How does AIESEC differ from other providers of internships?
AIESEC does not define itself as provider of internships only. Rather, AIESEC offers you many different opportunities to explore and develop your potential. Although an internship abroad is an essential part of the experience you can gain in AIESEC, it is closely linked to other experiences rather than separated from them. Those who only want to do an internship to develop professionally will most probably find a more suitable offer elsewhere.
What does the AIESEC Go Exchange! Program offer?
The AIESEC Go Exchange! Program offers you the possibility to have an intense cultural experience in one of its 107 member countries. Concretely, AIESEC in Malaysia prepares you for the internship, while the section in the host country helps you apply for visa and work permit and organizes your accommodation. In addition, they take care of you as soon as you are there, make you familiar with their culture and organize events where you get to know other interns.
What is the process of my internship ?
1) Application
2) Assessment – An interview session to ensure that candidate has the competencies and right mindset to go for an exchange.
3) Preparation for Exchange – This includes:
- Induction – to assist candidates in understanding about AIESEC, setting goals for their AIESEC experience, connecting to the AIESEC network as well as widening candidates world view.
- Matching – the process of looking for a suitable internship according to the candidate’s background and preferences.
- Outgoing preparation seminar – to prepare candidates for their exchange by setting proper expectations and helping the candidate to learn how to reduce their culture shock in an unfamiliar culture or situation.
- Involvement in AIESEC activities – to enhance candidate’s competencies to go on an exchange and to get a better understanding about AIESEC and AIESEC in Malaysia as candidates will be ambassadors of AIESEC in Malaysia while on an exchange.
- Visa preparation – AIESEC will be guiding the candidate on the relevant steps to apply for visa (if needed).
4) Go Exchange!
5) Re-integration – Assist exchange participant to capture the learning and outcome of the exchange experience. Reverse culture shock and re-integrate the exchange participant to Malaysia. Exchange participant may choose to have further involvement in AIESEC.
When can I sign up for Go Exchange! program?
Go Exchange! program enrollment is all year round. However, at different period of time, there will be different opportunities in different countries. It is advisable to apply at least 4 months prior to internship period for Go Exchange! *Graduate Special* and 2 months prior to internship for issue-based program.
What does AIESEC NOT offer?
AIESEC does not provide internships, which will:
• Provide you with a very high salary – all interns get an allowance high enough to cover the cost of living in particular country; -support you in getting permanent residence in host country.
• Give you opportunity to travel (and nothing more) – we want our interns to contribute to the society and meanwhile develop themselves personally and professionally.
• Contain only simple tasks like e.g. preparing coffee and doing the photocopies of documents – the definition of an internship in AIESEC says that it has to be a learning experience for both: intern and the company.
Can I specify a company I would like to have an internship in?
Candidates can state their preferences. It is better when a candidate is open for new opportunities, than focused on one company or country. We want to provide you with the best learning experience, which sometimes means that we will offer you an internship in a country, you have never ever thought about. But at the end of the day you will realize that it was the best experience of your life! The more flexible you are (in terms of starting and ending dates, duration, and destination) the bigger will be pool of internships for you to apply for!
Will I receive a salary during my internship?
It is usual for professional internships to be paid in a manner that allows you to cover the living costs in the destination country. For the issue-based internship you will be usually provided with accommodation and/or food or an allowance enough to cover all those expenses.
How much do I have to pay for such an internship?
According to the Go Exchange! package you choose, the exchange participation fee is RM 400 for an issue-based internship and RM 600 for a professional based. CISCO Go exchange program is under the category of a technical internship.
The fee includes:
• Cost of one time Exchange participant review board
• Administration fee occurs during your matching process and preparation process
The fee does not include:
• Your passport
• Your visa and emigration related fee (varies depending on destination)
• Flight ticket
• Travel cost
What kind of contract will I have to sign?
There will be an exchange participant contract that you are obligated to. For further information about the contract, please contact us.
Do I receive a refund if I cannot find a suitable internship?
If you are a bit flexible concerning place, time and job description, there should not be a problem in finding an interesting internship. However, if you cannot find any, refunding is subjected to term and condition in the exchange participant contract. Those who accept an internship and cancel without giving strong reasons are excluded from our program without any refund. Such a regulation is necessary if we want to be fair towards everyone and because the organization or company concerned was prepared to receive the intern.
What is an exchange participant review board (EPRB)?
The EPRB is an interview during which we want to find out whether you are suitable to our program, how you perceive of foreign countries, and whether your English skills are sufficient. This is important because we guarantee a certain quality and certain competencies when we send students to work in our partner companies.
Who will help me in my host country?
All the internships are based on a local committee nearby, which is there to help you during your internship. More concretely, the members of this local committee organize your accommodation, pick you up from the airport / station, show you around in the city and accompany you to work on your first day. In addition, they will integrate you into their activities, organize events for you and the other interns and help you get to know the people and culture of your host country. There is always one to help you should there be any problems, if not in the host then certainly in the home country. We will keep in contact with you and support you in every possible way.
