Mazel tov!

On behalf of the entire Career Israel team, we are proud to officially accept you to the September 2014 session!

As explained in your acceptance letter, after you submit your $300 deposit, you will receive an email about additional documentation which will be due at a later time.

If you have not paid your deposit, you may do so here: http://goo.gl/j20ga6

You can apply for your Masa scholarship now at www.masaisrael.org.  If you would like to apply for needs based (independent or dependent) please send Aviva Senser, Recruitment Manager the following at avivase@israelexperience.org:

Independent:
a. 6 months of recent pay stubs
b. Copy of your rental contract
c. A letter from a notary stating that you are financially independent

Dependent:
a. Your main financial provider (parent/friend) 1040 Tax Forms from 2012 or 2013 if available.

Please note you will receive a Career Israel medical form that needs to be signed and stamped by a licensed physician – this will also be due at a later time. You are only conditionally accepted until the program receives your medical form. 

Before you arrive, you will work closely with the Career Israel staff to find the appropriate internship for you. Finding you the right internship involves a great deal of time and effort both for the Career Israel staff and the employers with whom we partner. Therefore, it is very important that you commit to the program before we begin the internship placement process and arrange your internship consultation. That is why we require you to pay a non-refundable registration fee of $300 before beginning the internship placement process.  The internship consultation is a time for you and your internship coordinator to discuss internship options based on your interests, past experiences, and goals.  The initial consultation is the first step in a longer placement process, which may involve multiple discussions with your internship coordinator and therefore we need you to sign up as early as possible since the process can take 2-4 months. Once you express interest in a placement, your coordinator will send your resume to the potential employer. When a specific employer shows interest in your candidacy, we will put you in direct contact with the company. Through this direct contact, you will get a better understanding of the company where you will be interning and learn more about the specific position. We will be in touch with you throughout the placement process to ensure that the potential internship placement meets your interests and needs. After you have been in touch with the company, you should e-mail your internship coordinator to let us know if you would like to confirm the placement.

Career Israel is an international program with past participants from the United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela, Australia, South Africa, England, France, Hungary, Denmark, Italy, Belgium, Russia, the Ukraine, and Turkey. Therefore, not only will you be immersed in Israeli society, but you will also have the opportunity to meet Jewish college/university graduates from all over the world. Career Israel is the leading internship program in Israel because it offers participants an independent life experience with a supportive framework to help you succeed in that experience.

The September 2014 session will be from September 1st – January 27th, 2015. First, you will take part in a 3-day orientation in Jerusalem followed by a two-week-long stay in Tel Aviv where you will go on daily trips and seminars. During this time, the entire group will live together in the Tel Aviv housing.  After this point, participants who will be interning in Tel Aviv will already be able to move into their permanent housing and non-Tel Aviv based participants will be able to move into apartments in their locations. Throughout the entire program, there will be Ulpan once-a-week, supplementary programming including tours, lectures and seminars.

Below are some FAQs with more information. You are also invited to look over the FAQs and other information on www.careerisrael.com. Feel free to contact me at any time with any questions that you have about your participation in the program.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Where will I live during the program? Will I have a private room?
During the orientation and tours, program participants stay in a youth hostel with 3 to 4 people per room. Tel Aviv-based participants will live in their permanent housing at 37 King George Street in the CENTER of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem-based participants will live with the group before moving to their Jerusalem housing at the Hebrew University student village in March. There is also an option to live in Haifa – please email me for more details on the Haifa track.

In Tel Aviv, there are both single studio apartments (for an additional cost), or rooms for two, three or four people. There is a small kitchenette as well as a bathroom and shower in each studio room. In Jerusalem each person has his or her own room in a 5-person apartment. The apartments are furnished with the basics such as twin sized beds, closets, essential electrical appliances, basic kitchen tools, etc. For more information about the accommodations, see the accommodations section on the Career Israel website. If you would like a single studio apartments in the Tel Aviv housing, please contact Aviva Senser, the Registration Manager at avivase@israelexperience.org.

Are meals provided?
During Career Israel-run tours, all meals are provided.  During the Ulpan and internship section of the program, you are responsible for your own meals and should plan to cover the costs of your meals on your own. You will have cooking facilities available to you.

What about insurance?
You are provided with complete medical insurance from February 12, 2014 – July 10, 2014.  The policy will cover all of your medical care in Israel.  It does not cover the following:

–        Any treatment of pre-existing medical conditions, including medication for chronic conditions

–        Routine check-ups

–        Travel to and from Israel

–        Damage to or theft of luggage or personal belongings

–        Psychological or psychiatric care

–        Alcohol or drug-related incidents

Is there financial aid available for participants?
The Career Israel program is a Masa Israel-accredited program, and therefore all participants are eligible to apply for Masa Israel grants and scholarships.  If you have not yet done so, please visit the Masa Israel website at www.masaisrael.org. You  may also apply independently for other scholarships from your local Federation or other Jewish organizations, such as the Helen B. Reich Foundation of the AZM (for more information about this option see the Career Israel website).

How much spending money should I bring?
In the past, participants have brought between $300 to $600/month for their food, cell phone and personal expenses, but the amount depends on your own spending habits.

Can I choose the place to do my internship on my own?
It is important to remember that many companies 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 more successful and fulfilling.

In what language is the program conducted?

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.

What are the extracurricular activities?
The program offers a fascinating supplementary educational curriculum including an Ulpan (Hebrew study program), trips, tours, seminars and lectures on subjects such as Israeli society today, religion and the Jewish state, the Arab-Israeli conflict, Jewish identity in modern Israel, trends in the Israeli job market, and more.

What other services does Career Israel offer?
For an additional cost, participants can take a GMAT/GRE preparation course and an additional Hebrew Ulpan. Details will be discussed during orientation.

If you have any questions at all please do be in touch with us!

Laura Friedenberg (LauraF@israelexperience.org) and Annie Ahronheim (AnnieA@israelexperience.org)

Find Your Perfect Internship

Let us know what interests you. A Career Israel rep will get in touch.