Intern and Trainee Recruitment Services
Free personalized support that helps you find the right candidates fast
Enjoy No-Cost, Hassle-Free
Hiring Solutions
How can recruiting an international intern or trainee get even easier? With CIEE's free hiring services, of course! CIEE: Council on International Educational Exchange has decades of experience matching employers with some of the most talented interns and trainees from around the world. And, since 1969, CIEE has been the U.S. Department of State's leading J-1 Visa sponsor, facilitating more than 30,000 exchanges each year. Our experts make the visa process worry free.
What Employers are Saying
“CIEE has placed only the most passionate, incredible, thoughtful and engaged international interns with Skanska. They have added tremendously to our teams with their energy, diversity of thought, capabilities, and by sharing their unique cultural perspectives. All while soaking in all there is to learn at work and with American culture.”
- Albert Zulps, Director of Emerging Technology, Skanska USA
Gold Standard Service: Support That Never Sleeps
It's true: CIEE BridgeUSA has nonstop support for employers. For more than 50 years, we’ve managed cultural and professional exchange programs that meet your hiring needs and keep your business running smoothly.
You’ll collaborate with CIEE's dedicated account management team to ensure a successful experience from recruitment to internship completion. You can expect timely and transparent communication and 24/7 emergency phone support while participants are on program in the U.S.
CIEE BridgeUSA Intern and Trainee Facts
Countries in our international hiring network
Global agents finding you the best candidates
Access to our host portal and digital job boards
Your Recruitment Options
Choose your hiring approach: interview talented candidates individually or trust our proven CIEE recruitment process to find the best intern and trainee candidates for your business. It’s all part of CIEE’s Gold Standard Service: providing the support that our busy employers need.
CIEE Road Shows
CIEE organizes international hiring events for face-to-face candidate interviews in their home countries. Ideal for larger employers who meet a hiring threshold each year, we manage travel arrangements and expenses. Road shows occur in select countries with significant BridgeUSA participation.
CIEE Virtual Road Shows
CIEE's virtual hiring events connect you with pre-screened candidates from around the world. International representatives recruit, and the CIEE team arranges interviews for all your open positions. Easily access resumes and extend job offers through our portal.
Recruitment-to-Hire Timeline
See how CIEE simplifies the process for you.
What's Involved in the Hiring Process
A strategic hiring process is key to finding the ideal candidate. CIEE’s step-by-step guide outlines the stages:
STEP 1: CONNECT WITH CIEE
Employers can learn more about the process by filling out a contact form and speaking with a member of the CIEE team.
STEP 2: APPLICANT CONTACTS REP
The applicant gets in touch with a CIEE international representative (IR). The IR provides application materials and login information to the online training plan, a form that describes what the intern or trainee will do during their program.
STEP 3: AGREE ON TRAINING PLAN
You and the applicant work together to develop and agree on the content of the training plan.
STEP 4: SUBMIT APPLICATION AND TRAINING PLAN
The applicant submits a completed program application – which includes the training plan – to their IR. The applicant or IR may contact you at this stage for more information.
STEP 5: APPLICATION REVIEWED BY CIEE
The IR sends the completed application to CIEE for review. CIEE will contact you at this stage to confirm details.
STEP 6: APPLICATION APPROVED OR DENIED
CIEE will review the application to ensure it meets U.S. Department of State regulations and CIEE policies.
STEP 7: APPLICANT RECEIVES FORM AND SCHEDULES VISA INTERVIEW
The applicant receives Form DS-2019 from their IR and schedules an interview for the J-1 Intern or Trainee visa with their nearest U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate.
STEP 8: VISA APPROVED OR DENIED
The applicant receives their J-1 visa. Then they travel to the U.S. to begin their internship or training program.
STEP 1: CONNECT WITH CIEE
Employers can learn more about the process by filling out a contact form and speaking with a member of the CIEE team.
STEP 2: APPLICANT COMPLETES APPLICATION
You and the applicant gather supporting documents and complete a CIEE application. It should be submitted 4-6 weeks before the desired program start date.
STEP 3: CIEE INTERVIEWS APPLICANT
A CIEE team member will contact the applicant for a brief interview while the application approval process begins. This process may take up to 8 business days.
STEP 4: CIEE MAILS DOCUMENTS TO APPLICANT
Upon application approval, the DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility and supporting documents – cover letter, SEVIS receipt, and Confirmation of Insurance – will be created on behalf of the applicant and mailed to their home address.
STEP 5: APPLICANT RECEIVES FORM AND SCHEDULES VISA INTERVIEW
The applicant receives Form DS-2019 from CIEE and schedules a J-1 visa interview for Research Scholar, Short-Term Scholar, Professor, or Specialist with their nearest U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate.
STEP 6: APPLICATION APPROVED OR DENIED
The applicant receives their J-1 visa. Then they travel to the U.S. to begin their program with you.
CIEE's rigorous application process, careful vetting, and thorough preparation of applicants ensures that most international interns, trainees, research scholars, short-term scholars, professors, and specialists receive their J-1 visas. However, it is solely the decision of the U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate to approve or deny an applicant’s visa application.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Students seeking resume-building opportunities may seek out an internship. Many do so through an internship placement program – especially if they’re an international student looking to develop skills in another country.
CIEE connects these students with employers attracted to the advantages of working with global talent. And that's where the BridgeUSA program comes in: It’s a U.S. Department of State-led initiative that promotes cultural exchange through work and travel. CIEE is the largest and oldest nonprofit overseeing these BridgeUSA programs, meaning you’ll benefit from 50+ years of experience throughout the process.
If you’ve hired interns before, you may have a training plan already in place. You can use that to finalize your required BridgeUSA training plan, called Form DS-7002.
And don’t worry if you’ve never formalized a plan before, because CIEE is here to walk you through the process. We have step-by-step resources that can help you understand how to complete Form DS-7002.
Employers pay no fees to hire international interns through BridgeUSA programs managed by CIEE. In fact, participants pay their own way to come to the U.S. and take part in your internship.
BridgeUSA interns do, however, need to be paid. They typically work 32-40 hours a week for employers, and they can be paid in one of two ways:
- Through a traditional paycheck
- Through a $1,500 monthly stipend