What is the biggest fear you have ever experienced?

Chances are that you and everyone else in the world fear the same thing. The unknown.

After all, the unknown or uncertainty are the roots of fear. We know that. Which is why today we will break down to you what happens before, during, and after an exchange experience with AIESEC. We hope this way will offer a bit more clarity over the whole process, allowing you to fear less.

Step 1.

The first thing that happens in our exchange programs is to sign up. Here you can find the link to our website. You can always delete your profile later on! Make sure you also choose the AIESEC branch you belong to. If there is no AIESEC at your university, try looking up your city. And if that doesn’t give you accurate results, find the AIESEC branches closest to your city or university.

Step 2.

Set up your profile. Fill in all the fields. Do not skip this step, as you will be asked later on to fill it in when you apply for an opportunity.

Step 3.

Someone from AIESEC will reach out to you based on the desired method of contact.

Step 4.

You will be invited to attend an information session, where you will receive more information about our projects and opportunities. If you cannot make it, align with your contact person to chit-chat over the phone or video conference.

Step 5.

Browse the website and choose the project or internship that fits your profile best. Make sure the projects take place when you have enough time to attend them from start to finish and that they fit your overall interests. Some projects might be inaccessible to you due to visa requirements. This aspect can be checked with an AIESEC member.

Step 6.

Apply and wait to be contacted by someone from AIESEC in the country where your desired project takes place. Check your emails regularly. But also your WhatsApp or any local instant messaging platform.

You will be invited for an interview, either by AIESEC, the NGO that will host you, or the company where you will be doing your internship.

Step 7.

Once you are accepted for an opportunity, an AIESEC member will reach out to you to help you sign the contract with AIESEC. At this stage, you are also required to pay a fee. The fee is there to ensure AIESEC is operating at the latest legal standard and maintaining our platform.

Step 8.

After the contract is signed, you will receive all the documents needed to apply for the visa, if needed. Please collaborate with the local AIESEC team to ensure a flawless visa application process. If you don’t need a visa, you can already plan what you want to pack.

Step 9.

A few days before leaving, you will be invited to attend the “outgoing preparation seminar.” This meeting is important. It will provide you with a deeper look into what AIESEC stands for, what your responsibilities are, and also what AIESEC’s responsibilities are. And it will offer you a space to decide on your goals for this exchange. At the end of the day, we want you to develop yourself, which is why goals are needed.

Step 10.

You arrive at the airport, train, or bus station of the country you will have your exchange in. Someone from AIESEC will be there to pick you up. If that doesn’t happen, before your arrival, you will receive a very detailed guide on how to get from your arrival point to your accommodation.

Step 11.

Shortly after your arrival, you will have an incoming preparation seminar done by AIESEC in the host country. This session will clarify to you what the dos and don’ts of the country are, who to contact, what the next steps will be in your exchange, and how you will get to know the other volunteers or interns.

Step 12.

On your first day of work, someone from AIESEC will guide you to the NGO, company, or school where you will have your activities. They will introduce you to the staff.

If no one can assist you on that day, no worries; you will once again receive a detailed guide on how to reach the destination and who to contact.

Step 13.

During your experience, the local AIESEC team will organize some fun activities for you to attend. One of them includes Global Village. An event where all the international volunteers showcase their culture.

Also, from time to time, you might be asked to check on your goals. Your AIESEC buddy from back home will check on you regularly as well.

Step 14.

Once your exchange is over and you are back home, you will be invited to the reintegration seminar. The reintegration seminar is the space where you can do your final check on your goals and reflect on your journey and how it helped you develop your skills and how it made you grow as a person.

Step 15.

Lastly, we want to hear about your experience. Therefore, filling out the feedback form the AIESEC platform generates will be of great help to us in understanding what we can do better. One of our values is “striving for excellence,” and we want to stay true to it, improving the experiences we deliver. PS: Once you fill out the feedback survey, you will automatically receive a certificate from us attesting that you went on exchange with AIESEC. The certificate can be of great help in your future endeavors.

Bottom line

That’s it! You made it to the end. As you can notice, at every point of your journey, you will have someone from AIESEC assisting you. Therefore, there is no need to be afraid to take the opportunity to go on exchange with us.

Now go back to the top of the blog and complete step 1.