media. Those are the three buckets that that where we need your help and, and where most of your activities will be concentrated. Let's step back for a second, the Burkle Center could not do the work we do without the help of our interns. We greatly appreciateour interns, really respect them highly. Respect the input. It's really important, every perspective matters. It's together as a team that we create. At least when YouTube, guys. So it is it is in this in this setting that we create the output we do, right. Really because because of the way we collaborate with each other. And let me go back to this, so what do we need from you? We need let's, all of this is on the website, right. A CV or resume, a cover letter, writing sample, very important. If you have graphics experience, please send a graphic samples. Because, as everybody will be able to attest here on our side, graphics is an important thing. Like we use it to create event flyers, social media graphics, but also it's like we post things on the website. Like we do all all kinds of things that involve graphic skills. If you don't have the skills, but you're good at learning or if you have a visual sense, like that's completely fine. You can learn it. Send us two to three references, that's that matters. And then also, as far as you know, what are you plans for fall quarter? Because, again, like helps us gauge. Like also, what are your work commitments? What are you doing in in, in other groups on campus? Also show us like how connected you are, by the way. And we are looking for people like if you're incredibly busy already, then we might come back and say is like, do you really have time for this? So think about what are you want to take on in the fall because the commitment to the internship is one year, so the entire academic year, which is a good length, because it really allows for the group to gel. Everybody learns something, you really get a lot of skills throughout this time. So it's, it's really good to stick to that commitment. Now, turning it over, short and sweet. To all of you, your questions, put them in the chat, put them in the q&a, raise your hands, whatever. And I will turn it over now to Rita who will look at the questions. And then Guinivere and Rita is like everybody is here to answer your questions, right. The three of us, so bring it on. What do we have?

I think the first question, Alexandra might be better for you to answer. It's if we are current first year, should we apply or wait for next year?

Wait for next year.

Cool. That's the only question so far.

All right, everybody, we're here to answer your questions. There are 18 of you on here. You must have questions. That's why you came.

Alright, there's a new question in. What are the most important qualities an applicant should have? I'm not sure if it's better for us to answer this or for you to answer this, Alexandra?

You guys start, it's actually interesting for me to hear.

I would say just based on a conversation we had earlier this morning about an application, it's best to be as detailed as possible in your application about time commitments, expectations, your interests, your past experience. Just put everything in there. It's better to give us more information than less.

Yeah, I agree with that. I think it's mostly just show that you you want it, show that you're interested in it. Show like don't try and hand in a messy application that'll that'll, you know, make it obvious that maybe you didn't put too much effort into it or don't prioritize it as much. But I think like, from our process, it was it was I think they're kind of just looking for interested students, you know, if you show that you have like a passion for the topics, if you're have a wide range of like, skills or interests that you want to follow, I think that could be great. Oh, we just got in a lot of new questions. Okay. What have been the most rewarding experiences you've had during this internship? Guinivere, if you want to start, I'm gonna look through these.

Let's see. I think not only has it been incredibly rewarding to meet all the people that you have the opportunity to meet as an intern, but it's been really good for my personal growth. This, because the teamwork is sorry, the Burkle Center, is very teamwork based. And I am someone who prefers to work on her own. And so I feel like I can see so much personal growth in myself, learning how to work with a team of people. And that's something I'm really proud of, I've learned to better communicate, better ask for help, or what's the word I'm looking for? Basically, I've just I've gotten way better at teamwork. And I think that that is really important skill to have going forward in life.

You know what, it's also like tag tag teaming. Because it's like, one person starts a task, somebody else finishes it. So here too, is like, don't have your ego involved in the outcome necessarily of one particular exercise. Like because somebody else is gonna work on it as well. It's really about the joint product that we produce, and not about sort of the individual work. Yes, it's like that's, of course individual work. But still, it's like, being being able to run and being willing to share something in the work is is good, because that's also how we improve on each other.

Tag teaming was exactly what I was looking for.

Yeah, I'm just gonna add into that about what's the most rewarding thing. There's also other questions about, would you say that being a Burkle Center intern helps you make connections? And I think that's one of the most like important benefits of this program. Because you get to work and talk to all the guests that we bring in. And I think it's a really cool opportunity. You know, I've met people that I never thought I would have met before, or even people I didn't know. But upon meeting them, I like respect them and like recognize how important they are within their respective fields. There's also a lot of questions just about the application process, I'm going to rapid fire answer them. First of all, this internship is yearly. So someone was asking if it's going to be there's another round next year as well, that you'll be able to apply to. And I guess one question was also how many interns get accepted this year? We were a group of seven. But I think it ranges depending on number of applicants, like what the Burkle Center needs was. Yeah, six or seven is usually it. Oh, Lauren, just joined. Lauren is another intern here with us at the Burkle Center. Someone asked do you work in person or remote? It's a combination of both. There are three hours a week of remote work that everyone does on their, like, just personal time. And then there's three hours of office hours, those can be remote or in person just depending on if Samantha or Alexandra are in the office or not. And then of course, events are also in person. So it's a hybrid internship, I think was most of the questions. Oh, someone asks, what are some challenges of the internship program? If anyone wants to jump in.

I guess I can go ahead and start with that. Then.

Lauren rename yourself by the way.

I think one challenge of the internship program is because we, it really ebbs and flows in terms of how many events we have, like there will be some times where we have like, three events in one week. And sometimes we'll have like two weeks with no events. So some of the challenges is just like that huge influx of work that needs to be done if there are back to back events. So sometimes it's just like coordinating within the team to make sure everything gets done. And with that as well. Like, it's important to note that even if like for example, I started off as an outreach intern. And even though that was my role, I would help with all the other stuff as well. Like it's your, they're expecting you to be flexible with what you do. And so that that is a challenge at first to just like learn everything. But yeah, that's one challenge that came to my mind. I don't know if anyone else wants to step in.

Yeah, I can go. I think definitely the main challenge for me was just kind of learning how to balance having the internship, kind of as Rita was saying, like with my own personal schedule. And then I think it's good that we have the three hours, you know, in the office, you probably read like on the intern, or the internship details. So when it explains that the other three hours that we work outside, I think working on building that into your schedule is really important. I think that was mainly the main challenge for me was like working out how to, you know, balance classes, balance extracurriculars, as well as this internship. But, you know, you kind of learn as you go, and you're able to figure out what works for you.

Guinivere, you want to add something.

Did you say Guinivere? Sorry.

Yes, I did.

It cut off. Re the challenges?

Yeah.

Okay. I would say. This is, I mean, this is still pretty particular to me. Just being open and honest about your ability to get things done throughout the week. I'm an overachiever. I'm a perfectionist. I want to get all the things that were asked of me done on time. But we're all students at the same time and sometimes it's just not possible. So it's just being super upfront about your availability during the week and like knowing that it's okay if you can't get something during the week. Just that was the biggest challenge for me. But I feel like I've gotten a lot better about that.

So you're making good point and that's communication. Right? That means communicating when you guys have an issue, when you have too much schoolwork, whatever. It's like we can always work with within everything, right? Because your students first. That's the one thing. But also, like if you come late, if you if you have to move your office hours, let us know ahead of time, right, as soon as you can. Because it helps us also shift around, since we're a tiny team and we all sort of rely on each other. That's why it's really important to keep sort of the whole group, the whole entity in mind. The other challenge I would say is that the job, and that's required of Samantha myself as well, is to be detail oriented yet keep the big picture in mind. Because as we already talked about, right, we can have three events in one week at different stages as like then and then one that's a month down the line, right? But all of these different events require different sets of preparation. So having an overview, that's why we keep calendars and making sure that we don't drop any balls. But it's like, it's how well you organize yourself, how well you anticipate what needs to happen. It's like all of these things and structure what we need to do, because it's like, again, like a different levels of of of preparation requires just different types of tasks. And sometimes same thing with written communications, like looking at everything is, are there any typos in there? Like, are there any incorrect dates? What was like, let's avoid all that. Because don't forget it's like, every everything that goes out, represent us as a whole. Right? And so that's why how do we want to look to people, really well. Also in webinars, right, it's like, we have less and less face to face interaction. So it's like, again, like how we communicate is really important, it's like we look at you as professionals. The interns will be able to tell you, it's like, we ask you to wear a uniform, that is a blue shirt and black slacks or black black skirt. It's really to signal to our audience that and that's, of course, only for in person events, but that that, that you are professionals, right. You represent the Burkle Center, you're professionals. That also means that puts a barrier up, it's like people cannot be rude to you either. Right? Like you are there you represent us you answer questions. But but it's it's really truly signaling the professionalism that that that that we the level that we work at. Next question.

All right. So there's a couple more logistical questions that I'll run through. If you applied last year, you can apply again, that's no problem. Also, scheduling of in-person, like office hours, or all of those official office hours, is flexible towards classes. Like it happens every quarter, you will submit your schedule to Samantha and Alexandra, and they'll create a weekly schedule for all the interns that matches everything. I believe you can submit a recent reading sample from any discipline, but I think Alexandra just want to confirm that with you. Someone was asking if you if they could have submit like a writing sample from a scientific paper? Or does it have to be.

Yes, yes you can.

Okay. Yeah. All right. Um, there was one question about how involved are are the interns? And also what is the process of selecting speakers, or events or like guests for our event? I think I'm going to open the floor before I start answering. I feel like Lauren, you have a lot of you've helped a lot with all the mayors, and different things like that. So I don't know if you want to step in and answer that?

Yeah, so I'd say with like selecting speakers, usually, Alexandra and Samantha definitely take the lead on that. But there are specific instances where there are intern centered, like where they come to the interns for guidance. So for example, we have Student Voices every year, with one of our interns, Jack kind of took the lead on planning. Where with that he reached out to different TAs and different graduate students to come in and talk about their research specifically within the field of international relations. So our topic last year was looking at how international relations and foreign policy is going to impact the 2024 election. So interns definitely helped in that sense, on on that event. In terms of other events, we have a big event coming up called the Daniel Pearl Lecture, which is an annual event. So if you are chosen as an intern, you will also participate in helping helping with that event. And there was a lot of input taken from us on, you know, who we wanted who we wanted to see the Daniel Pearl lectures be, who we knew of. You know, kind of kind of gauging interest on that front. So there's kind of a combination, you know, you are able to provide input on specifically more student run events, like Student Voices. And then you are also able to provide input for something like the annual Daniel Pearl lecture, which is one of the bigger Burkle Center lectures that occurs every year, as I mentioned. Alexandra or Guinivere, I don't know if there's anything you want to add to that.

Well, I quickly want to add that that we always give you guys leeway, right to organize Student Voices. Which is like we encourage you to do that, we support you and that's entirely intern run. So interns choose the topic, interns interns choose the panelists, advertise for the event, and run it completely, and moderate it. So it's a really good exercise, and actually the different exercises like if you organize something from A through Z then then sort of basically having us do that and you help out. There's still there's really a difference and it's a super good learning experience. I want to get to Guinivere, you want to say something because I'm gonna go to Sophee Kylieg, who has raised.

You, you covered everything

Okay, how do we get to you? Sophee, how do I how do we get that? Okay.

I can allow.

Oh, perfect.

Yes. Sophie?

Hi. Sorry. Someone answered my question, I just didn't take my hand down. But I asked about, like whether the writing sample should be focused on content or writing.

Yeah.

Did you catch what she said Alexandra?

Whether the writing sample should be?

If it should be, if it matters more about what they're writing about, or their writing ability and style?

Writing ability and style? Yes.

Oh, cool.

Anybody else? Okay, then let's go back.

There are two more questions in here about, which might be helpful for you Alexandra to chime in, in terms of like, how do students stand out? Like how? What do you look for in an application?

Enthusiasm, some interest, right. Energy, because you need energy, we have a lot to do. So have, an also like the subject matter, right, international relations. If that's not interesting to you don't apply. Because that's really what we care about, think about, talk about. So in that, in that respect, yes, I'm looking for people who are interested in that. I'm looking for people who are positive, who are excited about work, about their lives, about the engagement. I'm interested also, like, be involved in campus, right. That's why I also that's one reason also, we don't take younger students because I want you to really fully explore campus and then, and then we benefit from connections you've made, because so much of what we do is like trying to get students in into the room, virtual or actual. That means reaching out, right, where do we have connections? Who do we know? Right? It makes a big difference, because students are our audience, right? We are we exist because of students. So we never forget that. And that's why that's why we try to reach you in any any way possible.

Yeah, and I think to add on to that, I guess another question, which wasn't posed, but I think would be helpful, is like how important is like formal experience? Rather than just student like involvement in student groups or anything like that? Like, do you expect people to have previous internships to have anything like that?

No, not necessarily. It's really about the attitude. I would say, because because you learn it here. It's ike, I mean, obviously, it's like, this is different from a class assignment because we think it's like a, it's a job. You know, it's like taking responsibility for the work you do. It's not necessarily like at the end of the day, you don't step out and it doesn't exist anymore, but because the work continues, and and that's why it's like no, you can you can learn that here. That's completely fine. Like, I'm interested in people really, truly who are curious, who want to learn, who are also ambitious. Who are because the ambition comes also in how you make connections during the internship, right? We make it possible for us like any speaker you're interested in, approach them. People are super nice and generous and gracious. And I've never ever seen a speaker refuse a student's request for connection, right. To the contrary, they come here and they're excited to engage with student audience and with with our campus. And that's why like, take advantage of that, yeah. And like and it's up to you is that same setting, take the initiative around Student Voices, organizing your own events. Same same is true here. It's like take take the initiative, contact people. And see it's like I'm thinking about that or that grad program or that field or like you, you teach at a university I'm interested in or you just wrote an article that was super interesting to me, I have more questions. Completely fine. We also have The Generation by the way, which is a student student run foreign affairs journal. That's part of the Burkle Center, but operates really independently. Like part in the sense of there also, it exists under our umbrella, but look it up like that, we link to it from our website, it's a great publication. And here too like that's another way to engage. That's another way like for you also to get published. And and we have interns who do both, they engage with with The Generation and also interns at the Burkle Center. Furthermore, it's like when we have speakers, for example, our upcoming Daniel Pearl speaker, we always ask them if they can make themselves available for student interviews. Student meetings but interviews also. Those are great opportunities, right? Students have interviewed Fareed Zakaria, Samantha Power, Christiane Amanpour, all kinds of amazing people. Jake Tapper, right, like I mean, amazing people that you don't ever get your hands on, who extremely generous extend themselves. So there are many different ways to get involved. Again, it's it's sort of taking the initiative.

All right. There are a couple more logistical questions. First, yes, there are interviews in the application process, or at least they were last year. Just to confirm Alexandra, you will be following up with like potential interns to interview them. As part of the application. Yeah.

Yes. Yeah. We do that. You submit your you submit the internship application. And then we we choose a subset of the applications and we call you in to interview. That's, as the three three interns here can attest.

Yes. And someone says that they're thinking of studying abroad next year, and would they still be able to participate in the internship? I don't think so. Because it is a year long internship, as Alexandra mentioned before, but just to confirm with you, Alexandra.

Correct. But then unless you're senior next year, apply the following year.

Exactly. And then one last question in the chat is, is there any preference given to applicants if they've applied in previous years?

No, we start from scratch each year.

Would you recommend that they submit new updated materials if they've already previously applied?

Yeah, yeah, for sure. And also don't like like as Rita already said, like, don't submit a lazy application, right? Think about, like, actually, look at the Burkle Center, look at what we do, right? And sort of refer to that, and show us that you engage with what we do already. Right? That that already shows me something. So that's that matters. And also include in there, would you contribute to the Burkle Center? To the success success of our work, it's not just about how we can basically enhance your aspiration, your sort of ambitions, your future careers, or thoughts about grad school, but it's really like, what do you contribute? What do you bring to the table?

There was also a question about what like fields of our careers, I mean, do Burkle Center interns go into? And I think, you know, I think it's a really wide range. Just just the way that international relations is very, very broad and you can really kind of do anything with that. I personally know of some previous year interns that have gone on to do like language programs like abroad. You can go into law, you can really, it kind of just applies to everything. I'm sure Alexandria, you know, like specifics of past interns, but it, it kind of really can be applied to any discipline.

Yeah, many people have gone to the State Department, right? Of course. People have, a lot of people study international law or go to law school. But but equally political science. We've had people who have gone on to Master's programs, PhD programs, but but generally related to that arena, I would say. But sometimes it's like people have sort of been able to define exactly the direction they want to take based on who they've met. Right, and and what they've heard along the way. So it's definitely useful for that. And also what you get from us, it's like, we don't pay you, unfortunately. But you get letters of recommendation for eternity. I still write letters of recommendation for interns who were with us 10 years ago, because they are in another stage of their career. So we're always here for you. Likewise, also here for you to think about next steps right? We look at schools together, we help you decide sometimes, we how we make decisions. Because like journalism, do you want to go into journalism? Do you want to go into, I don't know, public affairs? So it's like, what what do you try to achieve? What are you looking for, ultimately? So sometimes, it's like, it's helpful, right, to bounce ideas off and, and brainstorm.

Alright, thank you. Um, as of right now, there's no more questions in the q&a.

What about the chat?

None that I can see. Okay, any last minute questions? Anyone? I think it's a great internship. I think it's the perfect amount of flexibility and involvement, as well as like, having time to develop your own life and friends and other commitments. I think almost all of the interns have other commitments, jobs, other groups that they are also part of, so it doesn't take away from that. But yeah, I don't know. Does anyone else want to add any final thoughts?

Yeah, I can add some final thoughts since I wasn't able to be here at the beginning. You know, I think for me, one of the most valuable things that I found in the internship is just being able to go to so many different really cool and really interesting lectures. You know, as a student, sometimes we don't prioritize the academics available to us on campus, which I have found through this internship is quite a shame. I've gotten to hear from some wonderful people on some wonderful topics that I, you know, probably never would have attended. I don't think I would have, you know, heard the Prime, the Former Prime Minister of Finland speak if I wasn't, you know, an intern at the Burkle Center. And I think that's amazing. And I got to hear her perspective on, you know, environmental issues. Or I got to hear the US Ambassador of Ireland or, you know, the Irish Ambassador to the US, I got to hear her speak on like, you know, negotiation policies. And I think that's wonderful. And I've really just realized that I have this opportunity that I need to take advantage of, to hear from these amazing people. And, you know, I, it's a great internship, I can't recommend it enough. Alexandra and Samantha are both wonderful. But yeah, we really get a cool experience being able to be a Burkle internship, a Burkle, Burkle Center intern, you know. There is a lot to be learned about international relations, or, like politics in general, or any other discipline, you know, you can kind of cross apply. But yeah, that's kind of my main takeaway from the internship, and why I kind of found it super, super beneficial, super interesting. So I can't recommend it enough.

Yeah, I'm just gonna completely agree with what you just said. I think, I don't think I've been to an event where I didn't actually find the topic to be very engaging. And that includes like a lot, sometimes if you can't make an event, you still have to, for example, listen to the audio to write to edit the transcript, or upload the video or do stuff like that. And even then, like just listening to the audio, it's very interesting. So I think, not only is the content itself, really, really cool, but it's just a very, like rewarding internship to be able to. And you learn a lot of skills, like there's a lot of stuff involved from like, Step A to Z in terms of like, post event like video editing, making graphics, like doing social media campaigns, reaching out, learning how to network, how to communicate with other departments, and all these different advisors that you're trying to make relations so that they can spread the word of your, of your event. So I think it's a great internship. I'm very grateful.

Guinivere, anything else?

What I have taken away most from this past year at the Burkle Center is, this sounds so I mean, I've heard it so many times, and it was really hard to internalize it to not be as stressed out as you are about your future. Especially, if you did this internship as a senior like I did. I had I have like this, you know, professional dream, and I have no idea how to get there. And what I've learned from all of the events at the Burkle Center, and like speaking to Alexandra, is that there are so many different career paths to get you to where you want to go. And it's been so comforting and informative to have this internship. And I'm really, really happy that I did it.

That's why we do the career panel each year, right? International career panel. So simply to put everybody at ease, right? Because I think you can you have a few years to figure out where you belong and what do you want to do. And that's always like, no experience is a bad experience. You learn about yourself, right? You learn about what you want and what you don't want. So that's just as valuable. Another last thing, what we also have is we have a LinkedIn group. A Burkle Center sort of private private LinkedIn group. With, that has been around for 15 years, maybe, it's a really, it's really nice. It's like because everybody's in there connected with past interns who are at different stages of their career and who are also resources, and including resources for just crashing on people's couches when you move to Washington DC. Because the bunch of us in like in Washington, or New York, or different places, and in London, we have a few people. So it's like you never know, like, jobs can come from that direction. But also really, it's a cohort, because when you write somebody and you tell him you're a Burkle Center intern, doors will open up. All right, if there's nothing else are we all good? Everybody? No more questions, you guys? Guys and ladies, gentlemen, everybody out there. Everything you want to ask, you can also always send us another email, right? But, but basically, deadline is coming up in a few days. So submit your applications, think about it. And yeah, good luck with it as Rita just said. And we look forward to receiving your applications. If you have any questions, we're here. If you apply or want to apply next year, do that. Yeah. So anyway, thank you very much for joining us. It was great to be here with you. Thank you for all the questions. And we look forward to seeing you, if not as part of the internship, then at our events. So thank you so much. Have a wonderful evening. And thank you, thank you my my fellows for being on this video with me.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai