Green internships

Ruth Jenkins, a former intern for the Green MEP Caroline Lucas, reveals how her placement has helped her career.

What did being a green intern involve?
I was a “stagier” (the European name for intern) for Caroline Lucas, the Green MEP for the UK South East region, based in the European Parliament in Brussels for five months. The work was largely administrative. I had to deal with issues raised by constituents, keeping on top of the vast quantities of incoming post and emails and making travel arrangements, which meant becoming very good friends with the local travel agency. I also answered the phone and there was plenty of desk research to keep my brain in gear.

What did you do on a typical day?
Most days involved working nine to five and were very hectic. There is definitely a late work culture in the European Parliament but stagiers don't have to get caught up in it. I would have lunch in the canteen with other stagiers, there was the odd dash to sneak papers into meetings, phones ringing fairly regularly, and the odd smattering of filing.

Did you get any kind of salary or expenses and how much?
I wasn't exactly paid a salary but more like generous expenses