Fun… Adventure… Stimulating… Exciting… Excellent… What is the first word that comes to mind when you think about international internships??
These are just some of the words used to describe our international interns when we asked representatives from 4 host companies from around the world that visited us this April.
From April 1-4, Worldwide Internships Mexico hosted six representatives from four of its most important international placement 
partners: Mercedes Moreno and Iván Moreno from Ritz-Carlton Abama; Eduardo González from Grupo Manzano; Martha Martínez and Anne-Marie Stevens from Hyatt Regency New Orleans & Intrax (J-1 visa sponsor) respectively; and José Ildefonso Rocha from Hyatt Dubai Creek.
These international ambassadors banded together to interview a total of 64 students on-site. Culinary students got the chance to showcase their skills during a cooking test, wherein they prepared omelettes for all of the host companies to try. Additionally, the host companies were able to sample some of Mexico’s most delicious treats, including tacos and papas con chile. It was a delightfully busy week!
Worldwide Week marks the beginning of a new annual Worldwide Internships event, wherein we completely revolutionize the way we 
place students so that they can build an even stronger connection with the host companies that will be helping them during their internships. We didn’t just host a fair in Mexico this year, there was also a Placement event in Philippines last November (see more here) and we can’t wait to keep bringing such an awesome learning experience to our future interns.
During this round of the fair, Worldwide Internships had the opportunity to sit down and get some career advice from each of the host companies, and we hope that it can help you as you move forward in your career too.
Martha Martínez:
Q: What advice would you give to future internship participants?
A: Preparation is key, and you should focus on two main skills in particular:
- English – Practice as much as you can! Listen, have conversations, follow social media, watch videos & movies, it’s extremely important… almost anywhere you apply you’ll need at least intermediate English
- Interviewing – Check out the company & what it offers, the position, the location, how many rooms the hotel has, how many seats
the restaurant has. Make a list of questions beforehand to ask the interviewer – it shows that you are well-prepared. Remember that you are interviewing the company as much as the company is interviewing you to see if you fit with their goals and values! Make sure it’s a good fit. Finally, check out your interviewer on LinkedIn or Facebook beforehand if you can, that way you feel comfortable with the name and face. Oh! And don’t forget to dress professionally.
Eduardo González:
Q: What do you look for in international interns?
A: Desire and attitude. We completely understand that interns come to learn, and that they may only have a theoretical understanding of the hospitality industry (or maybe even some practical experience). All we ask of them is that they give it their best, always – the company is here to support their learning. But it all depends on the intern if they are going to have a positive experience or not! Some interns finish one task and eagerly come looking to see what else they can help with; those are my favorite participants, I will always go out of my way to help someone who is going to get the job done with a positive attitude. Interns come into the experience without that can-do attitude are going to feel very frustrated, and people will feel less likely to help them through the experience.
Iván Moreno and Mercedes Moreno:
Q: Why did you decide to work with Worldwide Internships?
A: The professionalism, you can tell they really care about the students. In the end, we share the same objective: to help and develop our future leaders.
José Rocha:
Q: How has internationalization helped you get to where you are today?
A: I started my career in 1986, and my dream then was to become an executive chef, which I managed to accomplish a few years after I got my start. I came to Dubai 20 years ago, and though I sometimes miss Mexico, it has been a great experience to work for the same company for 30 years. I’ve been able to meet people, travel, and experience a wonderful cultural exchange throughout my career that I hope you all get to experience as well.
If it’s one last thing we hope you walk away with, and just as Martha’s mother told her as a child, “Think of your country as your bedroom and the world as your house.” All you need to do is open the door when opportunity knocks!
