In addition to the professional contributions, what other benefits did you & your company experience as a result of hiring this intern?
Anna-Lena has an excellent attitude and is a pleasure to have on the team. She approaches every task with both professionalism and enthusiasm, and it has a positive impact on everyone at our agency!

Describe two or three successes your company/your intern has achieved during your program so far.
Anna-Lena has helped us with countless important client projects. From working events with unparalleled professionalism to making sure media trips and client visits go smoothly, she has successfully collaborated on several agency initiatives.

What are some of the skills that you’ve learned from the intern during this program and how you might apply these skills and learnings in your work environment?
Prior to coming to New York, Anna-Lena worked at a Berlin luxury hotel that is also one of our agency’s PR clients. We have a strong and long-standing relationship with the hotel, but having Anna-Lena at our agency has given us unique insights about the inner workings of the property. Because of our work with Anna-Lena, we are more in tune with one of our clients.

Share examples of how you’ve learned more about another culture and how you’ve shared U.S. culture with your intern.
It’s been interesting to hear how a Berlin hotel office is different from a New York media relations office. Anna-Lena has adapted seamlessly to our environment but shared great perspective on how the office styles differ.

What are three of the most memorable things you’ve experienced during this program?
Having Anna-Lena work with us has been fantastic because she brings a strong work ethic as well as unique perspective to MMG Mardiks. When we brainstorm new ideas, she provides an international perspective. In addition, because she has worked at luxury hotels, she brings a very strong background in high-end service to client events. Finally, Anna-Lena's solid work ethic helps create a strong example for our other interns to follow.

First impressions are often lasting impressions, and the job interview is often the first opportunity to make a positive impression on a potential employer. Make sure you’re prepared for the interview by practicing your responses to some of the most commonly asked interview questions.

1. Tell me about yourself.
   The employer is looking for a brief introduction and is more interested in hearing about your educational and professional background than your hobbies and favorite foods. See if you can sum yourself up in about 60 seconds.
2. Why do you want this job?
   Focus on a few of the job responsibilities that are especially interesting to you and be sure to include what you hope to learn from the position. Tip: Avoid mentioning you want the position solely because of its location or because it's a requirement for your degree.
3. What do you know about this industry?
   You may not have a lot of experience in the field yet, but make sure you’re ready to discuss current trends – particularly what’s happening in the U.S. and in your home country. Also refer to specifics from internships or work experience you’ve had in the past.
4. What do you know about our company?
   A potential employer wants to know that you have researched their company. You don’t need to know everything about the company, but you should be able to discuss the basics. Find out what the company’s mission statement is, who the biggest clients are, etc.
5. What specific skills do you have that would relate to this position?
   Make sure you’ve thoroughly read the requirements for the position and that you meet them. Refer to specific job responsibilities of the position and relate them to your educational and/or professional experience.
6. What makes you a good candidate for the position?
   Discuss your qualifications, including: educational background (include specific coursework or projects), internships, and professional work experience. You may also want to include some personal characteristics (e.g. motivated, hardworking, etc.).
7. Tell me about your strengths.
   Many people are inclined to recite a list of traits such as dependable or organized, but it’s especially effective to discuss experience or skills that are directly related to the job you’re applying for. For example, if you’re applying for a sales job, highlighting your presentation skills might really impress an employer.
8. What is your greatest weakness?
   This is one of the most challenging questions to answer. You obviously don’t want to say something negative about yourself to a potential employer, so the trick here is to turn a negative into a positive. For example: “Staying organized used to be a challenge, but I developed a time management system that works for me and that has really helped keep me organized.”
9. Why should I hire you for the position?
   Give specific examples of why you are the best person for the position. Talk about the responsibilities of the position and the skills you possess to fulfill them. Be sure to restate your interest in the position!
10. What are your goals for the future?
    An employer wants to know that the position relates to what you hope to do in the future because it’s a sign that you will be motivated to learn and work hard in the position. Talk about your goals and relate back to how the position would help you achieve those goals.

Want more practice questions?

Visit Monster.com for a list of 100 common interview questions.

Also, don’t forget to send a thank you email to each person who interviewed you within 24 hours of your interview. It sounds simple, but it often goes a long way and can even determine whether you’re hired or not!

Finding housing in the U.S. can be difficult, especially if you’re trying to secure a place while abroad. In fact, we highly recommend that you secure temporary housing in a hotel or hostel prior to your arrival and conduct your housing search once you are in the U.S. Please visit the housing section of our website for more tips on finding housing in the U.S.

The Career Training USA Placement Program recruits highly qualified candidates for employers at American businesses all over the country. We have a variety of employers from different industries that we work with and we wanted to highlight a few of the exciting new positions we are recruiting for:

• Marketing and Public Relations in San Francisco, California
• Front of House Hospitality in Savannah, Georgia

To see all of the available positions, please visit our job board: http://www.interexchangejobs.org.

Survey: Young People Around the World Are Eager to Work Abroad
People all over the world are beginning to realize that the job market is becoming increasingly global and that international experience is becoming a standard asset to list on a resume. In response to this trend, candidates from various countries – especially young people – are embracing international work as one of the steps in building their careers.
Read the full story 

NAFSA Holds 2011 Annual Conference and Expo in Vancouver, BC
NAFSA, the leading non-profit professional organization focused on international education will be holding its annual conference and exposition from May 29 to June 3.
Read the full story

For more news, visit our Career Training USA news page.

This updated site is designed to improve the online application experience. Everything potential applicants need to know, from how to participate in a program to what the program is like can be found at j1visa.state.gov.

InterExchange Career Training USA has been on the road recently, connecting with international educators from around the world.  We exhibited at the NAFSA: Association of International Educators annual conference in Vancouver earlier this month.  More than 3,800 attendees from outside the U.S. attended this year’s conference, and 97 countries were represented.  Additionally, we attended this year’s World Association of Cooperative Education conference, where we helped overseas constituents learn how they can simplify international cooperative education opportunities by working with InterExchange Career Training USA for J-1 Visa sponsorship.  We look forward to connecting or re-connecting with many of our new friends in international education this September at the Annual EAIE Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Regional Food Tour
The United States is the third largest country in the world and home to many different populations. The country has long been a melting pot of people and cultures from all over the world, and with this diversity comes a very diverse range of food. Each region of the U.S. boasts its own unique local flavor and cuisines that just can’t be matched in any other part of the country. To help you experience the best of regional cuisine in the good old U.S. of A, we’ve put together a regional food guide to foods you won’t want to miss as you are traveling around the U.S.A.
Begin your culinary tour through the U.S.

Tipping and Sales Tax
Tipping is part of American culture, but knowing who to tip and how much can be confusing for Americans and visitors alike. Although most agree tipping has become an obligatory duty, the amount one should tip remains a topic for debate.
Read our Tipping Guide for the U.S.

Even though you may not be in the U.S. yet, you can still connect with other international interns and trainees from around the world by participating in the Career Training USA online community!

InterExchange is a non-profit organization and a designated J-1 Visa sponsor devoted to promoting cross-cultural awareness through work and volunteer exchange programs. Our Career Training USA program connects international students and young professionals with internships and training programs across the USA.

The J-1 Visa is a non-immigrant visa offered through the Exchange Visitor Program, and is a requirement for candidates to legally intern or train in the U.S. Career Training USA works with international interns and trainees who find their own internships as well as with those individuals who are placed in an internship through our Placement Program.