Intern Administrative

Company Intelligence

CIEE Inc (Council on International Educational Exchange) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1947, specializing in study abroad, internships, teaching, and gap year programs for high school, college students, and recent graduates. It operates as a leader in international education, facilitating over 300 programs annually across 30+ countries, with a network supporting thousands of participants yearly. The company has grown steadily, emphasizing global internships like its Summer Global Internships (8-week, 6-credit programs with ~30 hours/week including seminars), and recent expansions into paid placements in Fortune 500 firms abroad. Its culture promotes immersive learning, cultural exchange, and professional development in flexible, often remote or international settings; values center on accessibility, diversity, and real-world skill-building for young professionals. Mission: Empower students through international experiences to foster global citizenship. Headquarters in Portland, Maine, with offices in New York and global partners; supports remote and hybrid models, especially for admin roles and virtual program coordination.

Program Deep Dive

The Intern (Administrative), Remote role supports CIEE's operations in program coordination, participant services, and admin tasks for study abroad/internship initiatives. Structure: Typically 8-12 weeks (aligning with summer global programs), part-time to full-time (~20-30 hours/week), with flexible remote timeline starting May/June or year-round. Skills sought: Organizational proficiency, MS Office/Google Workspace, basic data entry/customer service, cross-cultural communication, and enthusiasm for education/travel; no prior experience required but admin internships favor detail-oriented students. Daily responsibilities: Manage participant inquiries/emails, update databases, assist with virtual seminar scheduling, support application processing, and contribute to marketing materials—offering exposure to international logistics. Learning: Hands-on project management, virtual team collaboration. Mentorship: Paired with program directors/managers for weekly check-ins; training includes onboarding webinars on CIEE tools/processes. Post-program: Pathways to full-time roles in education nonprofits, alumni network for study abroad facilitation, or grad programs in international relations.

Application Success Guide

Apply via Indeed (linked posting) or CIEE's careers page; requirements: Resume (1-page), cover letter tailoring admin skills to global education, available for 8+ weeks remote; open to 18-25-year-olds, U.S. work eligibility; no strict deadline but rolling for summer (apply 3-6 months early). Process:

1. Submit resume/cover via Indeed/CIEECareers.org.
2. HR screen (1-2 weeks).
3. 30-min video interview with manager.
4. Task: Mock admin scenario (e.g., organize participant spreadsheet).
   No assessment centers noted; focus on virtual case studies. Common questions: "Describe organizing a group project remotely," "How would you handle a delayed international visa query?," "Why CIEE's mission?" Practice STAR method (Situation-Task-Action-Result). Standout candidates demonstrate passion for study abroad via personal travel/volunteer stories, quantify admin experience (e.g., "Managed 50+ club events").

Insider Tips

CIEE values soft skills (adaptability, empathy, communication) over technical (basic Excel suffices); show cultural awareness by referencing diverse program impacts. Demonstrate industry knowledge: Mention CIEE's 75+ years in study abroad, growth in remote internships post-COVID. Interview tips: Be energetic—highlight virtual collaboration tools (Zoom, Slack); they prioritize mission-fit over perfection. Questions to ask: "How has the remote admin team supported recent global expansions?" "What success metrics define top interns?" Avoid: Generic answers, negativity about remote work, or ignoring international focus (red flag: no global interest). Tailor cover letter to a specific CIEE program like Summer Internships.

Practical Information

Stipend: $15-20/hour or $2,000-4,000 total for 8-12 weeks (nonprofit standard; confirm posting); unpaid options earn credits. Benefits: Paid time off/holidays (pro-rated), professional development webinars; remote setup stipend possible. Duration/starts: 8-12 weeks, flexible starts (e.g., summer May-Aug, rolling). Networking: Access 50,000+ alumni via LinkedIn/CIEECouncil groups; virtual events with partners like Connect-123; strong for education/NGO career pipelines. Actionable: Join CIEE's free webinars pre-application for insider edge.