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As the current academic year comes to a conclusion, students begin to search for summer jobs and prospective internships. This process is challenging as students face difficulties finding the right fit for them and their chosen career path. 

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is offering students and recent graduates an exciting opportunity. 

The NATO Internship Programme started in the beginning of May 2025. AUBG students are eligible to apply and possess everything NATO is looking for in its prospective candidates.

 

Working at NATO

Irina Novakova, Head of Disaster Response at NATO and an AUBG alumna.

Irina has been working at NATO for almost ten years and shared that the environment at the organization is very similar to the one at AUBG. “You work with people from different backgrounds and parts of the world, which reminds me of my time at AUBG.” 

Irina also talked about the overall workplace atmosphere, describing it as diverse, creative, dynamic, and supportive of its new recruits. She added that she would be happy to see more people from AUBG and that NATO is open to all kinds of experts, regardless of their chosen field. 

Asya Kocheva and Ivana Stefanovska were both interns who stayed at NATO after their internships ended. At the organization, interns are as much part of the team as permanent employees and are both respected and allowed a place for growth. They described the dynamic as demanding because of the immense responsibilities they had even from day one. However, the overall experience was positive, helped them grow as people, and create strong friendships.

About the internship

Internships take place at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, and last six months. The application window is approximately five weeks.

NATO is looking to acquire people with fresh ideas, creativity, and expertise in different fields. An important thing to note is that even though the alliance is mainly military and politically focused, it is looking to recruit candidates from a variety of fields – from Business and Economics to Communications and Information Systems.

Through this internship, students have the opportunity to experience firsthand what working for such an organization looks like, as well as gain unique work experience. 

 

Eligibility criteria

1. Students in their third year of studies and above are eligible for the program, however, they have to be a citizen of a NATO member country. Recent graduates are also eligible.
2. Being at least 21 years of age.
3. Previous professional experience is not a requirement.
4. Being proficient in English or French is mandatory; however, if you are proficient in more languages, make sure to include them in your application.

NATO provides the interns with a monthly stipend, 15 days of paid leave for the six-month internship period, and a plane or train ticket from the intern’s place of origin to Brussels. More information is available on the NATO website.

Application process

Ioana Tudorie, Outreach and Communication Officer at NATO's Talent Acquisition Service, provided important details regarding the application process.

The first step happens through a platform called TALEO. There, applicants must attach their CVs and provide details about their academic background, professional experience, and everything relevant, as well as fill in “pre-screening questions.”

Tudorie explained that those questions are crucial not only for the process of filtering the candidates but also for understanding their background, what they would bring to the organization, and most importantly, their motivation and why they would be a good fit. It is highly important to provide well-structured and concise answers, as each application is manually reviewed. 

The final step is to choose up to three positions to intern and apply for.

Then, NATO goes through the applications, and during the summer, candidates are invited to do tests in the format of games. Tudorie explained, “They are set to test cognitive ability, mathematical and logical reasoning.” If you are successful in moving forward, the next phase is an interview with a hiring manager. All of these steps are meant to filter the candidate pool.

The goal is by the end of September to inform the applicants whether they were approved or not. The final step is to get a security clearance, which takes approximately six months. After this lengthy process is completed, the candidate could start their internship either in March or September of the following year after they have applied.

Edited by: David Mitov and Niya Manditsch