Interview with American Hotel Academy
J-1 Interview Sessions Around the World
Embarking on a journey to build a successful career in the hospitality industry is an exciting prospect, and for students and graduates of the American Hotel Academy in Brasov, Romania, the J-1 Intern and Trainee Programs in the United States have been instrumental in shaping their professional paths.
For over a decade, we have collaborated with American Hotel Academy (AHA) for extraordinary American experiences. Throughout years of partnership, hundreds of students and graduates have jump-started their hospitality careers with J-1 Intern and Trainee Programs in the United States, got the opportunity to experience American culture and truly live authentic experiences. Many of the students and graduates are now working in top-level positions in the global hospitality industry, and we know that their international experience in the United States contributed to their career paths.
American Hotel Academy is a Post-Secondary Education Institution that provides professional higher education study programmes, ranging from certificates and diplomas to undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
What started as the first international hotel management school in Romania 17 years ago is now transforming into a multilayer higher education provider by adding new subject areas such as Digital Business, Marketing & Communications, and Events Management.
Our collaboration for J-1 Intern and Trainee Programs in the United States is highly structured giving, and the students have the opportunity to put into practice their knowledge from the academic courses through real-life hospitality training during their studies and after graduation.
With many success stories and fantastic program experiences - read about Cosmin Neag’s Program Experience here - we wanted to continue our series of J-1 Interview Sessions and dive deeper into the efforts that educational institutions, such as AHA, make to foster a global mindset and empower hospitality young professionals to experience a world of opportunities.
In a recent interview with Ana Leah, the dedicated Director of Organizational Development at the American Hotel Academy, we delved into the transformative experiences these programs offer and their profound impact on the lives and careers of participants. Let’s get to the interview:
1. Could you provide a brief overview of the J-1 Intern & Trainee Program at AHA?
We have worked with J-1 Visa Programs ever since the school opened in 2007. We have a well-structured American Track internships program at American Hotel Academy, precisely because we know the J-1 Visa Programs and their benefits very well, from experience.
These programs are designed to allow foreign college and university students or graduates to come to the United States to gain exposure to U.S. culture and to receive hands-on experience in U.S. hotels and resorts. The program really bridges the gap between formal education and practical work experience.
The J-1 Hospitality Programs provide access to hundreds of hospitality internship and trainee positions within many different international hotel chains and luxury independent hotels and resorts. The programs are focusing on Food & Beverages and Rooms Division Departments.
2. From your perspective, what makes the J-1 Visa Program an attractive option for hospitality students seeking international experience?
The J-1 Visa Program’s most important benefit, in my experience, is the students’ personal and professional development. I can see a clear difference between students who complete this program and those who do not. On one hand, their CV and career development are much more enhanced and relevant to the hospitality industry, so they are more likely to secure a job after graduation and advance quickly in this industry.
On the other hand, the year that they spend in the USA is filled with experiences and challenges that help them get to know who they really are and shape their personalities. Students who are shy and keep everything inside become shining and outgoing; students who are impulsive become more mindful. I see students returning from the USA being more independent, more mature, and with a better understanding of who they are and where they belong in the hospitality industry. Of course, there are many more benefits to the program, just to mention a few that are most common among our students: establishing long-lasting relationships, making friends for life, creating professional connections, having fun and traveling.
3. How do the J-1 Intern and Trainee Programs complement the formal education received at a hospitality school?
Students learn theory at school with a little bit of practice. During the J-1 Programs, students get to continue learning by doing. Many of our students reflect back to mention that in USA internships, they meet in reality the theory that they learn in school. When theory meets reality, it is a success in the students’ learning process.
4. How does experience in the U.S. hospitality industry uniquely prepare students for a global career?
The first and most tangible contribution is to the student’s CV, where one can enter their experience. On top of the CV, are the skills learned and/or developed by becoming better at what you know/do. Many interns created professional connections that helped them both during their internships by becoming their mentors and later in their careers, either by offering job search support or by recommending them.
Living in a foreign country and having relationships with people can help you learn new cultures, values, and languages and develop as an individual. Students develop the soft and hard skills they need to succeed in a global career in the hospitality industry. International experience can help students develop professional skills such as problem solving, adaptability, teamwork, leadership, empathy, decision-making, critical thinking, creativity, and initiative.
5. How does the school assist students in securing J-1 Program opportunities?
The school works closely with ITN to facilitate students’ access to U.S internships, according to their needs, skills and career level. Having an exclusive partnership with ITN was the best way to ensure that our students have access to personalized placements, great internship experiences, and a smooth placement process.
The school gathers internship offers, informs the students, organizes recruitment events in close cooperation with ITN, and supports both the students and ITN with all the necessary documents required by the students and the J-1 Visa Sponsor. The school offers ongoing guidance and support to the students and has a proactive attitude in regards to placements.
6. What are the most important skills that students should develop before participating in the J-1 Visa program?
Some of the most important skills that students need to develop prior to their J-1 Visa program are hard skills such as communication skills (verbal, written, non-verbal, and public speaking), conflict management, and work ethics. Students also need to have the necessary knowledge and hard skills, including job skills, foreign languages, and knowledge of industry-specific platforms.
The school ensures that the students gain the necessary skills by organizing personal development workshops, courses that address operations in hospitality, and a 5-month mandatory internship in Europe prior to their applications for the J-1 Internships.
7. What factors do you consider when advising a student on whether the J-1 Visa program is a good fit for them?
We are looking at students who are interested in a practical training program that is not available to them in their country, who have an advanced level of English, who are open to new experiences and cultures, and who are not usually homesick when they leave their homes. We are also considering whether they successfully completed their previous internship.
8. What are some common challenges students face when participating in the J-1 Visa program, and how can they prepare for these challenges?
With an international internship on their resume, students prove that they accept and embrace unique challenges and rise to the occasion. In our increasingly globalized industry, adapting to unique challenges is one of the most desirable workplace traits. Common challenges include embracing the unknown, the difficulties that come up, adapting to the new reality and the cultural norms, managing life without parents, relatives, or friends, and applying the theory that students learn to the real work environments.
Living in a new country and adjusting to a new culture doesn’t mean that you must change your own customs and values; rather, you must adapt to the local culture. Students can adapt more easily to a new culture by doing research on their destination before their departure, by setting a “bucket list” for the things they want to do and explore during their time there, such as what they want to see, eat, do, and experience, by joining local groups, activities, events, or trips, by being open-minded and asking questions, and by surrounding themselves both with locals and with other international participants.
9. How do employers view the experience from the United States, when evaluating potential hires in the luxury hospitality industry?
Students who participate in the J-1 Visa program have an enhanced CV and can easily obtain a job upon graduation. Having the 1-year program in their resume is similar to a business card saying that “not only I learned, but I also practiced what I learned, and now I am very well prepared, and I know what to expect from my next job”.
Employers know that, due to the fact that students spend 1 year in exploring and training in one department, they are better prepared to face the challenges of the industry because they managed to know and understand the department in which they trained. We have industry partners who told us that if we have graduates who completed J-1 Visa programs in the USA, they would like to have them working at their hotels.
10. What advice would you give to students considering applying for the J-1 Intern & Trainee Programs?
Make the most of this experience, which is one in a lifetime! Have courage, dare to get outside of your comfort zone, and trust your instincts; this is how you will move ahead, persevere, and have life-changing experiences in USA internships.
I advise students to be serious in the placement process, interested, and to do their research. Read all the terms and conditions of the placement carefully, take the process seriously, and be prompt in answering all inquiries in a timely manner. Complete your CVs in a professional manner and highlight your achievements. Make sure you impress recruiters by having a professional attitude and showing your friendly personality; after all, this is the SMILE industry.
J-1 Interview Sessions Around The World
At International Trainee Network and Odyssey International Exchange, we are dedicated to continuing to provide transparent information about the J-1 Intern and Trainee Programs in the United States. In our efforts to do so, we initiated the J-1 Interviews Around The World series in 2022. The primary objective of this series is to shed light on the diverse perspectives of the various parties that enormously contribute to the implementation of these distinctive programs. They also helps us to better shape better programs for the next generation of students, graduates, and young professionals.
This ongoing initiative involves our teams conducting interviews with host companies, educational institutions, program participants, and other relevant contributors. We aim to present a holistic view, capturing insights from each of them and their involvement in the facilitation of J-1 Intern and Trainee Programs. For more interviews, please check The J-1 Blog Page on our website.
Stay tuned for the new and exciting upcoming interviews!