When students come to us looking for help in selecting an internship destination in our Hospitality Program, we’re more than prepared to take on the task. Why’s that?
One of our hottest destinations these days is our Hospitality Program in the Dominican Republic. As such, we decided to host a Virtual Recruitment Fair with Grupo Karisma this fall so interns can make the most of their international experience.
Read on to learn:
- Why our company partners recommend interning in the Dominican Republic
- What the best part about interning in the Dominican Republic is
- Where your career can take you once you finish your internship
First, we talked to former Worldwide Internships participant Felipe Villanueva. He interned at Grupo Karisma in both Secrets and Nickelodeon Resorts. He told us the best thing about interning in the Dominican Republic is that “it was an amazing place, the people there were so professional, always willing to help me out, always willing to teach me new things every single day.” As we know, professionalism and helpfulness can be key to success in the hospitality industry.
One of the top reasons that Felipe decided to go to the Dominican Republic for his internship was that it is such a culturally diverse country. It was the first place that the Spanish colonized, with Santo Domingo being the first permanent European settled in the Americas. There is a rich mixture of the indigenous culture and Spanish influence that makes the tiny island feel larger than life.
If you are thinking about doing your internship in the Dominican Republic, Felipe suggests that you:
- “Get involved and do activities”
- Take the time to make yourself part of the family
- Are “open-minded to the whole experience you’re about to live in a new country” and of course,
- “Don’t be afraid, [because the] people are amazing, the food, the culture, everything is really really nice.”
We also spoke with one of our Recruitment Coordinators from the Mexico Office. Her name is Patricia Gomez. She interned with us in Thailand first in the Food and Beverage area, then went on to the Dominican Republic and participated in an internship in the Entertainment department at Nickelodeon Resorts. She decided to join our team after her internships in order to “inspire more students to live this experience abroad” as it contributed tremendously to her personal and professional growth.
When asked, “What one skill did you learn abroad that has helped you the most in your day-to-day in the office?” She told us, “Team work. You are there with all these people from other countries with different cultures and work mindsets, but at the same time you all are sharing the same passion.“ For us, having someone positive and friendly with a great team mindset has been a huge help in such a diverse team within Worldwide Internships.
She really has made herself into an asset for the Worldwide Internships Team with all the experience gained while abroad. She does a great job dealing with our intern participants because she understands how the whole process works. She knows that in order to make the important decision to go abroad, you first must lose the feeling of fear – the country, the language, and the culture will be new. But, you can make the most of it if you go with an open mind. She shared with us, “You will see a big change in you once you come back home, trust me.” That change might be just what you need to jump into your first career once you return to your country. You might even end up hired full-time!
Think the Dominican Republic might be right for you? Double check eligibility criteria here:
- Currently studying at the university level
- Studying hospitality, tourism, or culinary majors
- Fluency in English required, basic level of Spanish preferred
- Available for at least a 3-month internship
- Open-minded, willing to learn new things, and meet new people
