The program is designed to encourage students, recent graduates, and young professionals from a variety of cultures and backgrounds to take advantage of the extraordinary benefits of international exchange. Through travel, professional experience, and the sharing of ideas and perspectives, Professional Development Program participants gain a better understanding of themselves and the world around them – working together to develop a spirit of international peace and understanding.

Program Purpose and Objectives

• To introduce participants to American techniques, methodology and technology, as well as American culture and language, by working collaboratively with American colleagues and living in American society.
• To provide international participants with a bona fide training and work-based learning experience that will enhance their skills in their area of professional expertise, improve the participants’ professional English fluency, and improve their future career prospects.
• To provide participants the opportunity to offset costs of a cultural exchange program by earning a living wage while participating in a program that focuses on professional career development.
• To provide reliable, qualified international interns and trainees to American host companies, providing access to foreign skills, alternative ways of thinking, and new methodologies, and access to linguistic and cultural ambassadors to other nations.
• To promote cross-cultural understanding and international friendships and, by doing so, promote good will and unity between the people of the U.S. and other nations.
• To provide training opportunities to students, recent graduates, and young professionals at a formative stage in their career to encourage positive relationships between future international leaders and the United States.
• To ensure a quality exchange experience with meaningful professional training and cross-cultural exposure such that Professional Development Program participants return to their home countries and share their positive experiences with their countrymen.

Program Includes

PREMIUM PROGRAM:

One Professional Development Offer in the participant’s field of study/profession, Training/Internship Placement Plan (DS-7002 form), DS-2019 to support the application for a J-1 Internship or Trainee visa (appropriate visa type will be determined based on applicant’s
educational and professional background), orientation session, medical insurance and 24- hour support from Spirit’s experienced staff.

INDEPENDENT PROGRAM:

Includes all of the above EXCEPT Professional Development Offer and Training/ Internship Placement Plan (DS-7002 form). Former participants of any Spirit program who return to a Spirit Premium internship or training program Host Company will be considered Premium Program applicants.

Participant Qualifications

Professional Development Program participants must meet the following qualifications:

• Interested in experiencing U.S. culture and have the desire to participate in cultural exchange
• Participants whose motives mostly focus on earning income, and not participating in cultural exchange, should not be accepted into the Professional Development Program.
• Interested in developing his or her educational training and professional experienced through on-the-job learning in the United States
• Able to demonstrate a high intermediate to advanced level of English through an inperson or Skype interview with Spirit AND J-1 Internship Visa (internships up to 12 months)
• Currently enrolled at a degree-granting or certificate-granting post-secondary academic institution outside the USA OR graduated from such an institution no more than 12 months prior to their program start date OR J-1 Trainee Visa (training programs up to 18 months)

- Foreign nationals with five years of work experience outside the USA in their occupational field OR- Foreign nationals who have a degree or professional certificate from a foreign post-secondary academic institution AND at least one year of work experience in their occupational field acquired outside the USA.

Program Options

Internships/ Training programs are available in the following areas:

• Hospitality & Tourism (including Culinary) (1-12 months)
• Management, Business, Commerce & Finance (1-18 months)
• Each participant’s professional development program is highly individualized based on the participant’s specific field of study and/or area of professional expertise.
• Program Dates Program dates are flexible and based on Host Company’s needs and participant’s availability.

Difference Between Internship and Training Programs

J-1 intern applicants are required to be currently enrolled university students or recent graduates (within the past 12 months) and consequently may have more limited professional experience in their field of study. Accordingly, the J-1 internship program is designed to provide an opportunity for work-based learning in the intern’s field of study, so that participants develop practical skills that will enhance their future careers. Interns may rotate through several of the Host Company’s departments or functional areas, so that he or she may gain broad practical work experience. Comparatively, J-1 trainee applicants must have at least five years of professional experience in their field or a university degree plus at least one year of professional experience. Accordingly, the J-1 trainee program provides a bona fide training opportunity and advanced professional development experience that utilizes the trainee’s advanced professional expertise and specialization. The trainee program does not allow the participant to merely gain additional work experience that duplicates prior experience. Neither program allows the participant to duplicate prior work experience or previous training. Participants are also not allowed to work in any unskilled or casual labor positions.

Currently we are recruiting applicants for several great internship and training programs:

Opportunity 1:

- Culinary positions at a luxury resort

- Location: St. Louis MO; Greenwich CT; Kohler WI; 

Olympia Fields IL

- Program dates: March/April 2016 for 6/12 months

Opportunity 2:

- Food and Beverage Management position at a luxury restaurant and hotel.

- Location: Estes Park CO; Granby CO; Olympia Fields IL

- Program dates: March/April 2016 for 6/12 months

Opportunity 3:

- Hotel Managment Guest Services at a luxury restaurant and hotel.

- Location: Estes Park CO; Granby CO;

- Program dates: March/April 2016 for 6/12 months

Opportunity 4:

- Hotel Management Human Resources at a luxury restaurant and hotel.

- Location: Estes Park CO; 

- Program dates: March 2016 for 12 months