Company Information
THE INTERNSHIP
Global-Eyes Student Programs is a New Jersey registered company, founded in 2000. Its mission is to foster international and cross-cultural understanding through practical training, formal education and residence abroad. The Program recruits students and graduates from universities, and colleges of further education, who have an interest in gaining short-term work experience before they venture out into the business world.
The opportunity to live, study or work in another country is an invaluable experience. Being an intern in another country or city will provide these students with a new cultural perspective that cannot be gained in the classroom. This internship is a practical learning opportunity that will supplement their course of study and future career plans.
YOUR INTERN'S RESPONSIBILITIES
During the Spring and Fall sessions interns will work 2-3 days per week if they are also on an academic semester or 4-5 days per week if they are not on an academic semester. We will arrange their work schedule around their academic schedule in accordance with your schedule. During the summer session they will work 4-5 days per week. We hope they will become involved with worthwhile projects while working with you as they are able to deal with administrative tasks as well as more in-depth procedures in your office.
Global-Eyes will seek a placement with a specific company that is as close as possible to specific intern requests. We have explained that positions within business in the UK can sometimes be demanding and deadline driven and at other times slow and repetitive. Interns are willing to work in both environments to the best of their ability.
Interns are typically in their early 20s and come from an array of academic and professional backgrounds. Some interns could be other nationalities rather than American as well. Interns are asked to evaluate their own progress throughout the session as they gain in skills, knowledge, and confidence, and typically will do this together with their supervisor.
Global-Eyes is committed to helping each intern make the most of their program and to this end offers professional guidance and advice for those who seek it. Most of our interns come to describe their Global-Eyes session in vivid and colourful terms ranging from tough and completely worthwhile to incredible; wonderful; the experience of a lifetime.
HOW WILL YOUR OFFICE BENEFIT?
Sponsors provide interns with practical training and experience through participation in the workplace. In return the company benefits from the services of a quality individual with a positive attitude and excellent skills in computer proficiency, languages, IT, or office administration. Most of our interns have a solid academic background, and all have demonstrated a strong sense of commitment and a real desire to succeed.
When your intern returns home you will have your own ambassador. Global-Eyes alumni are much sought after because of their experience outside the classroom.
The cost of the Program is very reasonable-It's Free! We take care of recruitment, accommodation, Day Trips, Airport Transfers - so no administrative hassle for you! As they are un-paid interns they do not have to be accounted for on your employee list, nor do they require a UK Work Permit. Some offices offer to pay travel expenses within London and/or provide lunch stipends. This is not a requirement of a host company, but rather a perk should you be able to offer either or both.
The benefits are both tangible and intangible, both short and long term. The experience of those who have sponsored Global-Eyes interns over the years has been very positive as evidenced by the large number of those that have continuously taken interns over the past few years.
HOW ARE INTERNS MATCHED TO MEET YOUR NEEDS?
We take great care to ensure that the match is right. We work with each of our sponsors to draw up a detailed description of the intern to define as accurately as possible the type of candidate that would interest you.
All of our candidates are pre-screened. As part of this process we require two or three confidential references. Each candidate also submits an essay - a personal statement- explaining his or her reasons for wanting to participate in the Program. The Program then evaluates each applicant individually before accepting anyone into the Program. Candidates are chosen on the basis of professional achievement, academic background, practical skills and talents, positive and outgoing personalities, initiative and enthusiasm and the flexibility to adjust to the needs of our sponsor companies.
For each candidate offered for your consideration you will receive a package containing a CV and the candidate's personal essay. Ultimately, the choice is up to you which candidate you would like to offer your internship to. However, in some cases a few companies may be interested in the same candidate and we work on a first come first serve basis. Should there be an intern you are very interested in we suggest you contact us early on in the selection process to ensure you obtain your first intern choice.
WHAT ELSE IS INCLUDED?
The Program provides the interns with a few conveniences. They are registered under the NHS during their stay in the UK and have optional travel and medical insurance provided. The Program also gives interns the option of accepting Program housing or finding their own accommodation.
The Program provides an orientation for all interns. We can also help with setting up bank accounts, registering with doctors, lectures on safety in their new surroundings etc, all before the intern arrives on your doorstep ready to work.
Throughout the session we maintain close contact with interns and sponsor companies to ensure that everyone is deriving maximum benefit from the Program.
At the end of the internship session we will send you an intern appraisal form which we ask you to complete and discuss with your intern. The interns will also be required to submit Journal Entries at the end of the internship session.
In summary, we try to make life as worry-free as possible for both you and our interns. Fewer worries for them make for greater productivity for you!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q What if we accept an intern and then find out that we are not satisfied or we just don't like him or her?
A You would call the Office and we would try to help resolve any problems. If you feel the situation cannot be fixed, you may dismiss the intern without cause by giving one week's notice to the Program - and you may dismiss with immediate effect should you have good cause.
Q What if the intern doesn't like us?
A Again you would contact the Program. Interns may express preferences, which we try to accommodate but they are not free to pick and choose their internships. If we are unable to resolve the situation and we decide that the internship should be terminated we would do our best to provide a replacement intern quickly.
Q What if we wish to extend a particular intern beyond the time period scheduled?
A This is fine as long as the intern does not overstay their 6-month period as set out in their passport upon arrival. We also ask that if we have a new intern for your position, that you take the new intern rather than keeping the original intern so that someone else has the opportunity to work for your company.
Q Will the intern's Academic work impinge on our company?
A Not really. Apart from your written Appraisal of the intern, in practice you will only bump into the academic components when the intern is required to attend a speaking engagement or Day Trip. We try to arrange speaking engagements either early in the morning or late in the day. Day Trips are also mostly arranged for weekends. None of this should encroach on the normal working day if possible. We see the academic component as a very positive part of your intern's exposure to a new culture and the vast majority of our Sponsors encourage their intern and take an interest in his/her progress.
Q What if we really need the intern to work late on something special or be out of town on a seminar night?
A Call the Program Manager at our office. We will always do our best to comply with your request. If costs are incurred by Global-Eyes, ie. missed day trip etc. your office will be invoiced for the cost.
Q What about vacation and sick days?
A Whatever you grant your own entry-level employees. It is entirely up to you.
Q Can an intern work over-time?
A Yes, but we ask that it does not become a frequent occurrence and that if over-time is necessary we ask that interns are given fair warning beforehand and are not continually kept in the office late hours. We also ask that should over-time become necessary interns receive time off in lieu
Q So, apart from the satisfaction of knowing that we would be helping a keen young person get started in life, not to mention doing our bit for diplomacy and foreign policy, it would also seem that we are getting a pretty good deal?
A Absolutely. It would be rare indeed to find someone in London of Global-Eyes calibre that would be prepared to provide such quality service for no fee! They truly are here to learn.
PRE-ARRIVAL INFORMATION
By now you will have been forwarded your intern's contact information. Please feel free to contact them before they arrive to begin their internship if you wish. They have your contact details and biography but we have asked that they wait and let your office contact them first. Please also let them know if there is any ‘academic' preparation they must do before their arrival that relates directly to your business and the work they will be doing.
WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR INTERN
During the session we ask that you treat your intern like a regular employee and try to give them as much responsibility as is possible under a program such as this. These are all academically and professionally keen students and can handle a bit of hard work!
Also during the session we ask that you arrange for your intern to sit in on meetings and training sessions when possible. This will get them more involved in the process as they will be experiencing it firsthand! We have also found in the past that having lunch with your intern during the first week has always been helpful in breaking the ice in the first week. Although many of them are aware they will be responsible for administrative aspects of the office, they are very capable employees and will be able to perform important tasks for your office. We ask that interns are rewarded for good work with more responsibility in the office when possible.
INTERN ASSESSMENT
You will receive the evaluation form in the middle and towards the end of the session.
It will be based on skills, competencies, and objectives. It will include an indication of performance effectiveness and will have input from both the intern and the Supervisor. The intention of the Performance Evaluation is to highlight both strengths and areas for improvement that the intern can focus on for the remainder of his/her internship.
Successful completion of the intern's practical training and skills development will be an indication that the intern:
Has understood the nature and parameters of the job and has fulfilled the expectations of the Supervisor.
Has shown evidence of successful practical training in the following areas:
• Knowledge of the sponsoring company
• Technical competence
• Communication skills
• Self-organization
• Networking contact awareness
• Initiative
• Commitment
• Interpersonal relations
• Work quality
Has shown evidence of an ability to assimilate information about the operation of the sponsoring company within the context of the international business community through successful achievement in the above areas.
In providing a reference for interns, the Program usually draws heavily on these company assessments, often quoting directly from the Final Company Evaluation.
TERMINATION OF INTERNSHIP
Should an intern place themselves in danger of becoming terminated from their internship for any reason, a meeting with the intern and sponsor will be called separately to discuss the situation. All efforts will be made to rectify the situation. However, if an intern is asked to leave their position by the Sponsor one week's notice is required from the sponsor unless it is deemed necessary that the intern leave the sponsor's office immediately. If an intern would like to leave an internship, again a meeting will be organized with all interested parties to discuss the situation and come to an agreement. An intern is also required to give one week's notice of termination.
The key again is communication throughout the session so as to avoid any terminations. Please discuss with your intern and our Office any issues that arise as soon as they become apparent.
OTHER PROGRAM DETAILS
ACCOMMODATION
Interns will all be housed in Global-Eyes housing or their own housing for the session. Global-Eyes arranges all aspects of housing for those that have chosen this option. We also provide a resource list to those wishing to locate their own housing and help where appropriate.
INFORMATION YOUR INTERN HAS BEEN GIVEN
Your intern has been given a lot of information prior to their internship. If you would like your intern to sign a confidentiality agreement you may do so on your own accord. Please also submit to Global-Eyes any rules and regulations operated in your office or any policies regarding Insurance within the office, Health and Safety etc.
Each intern is provided with a Handbook that covers the following:
HINTS ABOUT BUDGETING
TIPPING
THE NHS
PERSONAL INSURANCE
FINDING YOUR OWN HOUSING
LIFE IN A NEW CITY
STREET WISDOM
ALCOHOL AND DRUGS
ATTIRE, ATTITUDE, PERFORMANCE AND UK OFFICE CULTURE
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
LEISURE AND HEALTH (GYMS)
PASSPORTS AND TRAVEL
MONEY MATTERS
TOURIST INFORMATION ---AIRPORTS, TRAINS, HOTELS
THE AMERICAN EMBASSY
READING LIST ABOUT THE UK
VOLUNTEER WORK IN LONDON
GLOSSARY OF BRITISH AND AMERICAN TERMS
AMERICAN BARS, CLUBS AND RESTARAUNTS
INTERNSHIP ASSIGNMENTS
TRAVEL & MEDICAL INSURANCE
All interns have been provided with optional Travel Insurance from Global-Eyes.
Should your intern injure themselves while at work please contact our office immediately.