THE PROGRAM: In this era of dramatic change on a global scale, the ATA has always known that the most powerful tool for improving foreign relations between cultures is by sharing knowledge, resources and interests. With the help of volunteers and donations, we’ve fostered lasting friendships (and trust) by connecting with communities and individuals in Russia. This has been the guiding principle for the ATA and one that has been a successfully model for over 25 years – long before the rise of “globalization.” The ATA thrives on enriching the lives of Americans and Russians so it’s no surprise that we’ve offering another creative opportunity: “Professional Internships!”
THE GOAL: The intention, purpose and mission of these “Professional Internships” are to provide new faces and old friends in Russia with the chance for professional development, personal connections and reflective assistance in the United States. The program will last up to 4 weeks and take place in the Capital Region of upstate New York.
WHO MAY APPLY? Any individual from Russia whose professional development and formal learning may benefit the city of Tula, and the surrounding Tula region, may apply for the program. It’s expected that the candidate demonstrate a professional attitude, clean appearance, dedication to responsibilities and respect for co-workers and management. Candidates must have a passport. There are no age limitations but candidate must have a working knowledge of the English language.
HOW TO APPLY? A candidate must complete the application electronically, sign it and scan it with attachments that are saved as .pdf files. Scanned files must be emailed to [email protected]. The email subject must include the candidate’s first and last name. The subject line must read “Professional Internship Opportunity.” Applications must be accompanied by a professional resume and letter of recommendation. The letter must be from the candidate’s supervisor and contain a description of present duties.
If the candidate is self-employed or CEO/President of the organization, a letter of recommendation from the business partner with a brief description of joint projects should be attached to the application form. If the candidate is a student, a letter must be provided from the college/university administration or faculty.
***All documents need to be written in English or include a translation from Russian to English.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER APPLICATION? Within 2 weeks of submitting the application, the candidate will receive a confirmation of receiving and/or a request for additional information.
The application will be reviewed by the ATA’s Business Committee. If the application is selected, the candidate will be scheduled for a preliminary face-to-face interview via Skype or by a phone conversation.
Depending on the candidate’s qualifications and expertise, it may take several months to find a host company with available internship opportunities. The Business Committee will make every effort to place the candidate with a company that can train, teach, mentor, supervise and otherwise nurture skill sets.
Once a host company is determined, the candidate will confirm the dates of the internship. The ATA will help in securing a U.S. Visa and airline tickets.
Please note that the ATA is rewarding internship opportunities on an-ongoing basis throughout 2016. This is not a contest but rather a decision based on 4 factors: financial resources available through the ATA, a candidate’s qualifications, securing internship placement in the Capital Region and availability of a host family.
The U.S. Visa to be requested is B1/B2. The ATA will provide candidate with letter of invitation and all other necessary documentation needed for U.S. Visa. The candidate needs to accept the fact that the final Visa issuing decision is solely the responsibility of the Consulate of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.
IF YOU ARE SELECTED: If you are selected to take part in this opportunity, you will fly from Moscow to one of the airports in NYC or Albany, NY where a representative of the ATA will meet you. The city of Albany is approximately 150 miles or 2.5 hours north of NYC via car or train. The candidate should expect to stay with a host family or in a college dormitory. The candidate is expected to keep a day-to-day electronic journal of their experience interning with the selected company. Copy of journal will be submitted to the ATA at the end of the internship.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT? The ATA will be responsible for the following expenses: one roundtrip airline ticket from Moscow to NYC, transfer from and to the airport, daily transportation from host’s house to internship location, overnight accommodations, emergency medical insurance and a $100/week stipend for lunches and incidentals. Additional expenses will be determined on a person-to-person basis. The stipend will help defray the costs of meals and incidental expenses. All other expenses incurred before arriving in the United States will be the responsibility of the candidate. The candidate will also be responsible for personal purchases (gifts, restaurants, alcohol, etc) while in the U.S.
ASSURANCE AND SAFETY: The ATA will help provide a supportive social network to help candidate integrate and adjust to differences in culture, technology and information. Members of the ATA and host families are famous for providing guests with a warm, caring and empathetic environment and the potential to engage guests in shared social activities like dining together, physical activities (exercise, sport) and entertainment.
GOOD LUCK! Okay, time for you to get busy with the application process.
PDF VERSION INFORMATION SHEET: DOWNLOAD
PDF VERSION APPLICATION: DOWNLOAD
OR…. DOWNLOAD BOTH AS MS VERSIONS: DOWNLOAD