Answers

What does the Career Israel program have to offer me?
The Career Israel program provides you with the opportunity to gain professional work experience in Israel in a wide range of fields. This is an opportunity to enrich your resume while experiencing a genuine encounter with life in Israel.

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What is an internship?
Internships provide an individual with a monitored or supervised work experience where the individual has intentional learning goals and reflects actively on what he or she is learning throughout the experience. These learning goals can include: academic learning, career development, skill development, and personal development.

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When should I apply?
In order to find an internship that is most suited to your needs you should apply at least three months prior to the starting date of the program.

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How do you apply?
To begin the application process you should fill out the online application form and submit it with a copy of your resume in English. You will then be asked to register for a phone interview with a Career Israel representative. After the interview notice of either acceptance or denial will be sent to you within 10 working days. In the acceptance notice, accepted candidates will be asked make a confirmation deposit of $200. Receipt of the confirmation deposit will initiate the internship placement process. Before arriving in Israel you must send in all other required documentation including your medical forms signed and stamped by a physician. These forms are necessary for insurance purposes.

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Who can join the program?
The program is open to English-speaking, Jewish, college or university students or graduates ages 19-30 who have completed at least one year of academic study.

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Are there specific professions that the program is intended for?
We are committed to making every attempt to find an internship for you in the profession of your choice. On the application form you should detail your areas of interest and list the types of organizations in which you would like to do your internship. We will do our utmost to find you an internship that meets your requests.

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Can I choose the place to do my internship on my own?
It is important to remember that many organizations that you may be interested in have specific requirements for accepting interns. Many leading companies and organizations are only willing to take interns with a high level of Hebrew and therefore it is not always possible to accommodate requests for placements in specific companies. It is also important to take into consideration that many of the smaller companies and organizations are more flexible and give more responsibility and challenging tasks to interns than the larger organizations. Therefore the internships in the smaller organizations are often times more successful. If you have a personal connection with an Israeli company or organization where you would like to do your internship, you are welcome to arrange your internship independently. It is important to notify us of this arrangement so that we do not start working on your internship placement.

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What kind of certificate do I get at the end of the program?
Upon completing the program, you will receive a certificate from the Israel Experience Ltd. citing your participation in the program. In most cases you will also receive a letter of recommendation from your internship workplace.

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What is the difference between the regular Career Israel program and the Career Israel short track? How do I choose which program to participate in?
These are two different tracks of the same program. The standard Career Israel track is recognized by MASA as it is a 5-month minimum program, and offers a rich supplementary educational program. Since it is recognized by MASA, participants in the program are eligible for MASA grants and scholarships. The program also includes accommodations in apartments in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and medical insurance. The program is open only to college or university graduates. The Career Israel short track runs for two to four months and does not offer the supplementary educational programming required by Masa, and therefore participants in the program are not eligible for a MASA grant or scholarship. The program does not include housing (although housing options are available to participants at an additional cost). The program is open to participants who have completed at least one year of college/university, not only to university graduates. If you are a university/college graduate, and can stay in Israel for at least 5 months, then it is recommended that you join the standard Career Israel track so that you can benefit from the MASA funding and the supplementary educational programming. If you are not a university/college graduate, and/or if you can not stay in Israel for at least five months, then you should join the Career Israel short track.

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What if I can’t stay in Israel for a full two months? Are there any shorter options?
It takes time to for an intern to be integrated into an organization, and the organizations also invest in training the intern. If you were to stay for less than two months, you would not really be able to be integrated into the workplace. Therefore it is not possible to do the program for less than two months.

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What language is the program conducted in?
The supplementary educational programming is conducted in English and therefore you must have a high-level of English to participate. There is no Hebrew language prerequisite; however Hebrew speaking candidates will have a wider range of internship options.

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Can the internship be in a language other than English (Russian or Spanish for example)?
There is always the likelihood that you will find members of the staff at your internship workplace who speak your mother tongue. We will do our best in order to create optimal conditions for you, but we can not guarantee that the internship will allow you to work only in a language other than English.

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Who is responsible for the group in Israel?
The Israel Experience Ltd. is responsible for operation and implementation of the program. There will be a counselor assigned to every group of 35-40 participants, to accompany the group during group activities and to assist the participants in finding solutions to any problem that might arise during the program.

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What will my day look like?
Following the orientation program, you will be living on your own and you will determine your work schedule in coordination with your employer. Outside of work hours you are free to experience life as an Israeli by shopping for groceries, visiting friends or enjoying near-by cafes or restaurants. You will receive a schedule of seminars and trips that will take place during the internship portion of the program which are an integral and mandatory part of the program.

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Do I have any required responsibilities besides reporting for work at my internship?
Aside from your internship hours, participation in the supplementary educational curriculum is compulsory.

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How much does the program cost?
Costs for the Summer 2010 session will be published at a later date.

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Is the cost of airfare included in the price?
The cost of airfare is not included in the cost of the program. The airfare is a separate expense that has to be financed independently.

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How much spending money will I receive from the program? How much money should I bring with me?
It is important that you bring sufficient funds to cover basic needs, such as food, toiletries, travel etc. Most participants find that they spend between $250-$500 a month (not including housing), depending on the lifestyle that they lead. It is important to remember that Israel is not an inexpensive country and to plan accordingly.

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Can I receive Masa funding for the program?
Unfortunately, you can not. Masa has a strict five-month minimum for its funding, and therefore participants in the short track can not receive funding from Masa. Participants in the standard Career Israel track, which is five months long, can receive funding from Masa. We do encourage you to contact your local Jewish communities regarding other funding options.

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Will I receive a salary for my internship work?
The internships are voluntary, and therefore you will not earn a salary although you will benefit from professional enrichment.

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What are the living arrangements?
In Tel Aviv we provide accommodations in apartments with two participants to a room in one or two person units. In Jerusalem there are 5 people to an apartment, and each person has his or her own room. The apartments are equipped with basic furnishings, kitchen utensils and other essentials. Bedding and towels are not provided.

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In which cities will participants be living?
We currently offer accommodations in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

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If I don't get along with my roommates, will I be able to move to another apartment?
In the course of preparations for your arrival in Israel, we will do our best to provide you with the social and professional environment that best suits your needs. In the event that in the course of your participation in the program, a problem of any kind should arise, you will be able to consult with the counselor and/or program coordinator who will assist you in resolving the matter; however we can not guarantee that you will be able to move to another apartment.

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Can I drop-out of the program prior to its conclusion?
No. Upon joining the program, you sign an affidavit whereby you make a commitment to fulfill all the requirements of the program. From the time of your arrival in Israel for the program, you are under the supervision and exclusive responsibility of the Israel Experience, Ltd. and therefore, by leaving the program prior to its conclusion, you would be violating the terms of the program to which you made a commitment. [top]

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If I don't like my internship workplace or I don't fit in there, will I be able to transfer to another internship?
Prior to your arrival in Israel, we will do everything we can to ensure that your internship workplace and the professional staff there are compatible with your professional and personal skills. Nonetheless, should you be dissatisfied with the internship, the specific circumstances will be examined and considered in order to deal with the situation in the most appropriate manner. However it is not always possible to find an alternative internship for you.

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How can I rent a cell phone?
There are many companies in Israel that offer inexpensive cellphone rentals to tourists. Career Israel does not work with a specific company and you are free to rent from any company that you choose. Many of our participants have worked with Talk and Save www.talkandsave.net and been pleased with their service.

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Where can I get more details?
For more details, we can be reached
by telephone at: 972-2-6216471
or
by e-mail: career@israelexperience.org.il