International Rescue Committee Reviews

Pros

Incredibly intelligent and talented co-workers, excellent benefits (1.6 days of vacation per paycheck starting off, 403b full match up to 3%, partial up to 6% +medical, dental, vision), accesible and knowledgable HQ support team and technical advisors, clear organizational principles and strategy. Very strict about working 8:30-5pm and kick you out of the office (however still expect you to meet all job responsibilities and outcomes).

Cons

Being an organization that works primarily with immigrants and diverse populations, leadership locally and within U.S. is majority caucasian and non-immigrant, which influences organizational culture and approach to aid. Very high workload, low pay (nonprofit pay). Grants and outcomes at times unrealistic for providing quality service. Lack of cooperation/communication between departments.

Pros

most staff really care about the work they do

Cons

you will go unappreciated, feeling taken advantage of. the system is very bureaucratic and hierarchical, and my experience with management/supervisors in two different offices were terrible

Pros

The clients and refugees you work with are the highlight of this organization. The colleagues are diverse and everyone is amiable with a laser focus on helping clients.

Cons

IRC is definitely predatory in how they hire. It’s never about the qualifications but if they can get employees for “cheap”. They underpay new grads and their old clients for critical jobs by at least 50 percent. After exploiting your labor for cheap, they will chalk it up to being a “non-profit” and will use your good intentions of helping people to keep the illusion that they are paying you a fair and liveable wage.

Pros

Humanitarian work by a very large diverse set of folks around the globe make those in the NY HQ office feel they are part of and contributing to a great mission.

Cons

Disconnected HQ. Operations and decisions made in the NY HQ office often do not reflect the realities of what the field offices need. Management is often less than transparent

Pros

Great mission, beneficiaries. Innovative international approaches. Exceptional field staff, and other beneficiary-facing people. Those who commit their lives to service in the field with IRC are heroes. It is widely held appreciation by HQ which is good, and it is an honor to work with them. Wonderful history and potential if there is an effort toward change.

Cons

Leadership is good in some places, especially programs, but where it is bad there is spending unbefitting of a non-profit. Rely on expensive business management consultants instead of hiring desperately needed staff. Nepotism in London and NY, people from the CEO's political days in senior positions, disconnected from teams and unreliable and unaccountable in their leadership. Impacts staff in negative ways but CEO made unaware of it. Frequently temper the right advocacy mindset in order to accept checks from individuals or entities with questionable track records on human rights and democratic principles. Very little room for professional growth, must do better on diversity. Eurocentric.

Pros

Amazing work done for clients around the world.

Cons

So much work to be done, very little support for the amount of work needed.

Pros

Mission, front line staff, client driven

Cons

Leadership, equity of pay, elitism