About the Work & Travel Program - Information for Students
Program Options:
WISE® Placement
What types of jobs do students selecting WISE® Placements receive?
WISE® will arrange a basic, entry level job for you, much like one that a student in the US would have during a school break.
You will not normally be able to have a position that offers training for your future career, but you will certainly be able to learn a lot through your job if you are open to new people and experiences. The Work & Travel Program does not require that participants have special training or professional skills. We just ask that you have a positive attitude about hard work! Earn money while you get to know the country as no tourist can. Here is a sample of the types of businesses where WISE® places students in the country. These types of positions are located in many states across the US.
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· Theme Parks
· Hotels
· National Parks
· Retail Stores
· Ski Resorts
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When WISE® receives your application through one of our overseas partners, we will review your interests and coordinate the available employers that best fit your interests and skills to arrange for an offer. Please note that not all first choices can be met, and the most popular locations and positions are filled first so applying early is very important.
WISE® services for you include:
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· Guaranteed job placement prior to arrival.
· Experienced, friendly staff.
· Thorough review of WISE® placements to ensure suitable opportunities and
accessibility to housing and transportation.
· Affordable housing arrangements (avg. $250-$300 per month) or assistance through your employer.
· Documentation and support for obtaining your J-1 visa (DS-2019 form)
· Assistance with your visa application.
· Comprehensive health insurance.
· Pre-departure orientation.
· Assistance in obtaining Social Security Card.
· An Emergency, toll-free 24-hour assistance telephone number:
1-888-242-7456.
· Support from your WISE® partner organization before your arrival, and support from WISE® Offices and Staff while you are in the US.
· Detailed participant handbook.
· Post-arrival orientation through your host site.
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Self Placement
Our self placement option gives you freedom and flexibility. If you would rather determine the specific type of job and location on your own, you are a good candidate for our self-placed program. This program is ideal if you wish to arrange your own job independently or have family or friends in the USA who can help connect you with an employer.
Services Provided to Self-Placed Candidates by WISE® Include:
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· Placement confirmation by WISE® staff to ensure the site offers suitable
opportunities with the opportunity to have access to affordable and safe housing and transportation.
· Experienced, friendly staff.
· Documentation and support for obtaining your J-1 visa (DS-2019 form).
· Assistance with your visa application.
· Comprehensive health insurance.
· Pre-departure orientation.
· Assistance in obtaining Social Security card.
· Emergency toll-free 24-hour assistance telephone number: 1-888-242-7456.
· Support from your WISE® partner organization before your arrival, and support
from WISE® offices and staff while you are in the U.S.
· Detailed participant handbook.
· Post-Arrival Orientation through your host site.
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At the time you submit your application for a self arranged placement, you must be able to provide:
The original signed job offer on company letterhead OR the WISE® Self-Placed Job Offer.
The offer must be addressed to the applicant, and signed by the employer AND you, the participant.
The offer must include:
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· Full company name and address.
· Name of contact person and phone number.
· Number of work hours per week.
· Wages.
· Description of accommodation provided or assurance of assistance in finding housing.
· Dates of employment.
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OR both parties must fill out the WISE® Self-Placed Job Offer and return it to the WISE® overseas partner to be sent with the application.
There are certain positions that WISE® does not consider acceptable for the SELF Placement program. According to the United States Department of State J-1 Summer Work/Travel regulations, "program participants may not be employed as domestic employees in United States households or in position that require the participant to invest his or her own monies to provide themselves with inventory of the purpose of door-to-door sales."
Furthermore, WISE® will not accept job offers for applicants hoping to work in the following areas:
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· Child care.
· Medical care.
· Domestic work (housekeeper in a family's home, etc.).
· Camp Counselor.
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WISE® reserves the right to reject any job offer if the position is deemed to jeopardize the applicant's well being and/or safety or that would in the judgment of WISE® not suitably represent the cultural exchange objectives of this program.
Additional Requirements for Self-Arranged Placements:
In order to accept Self-Placed applicants, WISE® must verify that the applicant understands the essentials of his or her future job and is committed to working for that employer.
WISE® will contact your employer, and confirm your placement before issuing the DS-2019 form.
If we are unable to confirm your employment, we will contact you and discuss whether or not you should continue the application process.
Advice to students about Self-Placed Positions:
Every year, some participants encounter problems because they did not know enough about their self-placed position. Some students arrive to discover that there is no longer a position for them, or that there is nowhere for them to live. Although WISE® calls to make sure that all job offers are acceptable, students should take the steps necessary to make sure that the position they have arranged is secure and acceptable to them.
Applicants should:
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· Before the interview, make certain that the position is definite, and that housing will be available.
· Inform the employer that WISE® will be calling to confirm the job offer.
· Keep in touch with the employer before arrival to make certain that everything is in order. Some of the larger employers over hire, since many applicants who accept the job may not actually show up. It is very important that participants make their employers aware that they are definitely coming!
· Get detailed travel directions to their employment site.
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WISE® reserves the right to cancel any student if, after speaking with the employer (or being unable to contact the employer), the job offer is found to be unacceptable.
If any applicant is found to have falsified a job offer, that applicant will be cancelled from the program.
Below are links to websites that provide information about available summer work positions: (these must link to the following websites)
