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TRAINING
& INTERNSHIP NEWS |
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First Quarter 2011 |
“WISE
Support- it makes the difference” |
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IN THIS
ISSUE New Faces at WISE® Quality of Service Expected More Than
Ever Motivated Candidates Are Ready Combating Homesickness |
Spring Has Finally Sprung!
The old
saying in Atlanta is that if you don’t like the weather, just wait five
minutes. That sure has been true in 2011. We’ve survived two
large snow storms, which are very unusual in the South, sub-zero lows and
high’s in the 80’s…all in a two week period. Even though the weather has been inconsistent, the Team at |
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WISE® is
continuing to keep pace with the steady influx of applications and inquiries
from participants and host sites. In
the 2011 Spring Edition of “Training and Internship News”, we focus on the
benefits of hiring a J-1 Intern or Trainee, offer assistance with candidate
referrals and provide tips on helping program participants adjust to their
new community and avoid homesickness. We hope you enjoy this edition and
will contact us if you have any suggestions or comments about our quarterly
e-news! |
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2011 BRINGS NEW FACES TO WISE® |
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In December of
2010, the WISE® Foundation’s Peter May moved on to pursue new professional
challenges and Erin Pacol stepped into his role of Director of Client
Relations for WISE®. Knowing that
she has huge shoes to fill due to Peter’s departure, Erin has stepped into
her new position excited and confident about preserving the WISE®
Foundation’s philosophy of providing quality academic programs to promote
global friendship. Erin plans to
utilize her unique combination of client services, marketing, and training
experience, as well as her multi-faceted background in the Hospitality
Industry to continue to provide WISE’s, schools, host sites, agents and
participants with a balanced level of guidance, assistance, counseling and
program monitoring. Erin intends to
use her knowledge and enthusiasm to help reinforce the professional bonds
between WISE® and the organizations we work with. If you have
questions or comments for Erin or just wish to get to know WISE’s latest
addition send her an email at Erin@wisefoundation.com or call her at: (001) 770-579-0257. |
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WHAT YOU’RE SAYING! “This has been a very positive program for our company. It helped our supervisors improve their |
MOTIVATED CANDIDATES ARE READY TO CONTRIBUTE |
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leadership and mentoring abilities, while shaping the interns into hospitality professionals.” Site
Manager,
SC “This training program was a life changing
experience. I will definitely use all the skills I have learned to
achieve my goals.” Participant, CA
“Tremendous experience from the various backgrounds and
cultures – added wonderful flavor and service techniques to the resort as a
whole.” Site Manager, CO |
ARE YOU READY TO GAIN ACCESS TO HUNDREDS
OF HIGHLY MOTIVATED INTERN CANDIDATES? WISE™ prides
itself on partnerships that we have established over many years, with some of
the top hospitality schools in the world, and a select group of overseas and US
based placement agencies. It would be our pleasure to help you establish a relationship
with these schools and/or agencies so that you would acquire access to the
WISE ® partner’s hundreds of qualified, highly motivated candidates that they
are looking to place each year. Schools &
Partners have candidates ready to get started in the following departments: Rooms Accounting
F&B
Culinary
Recreation
HR Sales & Marketing Administration |
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QUALITY
OF SERVICE IS EXPECTED NOW MORE THAN EVER
Now is the time to hire a J-1 Intern or
Trainee |
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SHARE YOUR STORY! We are always looking for Photos,
Stories and Observations to include in our quarterly E-News. Have something exciting
to share? Please send to: WISE® FOUNDATION Attention: Erin erin@wisefoundation.com |
As the world economy begins to flourish
once again business levels within the hospitality industry are starting to
rise as well. After a strong bounce back in 2010, global hotel sales are forecasted
to increase 30-40% in 2011, according to hotel investment services firm Jones
Lang LaSalle Hotels.
As the strength within the market intensifies the need for quality
service is heightened during this time of business renewal. As properties
look over their forecasts for the year, WISE® would like to remind them of
the following facts about J-1 Interns and Trainees: 1. J-1 Interns and
Trainees are dedicated and hardworking, and committed to succeeding in the
industry 2. J-1 Interns and
Trainees are qualified and eager to gain experience 3. Programs between 3 – 12 months are available. A program as long as 18 month can be established for management level training. Properties can |
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Focus on: CULINARY Did you know that J-1 Trainees and
Interns can focus on culinary training positions? Bring in a fresh touch, and international flavor to your kitchen, by recruiting talented, committed and eager to learn culinary candidates to your property. |
customize a participant’s training program so that it corresponds with
their busy season. 4. Hiring international
participants add diversity and brings a fresh point-of-view to the
workplace 5. International interns
are excited and positive and can contribute to the motivation and morale of
any team The schools and placement agencies that WISE™ partners with have a steady number of qualified and eager individuals who are looking forward to participate in Internship and Training positions in the U.S. |
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COMBATING HOMESICKNESS – The
Host Company Can Help: Contributed By Peter May
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Over the years I have had several opportunities to live in
foreign countries. One of the elements of culture shock that I have
experienced on each of these occasions is the perception that time seems to
move very slowly. Perhaps this is due to the difficulty of operating in a
second language. Maybe it’s because of
the constant stimulation that comes with being in a new environment, or the
slow sadness of homesickness. It might just be a byproduct of boredom, when
time that is normally spent with family and friends is not replaced. Almost all trainees and interns experience feelings of
homesickness which they express in various ways. In some cases the feelings
of homesickness translate into depression. In extreme cases, this can
negatively impact the success of the program itself, by affecting the
participant’s ability to provide customer service, or changing the general
attitude with which they approach their every day responsibilities. As I have worked with participants to address concerns, I have
developed some ideas about how host companies may help trainees to combat
feelings of homesickness: Sites can offer optional activities outside of the training or
internship program. These can be cultural outings to explore the local
community, after hour’s parties, guest speakers, etc. One site I visited
recently holds a monthly “Iron Chef” competition, where participants and
employees compete for prizes by cooking dishes with limited ingredients. Provide regular check-ins Sites should schedule brief meetings with participants once a
month. Managers should inquire about how their program is going, tell
participants what is scheduled next on the rotation cycle, and check in with
participants on a personal level to ask how they are adapting to the culture. Assign a trainee or intern to interview staff and colleagues as
well as participants that have been in the program for some time to identify
community resources, activities, and events that the participants can join
in. Have them report back to the group and provide a written resource for
future participants to continue this exercise and build a valuable resource
for participants to integrate into the community. Diversity It is often
tempting for sites to schedule participants of a single nationality together
as a way to accommodate them. We have
found that the effect is often the opposite and that this may actually slow
down the cultural adjustment process.
The faster those participants improve their confidence using English
and experience the new culture, the more successful they can be in the
program. Assuming it is consistent with business needs, limit the number of
shifts that participants are with their fellow countrymen and promote the
idea of a diverse team. Remember that WISE® is available to assist participants with cultural adjustment issues even if concerns are outside of a professional nature. Homesickness may be a reality but with support from the Host Company and WISE®, no trainee or intern should feel alone! |
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The Foundation for Worldwide International
Student Exchange (WISE) is
a non-profit organization providing international exchange opportunities to
students, youth and adults. For more
information about the WISE Internship and Training program or other programs,
contact WISE at: |
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WISE Foundation 1853 Piedmont Road Suite 200 Marietta, Georgia 30066 USA 770-579-0257 Fax 770-579-0219 E-mail We’re on the Web! |
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If you would prefer not to receive the WISE Training and
Internship e-update and would like to be removed from our mailing list,
please contact Erin@wisefoundation.com |
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