Welcome to Aiesec

1
Welcome to Aiesec!

• Expecations Meeting
• April 21, 2003

2
What to Expect?

• Introductions
• A little about Aiesec
• Expectations
• Responsibilities
• The Process
• Let's make a date...

3
Introductions

• Standup and give us your
• Name
• Major
• The countries that you have been to, and...
• The most interesting thing you have ever eaten.

4
Aiesec Lingo

• Aiesec-the world's largest non-profit student-run
  organization, founded 1948, now in 84 countries
• SN-Student Nominee-Students who have been
  selected to apply for Aiesec traineeships abroad
• Candidate SN-students who have been selected for
  access to our database.
• NB This is you! More on how to become an actual
  SN is later.
• Traineeship-an Aiesec internship

5
More Lingo...

• LC-Local Committee-the local division in the
  Aiesec hierarchy.
• OGX-Outgoing Exchange- the team that works on
  sending students (you) overseas.
• Service and Learning (Culture)- the team
  responsible for culture preparation, also for
  providing reception for trainees we accept.
• LCP-local committee president- the president of
  the LC

6
So What is Aiesec?

• Aiesec was founded in 1948 in response to the
  atrocities of WWII by a group of students who
  felt there was a better way.
• Aiesec comes from the French acronym for the
  International Association of Students in
  Economics and Commerce.
• Since then, the mission of Aiesec has grown
  beyond the scope of Economics and Commerce, and
  Aiesec no longer uses that acronym.

7
But what is Aiesec today?

• Aiesec is a culture of its own...
• Language
• Dances
• Other really peculiar customs
• Going abroad on an Aiesec traineeship will be a
  unique experience because you will have to adapt
  to both the culture of the country you will be in
  and the Aiesec Culture
• Learning about both will greatly help you!

8
Expectations and Responsibilities
9
What we expect from you

• Attendence at all mandatory events.
• One or two cultural preparation sessions
  depending on the time of the year.
• Proactivity, flexibility, and open-mindedness
• This applies when you are searching the database,
  and when it comes to getting involved.

10
Really Super Important Stuff...

• Communication
• Respond to any communcation within 48 hours (this
  is really important)!
• Alert us to any changes in your status, e.g.
  Telephone or email changes, or if you are no
  longer interested in the program.
• Professionalism
• When you find a traineeship, we expect you to
  approach it professionally.

11
What can you expect from us?

• Early notification of events
• Understanding and dedication
• We are students too, so so don't be afraid
• Quick communication
• We should respond to any communication within 24
  hours

12
What can you do?

• If you feel Aiesec isn't meeting your
  expectations, contact one of the VP's or the LCP
• LCP Matt Meyers (mottuman_at_yahoo.com)
• VP OGX Karen Denzinger (denzinger.6_at_osu.edu)
• VP Service and Learning Peter Chengelis
  (peter.chengelis_at_aiesec.net)

13
The Process

• How does one get to another country on an Aiesec
  Traineeship?

14
So how does the process work?

• Acceptance as a candidate SN.
• Congratulations you have already passed this
  stage!
• Go to the Expectations meeting.
• Receive your temporary access to the database.
• Search the database for available traineeships.
• When you find 2-3 positions that you are
  interested in applying to, contact the VP OGX.

15
One Big Step

• 6) At this time, you will have a conference with
  an OGX team member. You will be required to sign
  the student contract and obtain language
  certification and to pay the remaining fee
  (455). You will then be assigned a personal
  consultant, or account manager, and be given full
  access to the database.

16
Keep in mind...

• The 455 is refundable under certain
  circumstances.
• You will work closely with your personal
  consultant throughout the remainder of the
  process.
• With full access, you can show interest in
  Traineeships directly with the foreign LC.
• You are now a full SN.

17
Then...

• 7) Show interest in traineeships (limit yourself
  to 3 at a time), and make sure your account
  manager has all your information.
• 8) Attend cultural preparations sessions.
• This step is really important because you cannot
  go on an Aiesec traineeship without having had
  them.
• 9) Get accepted to a position
• Work with the PC to fax your acceptance letter to
  the foreign LC.

18
The Final Steps before you go...

• 10) Complete preparations
• Have your passport, visa, airfare, insurance, and
  any medical issues squared away
• 11)Go on your traineeship!!!
• Make sure you have complete contact information
  should something go wrong.
• Fill out the Pre-Departure Evaluation!!!

19
During your Traineeship

• Keep in touch with us
• Take pictures
• Participate
• Do your traineeship, of course, and be
  professional!

20
After your traineeship

• Keep in touch with us!
• Have a re-integration briefing
• Usually this involves a simple meeting with one
  of the members.
• Fill out the traineeship evaluation and case
  study and receive a 50 refund!
• Do a presentation on your experience.
• Get involved with Aiesec

21
Using Aieseconline.net

• Log in...
• Search for traineeships by length, destination,
  and type
• Ask questions
• Contact someone if you are having trouble using
  this brand new system.

22
Culture Prep Sessions

• They are Mandatory!!!!
• Topics include
• Aiesecculture and history
• What is culture?
• Dealing with culture shock
• US culture and values
• Practical considerations while abroad
• Country specific preparation

23
Country Specific Preparation

• Much of country specific preparation is YOUR
  responsibility, and is done in conjunction with a
  member of the reception team of the LC you are
  going to. Before you leave, you will be sent an
  important booklet with most relevant information.
• Please contact the person from the reception team
  if you have any specific questions, as they will
  have the most direct information.

24
So Let's Make a Date...

• This quarter we will only be holding one culture
  prep session, which will contain all the
  information of the usual two.
• We will be deciding on the date right now
• Saturday, May 10, or Saturday, May 17
• Time 9am-4pm

25
So what can you look forward to?

• The experience of a lifetime!
• Life-long friends, from all over the globe.
• More stories than your friends and family could
  possible believe!

26
Have Fun and Good Luck!

• Any questions?