Grade: Internship
Publication date: 30 September 2024
Application deadline (midnight Geneva time): 14 October 2024
Vacancy no.: INTERNROSTER/2024/2/INFOTEC
Job ID: 12397
Department: INFOTEC
Organization Unit: INFOTEC
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Duration of contract: 3 to 6 months (starting on the 1st or the 15th of a given month)
You are applying to the ILO generic internship roster, which is published several times per year. The roster will be made available to all departments and field offices, which will then select and directly contact suitable candidates. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, the ILO does not inform candidates about the status of their application.
ILO Internship Programme provides an opportunity for talented individuals to:
(a) increase understanding of relevant issues at the international level by involving them directly in the work of the Office and the application of ILO principles, programmes and strategies;
(b) gain practical experience with the ILO directly related to their field of study.
The internship programme is not intended to lead to a career in the ILO. There should be no expectation of further employment at the end of the internship.
**Please note that you can apply to a maximum of three internship profiles during the current application period. If you apply to more than three internship profiles, your application will not be considered for any profile.** Note that you may withdraw your candidature at any time via the Jobs Applied section of your profile.
It is highly recommended that you submit your application as soon as possible to avoid last minute technical issues or delays. Late applications will not be considered.
The ILO values diversity. We welcome applications from candidates from non- or under- represented member States.
The ILO also encourages applications from persons with disabilities. If needed, reasonable accommodation will be provided to candidates with disabilities in the recruitment phase as well as during the internship to promote equality of opportunities. For assistance, please send an email to ilojobs@ilo.org.
IMPORTANT:
Please only apply for an internship if you fulfil the following two criteria:
(1) You have no close relative serving in the ILO.
(2) This is your first internship with the ILO (only one internship is permitted).
The internship is situated within the Technology Management Services (TMS) Branch and works closely with the Information Management Services (IMS) Branch under the Information and Technology Management Department (INFOTEC). INFOTEC's mission is to provide the ILO with advanced, secure IT infrastructure, technologies, applications, and services, thus enabling the organisation to efficiently utilise technology in achieving its objectives.
The primary aim of this internship is to explore a vast archive of over 18,000 documents published by the ILO over the past century. These documents have been indexed using terms from the ILO Thesaurus. The intern will be responsible for developing an automated text classification system utilising advanced natural language processing and artificial intelligence techniques. The core of this project involves evaluating various models and technical methods to deliver optimal accuracy in line with the existing classification taxonomy on unindexed documents.
As an intern, you will collaborate with information management experts to identify relevant data within current datasets. Then, you will explore multiple models and optimisation strategies to find the best solutions for classifying information according to the designated taxonomy.
A significant part of the internship will focus on creating a robust classification methodology that leverages large language models. This includes experimenting with different models and approaches, thoroughly assessing their performance using metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, and other key performance indicators to ensure superior classification accuracy.
Moreover, you will fine-tune models to improve results and develop automated pipelines to manage large volumes of text data efficiently. A critical aspect of the role will be the evaluation process, where you systematically examine different models and techniques to identify the highest-performing one.
Thorough documentation and knowledge sharing will ensure that future teams can easily build upon this work. This role requires a strong programming background, experience with large language models, and proficiency in data management, with a particular focus on analysing and refining model performance to achieve maximum accuracy in text classification tasks.
During this internship, you will be exposed to Generative Artificial Intelligence, Large Language Models and optimization techniques. It is a unique opportunity to implement different versions of those models and to validate their efficiency in a controlled environment. You will have the opportunity to work on the project end to end, with the support of experienced Information Technology and Information Management professionals. You would be gaining experience in Generative AI, natural language processing, data analysis and project management.
Computer Science, with a focus on data analytics or machine learning
The candidate should be enrolled in their final year of graduate degree programme or should have completed such a programme no longer than 1 years ago
Any relevant work experience and knowledge of IT would be an advantage
A working knowledge of English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of a second the ILO’s official languages (French, Spanish) is an advantage.
Applicants should be able to adapt to an international, multicultural and multilingual environment, have good communication skills, and be able to work in teams.
Experience with Python programming, Linux and Generative AI APIs.
How to apply:
1. Search for an internship profile via the page on ILO Jobs
2. Select the internship profile you would like to apply for, and create a profile on ILO Jobs
3. Complete your candidate profile and apply to the internship profile
4. Be sure to attach a cover letter in the last section of the application, as applications without a cover letter will not be considered and you cannot attach a cover letter after the deadline.
Selection process:
Following a first screening by the Human Resources Development Department (HRD), hiring departments will short-list applicants. You will be directly contacted should an internship opportunity match your profile. If you have not been contacted by any department within six months after your application, you can consider that you have not been selected by any department for this roster. If still eligible, you may apply to the next roster.
If shortlisted, you may be contacted by the hiring department for a written test and/or interview. The ILO may use communication technologies such as Skype, Video or teleconference, e-mail, etc for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.
Stipend/Financial compensations:
As an intern in Geneva, you will receive a stipend of 2450 CHF per month from the ILO, unless you receive funding through another institution (for example your university or a foundation). If you receive partial funding, ILO will cover the difference to ensure you receive 2450 CHF per month. Your travel to Geneva will be at your own expense. In addition to the amounts referred above, each intern shall receive the amount of CHF45 per month, or the equivalent amount in the currency in which the monthly stipend is paid, which is a contribution from the Office towards the cost of medical insurance to cover the period of the internship.
Qualified candidates from non- and under- represented countries may be eligible for a special fund that provides financial assistance for round-trip airfare (economy class) in addition to the stipend.
Insurance:
Please note that the ILO does not take responsibility for any costs arising from accidents and/or illness incurred during the internship. You will be responsible for your own insurance coverage for illness and accidents for the duration of the internship at the duty station (whether Geneva or the field).
Fraud warning:
The ILO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process whether at the application, interview, processing or training stage. Messages originating from a non ILO e-mail account - @ilo.org - should be disregarded. In addition, the ILO does not require or need to know any information relating to the bank account details of applicants.
