Frequently Asked Questions About Internships

Placement Process

  • We review student resumés, conduct calls, and send suitable candidates to partner
    companies on a rolling basis. Companies review candidates (ideally within 3 days)
    and schedule interviews if interested (ideally within 1 week). If both parties agree
    after the interview, we confirm the placement.

  • Three times per year: Spring, Summer, and Fall terms.

  • Spring/Fall: 6 & 12 weeks (17-20 hours/week)

    Summer: 8 weeks (32 hours/week) & 6 weeks (17-20 hours/week)

  • hile our programs are growing, each cohort varies in majors, interests, and experience. A
    suitable match may not be available every term.

  • We handle candidate selection and minimize paperwork. Our team stays in touch
    with both students and companies throughout the internship.

  • None. Our matching services are free, and internships must be unpaid (students receive
    academic credits). Students receive housing and health insurance through the program.

About the Students

  • Most students come with little-to-no German language skills.

    However, some students may have basic German language proficiency. Those students may not be professionally fluent, but eager to improve their language skills.

    Regardless of skill level, all students are interested in experiencing a foreign-speaking environment that will help them grow personally and professionally.

  • Yes! We have had a number of students who were hired by their host companies after their
    internship!

    However, majority of students must return to finish their degrees, but those graduating
    may stay in Berlin or return after graduation for employment opportunities.

  • CIEE Berlin provides support in selecting suitable candidates and minimizes paperwork for
    the hosting companies. The internship team remains in touch with the students and the
    companies for the duration of the internship to provide any support

  • Item description

How to host an intern?

1. Let us know you’re interested
Email berlininternships@ciee.org to get started. We love to meet potential partners, so we would be happy to schedule a follow-up video call, or an in-person visit to better acquaint ourselves with your company.  

2. Tell us about your company, team, number of staff, provide an internship description and desired student profile.
This information is helpful in determining if any of our incoming students would make a suitable candidate for an internship with your company. If we don’t have a suitable candidate in the incoming cohort, we keep this information and will reach out again in the future.

3. If we have suitable candidate, we will send their CV for your consideration
If possible, we ask that you let us know within 72 hours whether you’re interested in a candidate.

4. If student is suitable, we connect you with student for an interview
The interview is your opportunity to learn more about the student’s skills, interests, and goals, and for you to provide additional information about the internship opportunity. We encourage you to conduct the interview in whatever way best suits your organizational culture and needs.

Please notify us after the interview has taken place and share whether you plan on making the student an offer.

5. If the internship is offered, sign internship agreement and other relevant paperwork
Internship agreement states that the internship is unpaid, that it is part of the student’s university studies, that the student is housed through the program, that they have health insurance through CIEE, and that they are covered through CIEE’s liability and accident insurance.

The agreement will be sent to you directly for digital signature for DocuSign and must be signed before the student can start their internship.

6. Internship begins
Students go through an initial orientation with CIEE before starting their internships.

In addition to the internship, students participate in excursions, events, and opportunities organized by CIEE to help them connect with each other and the city.

Many students also participate in a mandatory internship seminar during their internship period.

Students are responsible for communicating these other commitments to their supervisors, but we ask that companies afford them with flexibility to be able to participate in both mandatory and optional activities.

7. Mid-point check-in
CIEE staff serves as a resource to both student and company during the internship period and will check-in to ensure that the internship is going smoothly. This check-in may be in the form of an email, video call, or in-person visit.

8. Internship ends
We encourage all supervisors to complete end-of-internship feedback meetings with their interns.

9. CIEE provides supervisor with link to evaluation of intern (required for student to receive academic credit)
Because the students are doing the internship as part of their studies, we ask that internship supervisors fill out a survey to evaluate the students’ performance. This will be sent to the company by one of CIEE team members in the final days of the internship. It doesn’t take long (max. 10 minutes) and it is imperative that the supervisor fill it out so that the student’s transcript can be finalized.

Interested in Partnering with Us?

Schedule a call or fill out our questionnaire.