Experience Canada Through Our Hospitality Program!

Have you always wanted to discover Canada’s vibrant multiculturalism and fascinating scenery but have been hindered by a tight budget? Well, we might just have the solution for you! INTERNeX can provide you with a paid position in Canada’s breathtaking resort communities while still having time to explore and bring back many pictures and stories for your friends and family.

The hospitality program gives you the chance to gain experience in Canada’s world class resort communities. The work experience is in a hotel, resort or associated company in a tourism community in Western Canada (working in the city of Vancouver may be available upon request). Positions and locations of placements are organized by INTERNeX and are based on previous education, experience, English level, ability to stay a full season or longer, as well as general attitude and of course what is available at the time of application.

We are looking for people who are outgoing, flexible, happy, hard-working, good at communicating with others, physically fit and willing to do physical work, as well as wanting to learn, able to adapt to a multicultural environment, and who really want to be in Canada. Some placements require a certain skill set but some do not, as per the application form.

If you’re ready for a job for the 2010/2011 Winter Season in Canada, apply now!

INTERNeX International Exchange
Suite 200-211 Columbia Street
Vancouver BC
V6A 2R5 Canada
Email: info@internexcanada.com
Phone: + 1 604 662 8149
Fax: + 1 604 662 8199

www.internexcanada.com

July 4 Bike Ride Through Stanley Park

July 8 Let’s Go Paintballing!!

July 31 – Aug. 4 Roaring Rockies Mountains Trip

Hi from Houtan!

So you might be wondering who this fine young gentleman is?! Well this is Houtan and some of you  might not have met him before because has been out of the office for a little while. Currently, Houtan is working out of Toronto but will be back in the office in the next few months so here is a quick introduction to a new face (for some of you at least) and check out baby Nala in the picture…too cute!

What is your name?
Houtan

Where are you from?
Tehran, Iran

What languages do you speak fluently other than English?
Russian. I can also communicate in Ukrainian and Arabic and a bit of German, and of course Persian my mother tongue

What position do you hold at INTERNeX? and for how long?
Good question, I have no idea what one would call my position or anyone else’s position for that matter at INTERNeX International Exchange..funny thing is that part of our job is to try and envision what working in a Canadian company would be like to most people who are about to work within a Canadian organization through one of our programs. Yet we work in a company that demonstrates and represents a Canadian organization based on employees from different parts of the world who wear different hats on a daily basis to provide excellence in service. That is why I can’t really tell you what my position is. (does this make sense?) I think Im just blabbing on again, but hey that’s me!! Lol And I have been working at INTERNeX just over 2 years and they have been  full of excitement

What made you want to get involved with INTERNeX in the first place?
Like minded people, think alike…well, I’ve had quite a background in travelling from A to B (never enough though), learning about visas, after finishing up school and getting involved with Canadian Resorts and the hospitality industry, it all seemed like a good match with what INTERNeX had to offer, so there I was getting started and here I am still rocking it

In what ways do you think INTERNeX is unique from other international placement agencies? What does INTERNeX offer that no other company can?
Aside from the fact of how thorough our service is and its not even comparable to any other agency, it’s also that we don’t think our programs are for everyone. The participant needs to understand the purpose of the program before being forced to be a part of it. Our honesty in delivering the service is a key in managing expectations

What changes have you personally noticed within INTERNeX?
I have noticed a number of little programs come and go, but the city placement program was a great success and it still is both in Vancouver and recently in Toronto. We also now have more representatives abroad, an official office in New Zealand, and a more so active presence in Toronto, ON

Where would you like to see INTERNeX in the next 10 years? Do you have any New Year’s goals for the company?
I truly believe that the possibilities are endless. Obviously I, along with the rest of the team, would like to see a world wide network of services provided by INTERNeX offices across the world. Now the services provided by INTERNeX within the next 10 years is what I would like to see continue on its journey to completion and perfection so that one day we’d be a tool for anyone from anywhere in the world that would like to take a trip to any part of the world for the purpose of work experience and/or self development

Tell us one interesting thing about yourself that not a lot of people know?
As a kid I always wanted to become a vet

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be and why?
It is really hard to answer this question, I love travelling and I don’t think I can settle anywhere for too long. I like what Toronto has to offer as a city, yet Vancouver’s geographical location is much more attractive than Toronto. On the other hand, Kiev Ukraine is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever lived in due to its historical background and remarkable architecture. But again, the grass is always greener on the other side, so we’ll keep on moving

If you have any more questions or queries about our programs please do not hesitate to contact us at the office:
INTERNeX International Exchange
Suite 200 – 211 Columbia Street
Vancouver BC -V6A 2R5-
Web: http://www.internexcanada.com
Phone: +1 (604) 662 8149
Email: info@internexcanada.com

Meet a New Staff Member

So it has been a few weeks since we had our last INTERNeX staff member introduction. Life here in the office has been pretty crazy and I’ve had a few bumps along the rode so i hope you enjoy one of the few remaining expose’s. This week you will gain a glimpse into Marien one of our lovely staff members who has a lot to offer to both INTERNeX and you…

What is your first name?
Marien

Where are you from?
Mexico City

What languages do you speak fluently other than English?
Spanish and I used to be fluent in Italian because I used to live there back in 1991-1992, but not anymore

What position do you hold at INTERNeX? And for how long have you been working here?
I am the program manager for hospitality and I have been working in/at INTERNeX for the past two years and a half

What made you want to become involved with INTERNeX in the first place?
Years ago I was working in an international programs office at one of the main private universities in Mexico City. I was primarily responsible for student placements within their field of study and INTERNeX was actually one of our partners and that is how I came to meet Tim.

In what ways do you think INTERNeX is unique from other international placement agencies? What does INTERNeX specifically offer that no other company can?
First and foremost our tailor made placements. In this process we are focusing primarily on the participants and their personal goals and from there we find a suitable position for them. Another important and unique aspect of our company is our international team and work environment. We are all highly committed to this companies missions and values and we appreciate the fact that even though we have a substantial amount of systems and procedures in place, we are granted a considerable amount of freedom in which we can truly flourish. Given this room for innovation INTERNeX can always be one step ahead

What changes within INTERNeX have you personally witnessed since you have joined the team?
The city placement program has grown and developed on an exponential level. And we now have INTERNeX New Zealand

Where would you like to see INTERNeX in the next 10 years? Do you have any New Year’s goals for the company?
As other staff members have mentioned previously, I too would like to see at least one INTERNeX office, both for in and outbound, in each continent all around the world. Now what I mean by in and out bound is that we will cater to both international clients wanting to come into Canada and Canadians interested in travelling/working abroad

Tell us one interesting thing about yourself that not a lot of people know?
As most of my candidates I took a gap year myself back in high school. I lived, worked and traveled in Europe for a year and a half. I studied English, worked as an au-pair and even as a cleaner so I can truly relate with all of the participants of our hospitality program.

Oh and another thing is that when I was young I wanted to be an Olympic gymnast. At age 6 I was already training 4 hrs a day, but then my family and I moved to a smaller city where there were no Olympic trainers so I unfortunately had to find a new dream.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be and why?
Well surprise surprise I have to say Vancouver. Coming from Mexico, which is a highly commercialized area with lots of, Vancouver just seems like this evergreen oasis in comparison. It is by far one of the most beautiful cities in the world and everyday I continue to be taken aback by all that is has to offer. But open to new cities and experiences.

If you have any more questions or queries about our programs please do not hesitate to contact us at the office:

INTERNeX International Exchange
Suite 200 – 211 Columbia Street
Vancouver BC -V6A 2R5-
Web: http://www.internexcanada.com
Phone: +1 (604) 662 8149
Email: info@internexcanada.com

Shinya a.k.a MAX

So last week when I was trying to figure out our next potential candidate for the “expose” post, I was wracking my brain trying to find someone that could truly give us a glimpse into the “INTERNeX experience”. Little did I know but I had this person right in the office with me sitting across the room. Can you guess who it is? It’s Shinya! This once shy Japanese boy came to Canada and managed to see more places and do more things in one year then I’ve done in the past nine years that I’ve lived here. So yeah since he did just about everything that was possible and participated in every one of our programs he is the perfect candidate!

What is your name?
My name is Shinya but my “Canadian” name is Max

Where are you originally from?
Kobe, Japan

Why did you choose Canada as the location of your placement?
Well I’d been to Australia and New Zealand so Canada just seemed like the next stop for me

How did you find about INTERNeX International Exchange?
I found about it through the Japanese Embassy

Which program(s) did you participate in throughout your stay in Canada?
Well I actually participated in all three of the programs offered by INTERNeX

haha O.k. well let’s take this one program at a time then…What was the first program that you enrolled in?
Initially I started off with the hospitality program because I thought that this would be the best opportunity to improve my English skills and truly immerse myself into the Canadian culture. I was placed in Lake Louise, Alberta and for the first month I was a Dishwasher then when the second month came around I continued to do Dishwashing but in addition to this I was both a server and a clerk in the resort gift shop. After a total of 3 1/2 months working at the resort I moved back to Vancouver and applied for the PR/Communications internship offered by INTERNeX at their Vancouver office. The reason why I chose to taken on this position was because I thought that this would be able to take my experience to the next level and be that final step towards breaking me out of my shell. I was an intern at the office for 5 months but due to the fact that the internship was unpaid I had to find another means of gaining an income so I could continue to stay in Canada. Thankfully INTERNeX was gracious enough to set me up with a coffee shop located just a few blocks away from the office in Gastown. It was at this location that I worked as a Barista for 4 months. Then during the 2009 Christmas Break I decided since I’d already done the other two programs why not do it all…so i enrolled in the Ranchstay program. For two weeks I was placed on a mixed farm in Montana where I had many “firsts”. For the first time in my life I rode horses, fed cows, herded buffalo and took care of numerous farm animals. This was definitely something that will stay with me forever. And last but not least, most of you know that Vancouver was the host of the 2010 Winter Olympics so before I returned home I thought what better way to end my trip then to try and get a job in the Olympics…so that’s what I did. I hired on as a member of the event service staff who were responsible for assisting media personnel and essentially acting as security by ensuring that everyone had the correct accreditation in order to gain entrance into the media tent. Throughout the few weeks that I worked there I met a considerable amount of athletes/celebrities. Some of the most memorable ones are Aiko Uemura, the Japanese Mogul Skier, Russian Figure Skating silver medalist, Evgeni Plushenko, Gold Figure Skating Couple, Tesse Virtue & Scott Moir, and last but not least BC Premier, Gordon Campbell

What was one of your most memorable moments of your entire stay?
I would have to say it was throughout my entire hospitality placement. It was such an entirely new and scary experience for me. For the first time in my life I was living all by myself in a foreign country where I knew no one. At first it was really hard but the staff that I worked with soon enough became my family and all my previous fears were completely gone!

If you to choose one program that you would recommend, which one would it be and why?
The internship program because it really helped me to grow on both a personal and professional level. Even though it is not a paid position the benefits that you reap are invaluable and it truly helped me to make lifelong connections with people from all over the world. Every day I was exposed to something new and I cannot even begin to explain how this has made me who I am today

What are some of the skills that you gained from your internship placement?
Good customer service skills, communication skills both intra and inter personal, building trust and numerous web site building skills

What one place/event/festival would you encourage people to check out?
Definitely Stanley Park. This amazing park, less than a mile from downtown Vancouver, is one of the city’s main tourist attractions and offers over 1,000 acres of an evergreen oasis. The park is full of wildlife and sometimes there is just nothing better then just to relax and take in the natural surroundings…it truly made me forget at times that i was still in the city

So what are you planning on doing once you return home to Kobe?
First i am planning on going back to University and to continue on with my environmental studies and I am also working on maintaining my connection with INTERNeX by recruiting Japanese University Students for the Ranchstay program. So it’s not really over yet…

If you have any more questions or queries about our programs please do not hesitate to contact us at the office:

INTERNeX International Exchange
Suite 200 – 211 Columbia Street
Vancouver BC -V6A 2R5-
Web: http://www.internexcanada.com
Phone: +1 (604) 662 8149
Email: info@internexcanada.com

INTERNeX Family Interview #2

Less then a few more hours till the start of the weekend woohoo! So last week I mentioned to you all that a new project of mine was to introduce to you the members of the INTERNeX family. Last week you had a brief glimpse into the mind that created this company from scratch-Tim. And today I will introduce you to Martina, just one of the many brains that make up this great company.

What is your first name?
Martina.

Where are you from?
Berlin, Germany.

What languages do you speak fluently other than English?
German.

What position do you hold at INTERNeX? And for how long have you been working here?
It’s difficult for me to condense what I do into one neat title, so I won’t try haha. I am the Ranchstay program manager, Homestay coordinator and Finance manager. And by this upcoming March it will be four years that I have been working at INTERNeX.

What made you want to become involved with INTERNeX in the first place?
I actually started off as a client of INTERNeX and more specifically a participant of the Internship program. Throughout my participation I realized that I wanted to stay in Vancouver after my completion of the program and I really believed in INTERNeX’s core mission, so the obvious next step was to become involved as an employee instead of a client.

In what ways do you think INTERNeX is unique from other international placement agencies? What does INTERNeX specifically offer that no other company can?
Well the company INTERNeX is backed by an amazing international team that has had firsthand experience of what our clients will be going through. Since they are so passionate about the concept of globalization they see INTERNeX as more than a job but rather a belief which they unwaveringly support. More specifically our team offers clients integrity, something that is too often forgotten.

What changes within INTERNeX have you personally witnessed since you have joined the team?
This company has grown dramatically over the past four years that I have been here and the overall infrastructure has drastically improved. We finally have systems and procedures in place that make for the smooth running of this company.

Where would you like to see INTERNeX in the next 10 years? Do you have any New Year’s goals for the company?
I would like to have our name to denote a world renowned company and thus be the first name that pops up in peoples minds when they think of an educational travel provider. I think international recognition is not just my own goal, but everybody’s for the company this year.

Tell us one interesting thing about yourself that not a lot of people know?
Back in high school, my best friend and I made a list of things we want to do before we die. Years went by and the memory of this list faded. Funnily enough though my friend one day called me and said that she had been rummaging through some of her old things and found these wish lists that we had made many years ago. She had read through them to see if we had accomplished any of our items and one of the points that I had written down was to eventually live in Canada. And look at where I am today…in Canada. Strike one off the list!

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be and why?
I’m a little bit of a travel nut so I really couldn’t imagine myself staying in any one place too long but my next wish spot is New Zealand. And interestingly enough we actually have an office over their so this would be perfect for me as I would still be able to keep that connection to INTERNeX.