Think Tanks 101: Read Chatham House Employee's Insights on Applying & Working for a Leading Foreign Policy Research Institute

Halfway through my one-year master’s programme in international relations, I realised that I had no idea what I wanted to do next. Up until that point, I had moved from high-school in my native country Lebanon, to a Bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Science in Canada, and then straight into a Master’s in International Relations in Scotland. I knew I wanted to work in the field of international relations and my studies pointed in that direction, but I did not have a good idea of what that work would look like. I always assumed it would involve working for a government.

After researching on job sites, I discovered the existence of think-tanks, and in particular Chatham House. Foreign policy think-tanks sit at an interesting intersection between government, civil society and the private sector. At Chatham House, we have the opportunity to engage and convene different groups of stakeholders as an impartial medium, and work to develop research that informs the policies of actors on the international stage, in addition to providing the general public with access to these stakeholders and findings. The exposure to a variety of perspectives and interests is invaluable, and the mandate to be independent means that you are encouraged to form your own opinions and conclusions based on your research and observations.

In 2015 I joined Chatham House as an unpaid intern with the Middle East and North Africa Programme (internships at Chatham House are now paid). Since then I have worked in this programme as Administrator, Coordinator, and most recently Project Manager. In my current role, I am responsible for planning and delivering a variety of research projects, focussing on issues ranging from hybrid armed actors and conflict economies to regional cooperation in North Africa. I work within a wider project and programme team, collaborating primarily with research fellows who lead the research. My role involves managing project finances and deliverables, and our relationship with project funders, alongside organising workshops in both London and the MENA region, and assisting with project research.

My day-to-day is largely desk-based, and usually involves checking up on event planning, updating a project budget, doing research, and responding to e-mails. Before Covid-19, I would travel every couple of months for meetings or events in Europe or the MENA region, which I really enjoyed. Overall, my job allows me to meet, work with, and learn from a wide range of people in an area that I have a deep personal and professional interest in, which is very rewarding. However, I sometimes struggle with accepting that although our research may suggest certain solutions and policies, and despite sharing our research widely, we do not have the power or mandate to implement them.

The most important thing during the recruitment process is to make sure you understand the role that you are applying for (job descriptions are key here!), including the work of the team or research area it belongs to, and match your skills and qualifications to that. Your interest in the position comes across clearly in cover letters and interviews, and can be a big advantage when matched with the experience that the job requires. Usually, interviews at Chatham House take place in two stages and will include a job-related assessment in the second stage, so having a good understanding of the job is crucial. In that vein, don’t be afraid to reach out to someone who works in the area or programme you are interested in applying for – they could offer helpful tips and insights.

While Covid-19 has created a challenging environment, it has also created new opportunities to engage in the digital sphere. In the current global context my advice to readers interested in working for a think-tank would be that now is a good time to reach out to individuals in your research area of interest for a chat.

Nicole El Khawaja works at Chatham House, a world-leading research and policy institute on International Affairs.