Businesses often need Interns or Trainees – whether it’s to help to meet project deadlines cost effectively, and/or to get fresh new ideas based on the latest academic knowledge and industry trends. Increasingly, smart businesses are hosting international interns / trainees for 12-18 months via a cultural exchange program. These programs are excellent opportunities to increase diversity and to bring highly-skilled, eager, and motivated university students or recent graduates into globally-minded organizations. That’s a win for the company, a win for the intern/trainee, and a win for the community and other employees.
So, how does a program like this work? We talked with Kathy Coleman, Employer Relations Manager, about Greenheart’s role in helping host businesses find the right intern/trainees for their company’s needs.
Kathy, please start by telling us a bit about Greenheart’s Career Advancement Program, also known as the Intern/Trainee program.
The Intern/Trainee program allows international university students, recent graduates, or professionals to come to the United States for 12-18 months in order to gain exposure to our culture and to receive hands-on experience in U.S. businesses. It’s a Department of State-designated program promoting mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries through cultural exchange. Greenheart facilitates the program, working with host businesses to design training plans, and in the Full Placement option, helping them find the right intern/trainee for their company. We also stay in touch with both host organization and exchange visitor throughout the 12-18 months to make sure everyone is having a good experience.
You recently visited an intern/trainee in Illinois. What was your take-away?
This was my first site visit for Greenheart’s Full Placement Intern/Trainee program. Full Placement means that Greenheart is involved alongside the host business throughout the interviewing/hiring process. I was so impressed by what I saw and experienced that I wanted to share a bit about how Greenheart uniquely makes this process successful for both employers and interns and trainees.
How so?
Greenheart makes it easy to find the right intern/trainees.
We make full placement easy for employers to find and host the right candidate because our team is there for them every step of the way. We work closely with our international partners, so our hosts are getting the right interns and trainees in the right placements. We use the interns’ and trainees’ fields of study and past experiences to align them with the right employer. Our goal is finding the best fit for both.
Greenheart works with companies to ensure successful programs.
We work with companies to customize their training plans and to ensure successful programs for the intern / trainees. Greenheart works with employers who want to build an intern/trainee program that fits seamlessly into their existing business culture.
Greenheart has great candidates!
Greenheart is a Department of State-designated J-1 Visa sponsor for other programs. Because of this, we have a lot of stand-out candidates to funnel to employers–it’s a strong, wide pool of great candidates! Each of these candidates comes with support from their families, and they’re well-versed in international travel. They are eager, they are motivated, and they are knowledgeable in their occupational fields.
Greenheart provides comprehensive program support.
Greenheart handles the entire visa process, end-to-end. Plus we provide on-going support while the intern/trainee is in the USA. Greenheart really offers peace-of-mind for our host businesses.
Greenheart offers a lot!
Yes, we do! I think when companies want to have more agency in the selection process… when they have a specific idea of the individual and skill set they’re looking for, Greenheart should be their first consideration.
![](https://greenheartexchange.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/host-Kathy-FLAG-scaled-e1717618489514-1024x544.jpg)
If you’d like to read more about the site visit that inspired Kathy’s interview, click here.
Learn more about Greenheart’s Intern/Trainee program and get in touch today!