This ultra-challenging, extremely rewarding 10 week program is designed for college students, recent grads, or young professionals who want to truly put themselves in another class in the job market. For those who want to proudly list an internship abroad on their resume. For those students who want to leave college knowing they can confidently use their Spanish in a real-world professional setting. For those who want to truly be prepared to apply for job assignments in Latin America.....And OK, we’ll admit, it’s also for those who love having fun, trying new things, meeting new friends, and are ready to discover one of the coolest cities in the world!
Start any Monday of the year. This completely customized program includes:
Two week Internship Preparation Course- 20 hour fundamental Spanish refresher plus 15 hours one-on-one language and culture lessons, customized for your internship
Completely customized internship placement
Eight week guided professional internship
Mentor within host company
Progress reports and completion certificate from host company
About our Guided Internships
First and foremost, all internships are customized positions. We find internships for candidates by assessing their specific skills, knowledge and interests, and then looking for an available position which fits their profile. We do not start with a position and make the candidate fit the position.
Equally as important, this program is a guided internship, specially designed so that a student or young professional who has never worked abroad before, or perhaps never studied abroad before, can have a successful experience. These internships are designed to be short term, so that the participant can have full mentorship throughout; but, long enough for the intern to immerse themselves in the company – to participate rather than
observe, and contribute while learning. The intern must accept this position as a professional commitment. While we only work with host companies who provide a mentoring and learning environment, the intern will have real responsibilities at their job, and the company is counting on them to give 100%. The intern is expected to show up every day-on time- ready to attack their assignment, with an open mind, positive attitude, and yes, plenty of questions! We take pride in our support system available throughout the internship, which we detail in these pages. Immersion Argentina takesultimate responsibility for the participants being in an enriching, engaging, professional internship, and we take that commitment seriously.
Who is a good candidate?
Academic/Professional Requirements:
This program is recommended for students who have completed at least two years of college level study toward their profession (ie Juniors or Seniors), recent graduates or young professionals. As we customize the positions, we welcome students and professionals in any field to inquire. The most common areas of placement are the following:
International Business
International Relations
Foreign Trade- Import/Export
Political Science
Logistics
Social Work
Marketing
Public Relations
Management
Graphic Design
Economics
Travel & Tourism
Finance and Accounting
Hotel Management
Human Resources
Spanish Requirement:
As you will be working in a Spanish-speaking environment, we ask all participants to have a high-intermediate to advanced level of Spanish prior to beginning the program. If you are unsure of your Spanish level, please contact us. We’ll send you a written evaluation to complete, and, if necessary, follow with a simple phone conversation.
Important: Anyone who feels they fit into the intermediate level, but have not reached a high-intermediate status, can enroll in the program by extending the language portion of the Internship Preparation Course. Please ask us, and we’ll help prepare your program.
Desired Characteristics:
-Last but not least, we ask our participants to come with the following:
An open mind
Respect for a culture different than your own
Willingness to adapt to your hosts’ way of doing business
A professional, dedicated work ethic
Positive, enthusiastic attitude
What kind of businesses do we work with?
We’ve developed relationships with a broad range of companies who enjoy hosting international interns because they gain from the experience just as much as the participant. Most positions are in small to medium sized companies, where you will have the greatest ability to take a hands-on role in the company, really make a contribution, and never get “lost in the shuffle”. You can learn your co-workers’ names and they will know yours, and you will always feel welcomed to ask questions.
Do we provide a list of specific positions available?
No, all of our Buenos Aires internships are customized. We prefer to start with the skills, interests, goals and preferences of the candidate, and then begin surveying our compass of companies to find a need which can be filled by our candidate’s profile. Together we define and sculpt the specific internship parameters, then discuss the position with the candidate. This process also allows the company to determine which duties or projects they want the intern to undertake based on the date they will arrive. Read further details of the application and placement process.
Do we guarantee all applicants a position?
No, we believe it wouldn’t be fair to you to do so. It is our responsibility to make sure our participants have an engaging, enriching, and successful internship, and, if we have reason to believe we can’t make that happen, we’d rather turn the enrollment (and the money) away. While most everyone is swiftly and successfully placed, there are exceptions. At times, after carefully reviewing the application, we feel there are reasons the individual might have difficulties taking on an internship abroad at that particular time. Or, although unlikely, the possibility exists that we are unable to find a good match for the candidate’s skills and goals during the desired time period. In these aforementioned instances, we notify the candidate within 10 days of application, and all monies are refunded in full.
Why are the internships non-paid?
All internship positions are non-paid, but never not compensated. Argentine businesses are not allowed to pay interns in country on a tourist visa. However, this experience compensates in ways money cannot buy:
Professional internship abroad for your resume
Access to job openings which require international experience
Greatly improved Spanish fluency
Profound understanding of a foreign culture, which translates to personal growth and professional gain.
Sense of accomplishment for having challenged yourself to take on something very few ever attempt...and succeeded!
For more motivation, click here for a sampling of current job openings requiring international experience or Spanish fluency!
What is the two- week Internship Preparation Course?
We find that this course allows all participants, regardless of Spanish level or career experience, to have a more successful transition into an internship abroad. It is your chance to “gear up” to speaking Spanish every day, familiarize yourself with the local accent, and prepare for the specific content of your internship. Your first week is a 20 hour intensive Spanish course, which you’ll enjoy in small groups, along with other Spanish students at our school in Buenos Aires. The following week consists of 15 one-on-one lessons, in which you’ll discuss workplace cultural differences, and practice vocabulary and conversation specific to your internship. You can “role-play” by practicing introducing yourself to new co-workers, answering the phone in the office, or attending a meeting. Practice writing a professional letter or email, and make a game out of learning industry-specific vocabulary. This course is practical, effective, and FUN!
What exactly does an intern do at their job?
As you might expect, this varies greatly. Many companies find interns to be very valuable in undertaking a particular project that can be completed during your tenure. Others train interns to complete the same daily tasks as other staff members. Sometimes interns are given responsibility to handle a company’s foreign clients. What you will not do is nothing at all. Some menial tasks are necessary in all jobs (making copies, typing in a database, even coffee duty), so you will be expected to do some tasks like that as much as the rest of the staff (In fact, shared office duties make you feel like part of the team). But, you will not be used exclusively for “busywork”. A meaningful assignment is a first and foremost requirement in our agreement with our host companies.
What is the first day like?
To ensure your internship gets off to a smooth start (and perhaps to ease your nerves if you have them!), a staff member will accompany you on your first day. We demonstrate right then that your success and happiness in your position is a shared responsibility between all of us- yourself, your host company, and Immersion Argentina. We will make sure you have a proper introduction to the staff, are settled in with your boss and mentor, and comfortable with your environment. Most interns kick us to the curb after 15 minutes because they’re off and running!
What are the work schedules like?
This also varies, but expect to work 5-6 hours per day, usually between the hours of 9-6. Sometimes you will be asked to work a bit longer one day (if you are working on a project, etc), then you will have shorter hours the following day to compensate. Your company’s general schedule will be provided after you are accepted into the program.
What is the work attire?
In general, Argentines are very snappy dressers, and professional attire is no exception. This does not mean you’ll need to buy all new, expensive clothing, and in most all cases, business suits are not required. Most companies ask interns to wear business casual. For example: slacks, button down shirt and dress shoes for men, and skirt/dress pants, blouse/nice top and dress shoes for women. Specific dress codes for your company will be provided after your acceptance.
How does Immersion Argentina monitor the internship throughout?
The intern’s mentor is required to send us progress reports, detailing training, tasks assigned and completed, and (most importantly) their opinion on how the intern is adjusting to their environment. If they notice any sort of problem, they pick up the phone and call us rather than waiting for the report. Likewise, we keep regular communication with the intern- outside of their workplace- so they can speak freely about their job. The director of the Spanish school serves as a local liaison, and provides help and advice from an Argentine prospective. Also, many interns find compassion and kinship in chatting with someone who has stood in their shoes and faced the challenges associated with coming from the US to work abroad. As Americans and former interns abroad, our personal advisors truly enjoy being there to listen, advise, motivate, congratulate, and step in if you need it. Some interns use these services ore than others, but we feel it is crucial you know you have support, literally, from both hemispheres!
What happens if the intern is not happy in their assignment?
Thankfully, this is a very rare occasion, due to the extensive pre-trip process. However, there can be some bumps in the road at first, and that’s OK. Misunderstandings and frustrations can happen, even with seasoned expatriates. The key is to be open about the problem and work to resolve it quickly. If you hit a roadblock, tell us about it. We’ll give you honest advice on how to best approach the situation from a cultural and linguistic standpoint- and you have help and compassion from an Argentine and US prospective. If you feel you can’t resolve it yourself, we’ll jump in at any time to work it out together. If, in the very unlikely event there is a problem that cannot be resolved, Immersion Argentina will work to get you placed with a different company as quickly as possible.
Can the international internship be done for academic credit?
Many US universities will grant academic credits for completion of an international internship. The approval process and requirements vary greatly, so we encourage you to speak with your department head, internship coordinator, or study abroad office as soon as possible. It is common for a department head to require a detailed job description from us, a written essay from you (perhaps weekly updates), and a letter of approval from your boss/mentor when you’re finished. Please let us know as soon as possible if you will be pursuing credits so we can assist.
