Hire BridgeUSA International Interns and Trainees
Simplify your search with CIEE's network of motivated, pre-vetted candidates
Join the Thousands of Businesses that Recruit Worldwide
Through CIEE: Council on International Educational Exchange, employers like you can hire top early-career talent from around the world at no cost with our BridgeUSA Intern and Trainee programs.
Each year, more than 4,000 U.S. organizations turn to CIEE BridgeUSA programs to welcome international talent to fuel their businesses and enrich their communities, making America safer, stronger, and more prosperous. And as the leading U.S. sponsor of J-1 visas, CIEE has decades of experience connecting you with these qualified university students and rising professionals, ensuring every candidate is prepared, screened, and ready to contribute from day one.
Add Value to Your Business with Global Talent
No matter the size of your business, big or small, CIEE BridgeUSA Intern and Trainee hiring services are free to you. Find out what other benefits you get when you hire international interns and trainees:
BridgeUSA Interns and Trainees are highly qualified and hand-selected to fill in-demand roles in business, hospitality, engineering, technology, and beyond, keeping projects moving and businesses competitive.
International interns and trainees often have advanced technical skills or specialized knowledge, which saves U.S. companies the time and money required to provide in-house training.
Hiring international talent gives U.S. firms valuable insights into foreign markets, emerging global trends, and regional consumer preferences. That’s especially beneficial for exporters, tech firms, and service providers. This expanded perspective can open new markets and drive growth without the cost of outside consultants.
Global competitors actively recruit international talent. By engaging international interns and trainees, U.S. employers strengthen their innovation capacity and ensure they stay ahead in an increasingly global economy.
Unlike other immigration pathways, participants in the BridgeUSA Intern and Trainee programs pay their own way to live, work, and learn in America - program fees, travel, housing, and health insurance. That means employers can work with self-motivated, highly skilled, and pre-screened global interns without any added hiring costs.
Through the BridgeUSA Intern and Trainee programs, employers can host participants for temporary, project-based assignments: 3 weeks through up to 12 months for interns and up to 18 months for trainees. You’ll maintain flexibility and minimize long-term commitments – while still benefiting from global expertise.
Hire Global Talent in 5 Easy Steps
With CIEE, bringing international interns and trainees onto your team is simple – and completely free – for host employers. Just follow these 5 steps:
- Contact our host relations team to discuss your hiring needs.
- Upon approval, create your host profile on Beacon, our user-friendly hiring platform, as well as post job descriptions for the roles you’re looking to fill.
- Interview candidates and extend offers to your top choices.
- Complete the individual’s training plan – with guidance and support from CIEE every step of the way.
- Welcome your new team member and start collaborating.
Our dedicated Intern and Trainee team is available to assist you at any point in the process, ensuring a smooth and successful experience.
What Employers are Saying
"Paul Pedini is Senior Vice President of Operations at Skanska USA.“Our CIEE interns come to us, they work hard, gain technical skills and knowledge, and learn everything about American life and culture. We create relationships that last. We benefit from young talent, and our interns leverage their experience to enrich lives and their community."
– Paul Pedini, Senior Vice President of Operations, Skanska USA
“Working with CIEE has been a fantastic experience. Through their program, we welcomed two incredible interns, one supporting our supply chain and operations, and another in marketing. Both brought energy, professionalism, and fresh ideas that made an immediate impact. CIEE made the entire process seamless, and the quality of talent exceeded our expectations. It’s been a mutually beneficial experience, and we appreciate CIEE’s thoughtful coordination and follow-through.”
– Mary Ellen Kramer, CEO, NightRide
Industry Collaborations
Through CIEE BridgeUSA Intern and Trainee programs, you’re able to hire individuals for nearly any industry. We sponsor J-1 visas that allow us to bring these young adults to businesses like yours, including those in fields like:
- Medical and hospitals
- Technology
- Energy
- Engineering and IT
- Biotech and pharma
- Hospitality
- Business
- Arts
Industry Partners
More than 10,000 organizations have trusted CIEE to sponsor their interns globally. Host companies include multinational corporations, local businesses, innovative startups, and public and private organizations in between and operate in nearly every industry.
Grow Your Global Business
If your organization has operations around the world, consider sending your international employees to the U.S. for training and cultural exchange opportunities. Through CIEE, these participants can:
- Gain experience in American business culture and practices
- Develop a competitive edge in foreign markets
- Bring American skills and experience back to their home company
- Establish cultural exchange in the workplace
Reach out to the Intern and Trainee team for more information.
Join our Community
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The main difference between these programs is the individual’s level of experience:
- Interns seek practical experience and are:
- Current college students or recent graduates (less than 12 months since graduating)
- Able to work up to 12 months
- Trainees want specialized skills and knowledge and are either:
- Professionals with a degree and a year of experience
- Professionals without a degree but with five years of experience
- Able to work up to 18 months
CIEE BridgeUSA Intern and Trainee programs are paid. You can choose to pay your hires in one of two ways:
- Minimum wage based on geographic area
- Through a $1,500 monthly stipend
Have a discussion with your participant to determine what works best for both of you.
One of the great benefits of hiring internationally is that they can stay with your organization for longer than the traditional American intern. Through their J-1 visas, interns can stay in the U.S. for up to 12 months and trainees have up to 18 months.
Sometimes intern candidates will connect with you on their own. These self-arranged internships are possible – but they will still need to work with a J-1 visa sponsor like CIEE to have their application approved.
To get started with us, you’ll want to direct your candidate to find a CIEE international representative who can begin the process. If you don’t see a representative for the individual's country, contact CIEE directly to learn more.
Have other questions? Learn more on our Host Employers FAQ page.
Making America safer, stronger, and more prosperous
Created by Congress in 1961, BridgeUSA builds bridges between nations by bringing more than 300,000 young leaders each year to live, work, and learn in the United States through transformational cultural and professional exchanges. As the largest and longest-serving BridgeUSA sponsor, CIEE helps make these experiences possible – welcoming over 30,000 participants annually who strengthen American businesses, enrich communities, and share their cultures and ideas, making America safer, stronger, and more prosperous.
Learn more about BridgeUSA