Application Guide

How to Apply for Intern, City Innovation

at The Aspen Institute

🏢 About The Aspen Institute

The Aspen Institute is a nonpartisan forum for values-based leadership and dialogue, with a focus on driving global climate solutions. Its City Innovation program uniquely bridges urban policy, climate action, and community engagement, offering interns exposure to high-impact events like Bloomberg CityLab 2027.

About This Role

This internship supports the planning and execution of Bloomberg CityLab 2027, a major global summit on urban innovation and climate resilience. You'll handle logistics, speaker coordination, and research on city-centered solutions, directly contributing to an event that shapes urban policy worldwide.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve updating a speaker database in the morning, designing a speaker bio template in Canva, then researching recent urban policy news for a media update. You'll also coordinate with the team on travel logistics for an upcoming seminar, ensuring all materials are printed and ready for a virtual meeting.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who The Aspen Institute Is Looking For

  • A detail-oriented undergraduate with graphic design skills (Canva, Adobe Suite) who can create polished speaker materials and event visuals.
  • An organized multitasker who thrives on managing databases, travel logistics, and data entry with precision.
  • A proactive communicator comfortable drafting media updates and coordinating with speakers and partners.
  • A self-starter with advanced MS Office/Google Suite skills, ready to support year-round programming and research.

📝 Tips for Applying to The Aspen Institute

1

Highlight specific graphic design projects (e.g., event flyers, social media graphics) using Canva or Adobe Suite in your portfolio or resume.

2

Mention any experience with event logistics, database management, or urban policy research—even from class projects or campus clubs.

3

Tailor your cover letter to reference Bloomberg CityLab or The Aspen Institute's climate work, showing you understand their mission.

4

Submit a clean, well-formatted resume and cover letter as PDFs; attention to detail is critical for this role.

5

If possible, include a link to an online portfolio or examples of your design work and writing samples (e.g., a policy brief or media update).

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Emphasize your graphic design proficiency and how it can enhance event materials and presentations.', 'Demonstrate your organizational skills with a concrete example (e.g., managing a complex schedule or event).', 'Show genuine interest in urban policy and climate solutions, linking your coursework or extracurriculars to the City Innovation program.', 'Mention your ability to work remotely and independently, with strong time management and communication.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read about Bloomberg CityLab 2027 and past CityLab events to understand the scale and focus.
  • → Explore The Aspen Institute's City Innovation program and recent publications on urban resilience.
  • → Review the Institute's mission and values, especially their approach to nonpartisan dialogue and climate leadership.
  • → Look up any recent news or reports on urban policy challenges that could be relevant to the internship.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you organize travel logistics for multiple speakers? Walk us through your process.
2 Describe a time you used Canva or Adobe Suite to create a professional document. What was the project and outcome?
3 What urban policy topic interests you most, and how does it relate to climate action?
4 How do you prioritize tasks when supporting multiple events simultaneously?
5 How would you research and summarize a media update on city-centered solutions? Give an example.
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting generic application materials that don't reference the specific event (Bloomberg CityLab) or the Institute's climate focus.
  • Overlooking graphic design requirements—not showcasing your design skills when they are a key requirement.
  • Failing to proofread for typos or formatting errors, which undermines the 'exceptional organizational skills' they seek.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to The Aspen Institute!

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