Internship, apprenticeship: two words, two realities
In the United States, the word internship covers a very wide range of experiences: a summer placement at a bank, a part-time position during the academic year, a research programme in a laboratory, an assignment in a federal agency. There is no single status for interns, and the duration, pay and framework vary with the employer and the state.
The word apprenticeship, for its part, refers to trade training programmes, often in construction, industry or healthcare, overseen by the Department of Labor. These schemes are aimed first of all at workers already established in the American labour market. For an international reader, the most realistic route is therefore the internship; there is no exact equivalent of the French alternance work-study contract, and it would be misleading to present anything as such.
Before taking any step, one question decides everything else: what is your status? A student abroad, a graduate of less than a year, a student already enrolled at an American university, or an American citizen or permanent resident. Each case opens different doors.
The international route: the J-1 Intern visa
Most international students who do an internship with an American company go through the J-1 Intern category, run under the State Department's BridgeUSA programme. The published conditions are clear: you must be enrolled at a higher education institution outside the United States, or have graduated from one at most twelve months before the programme start date. The positions cannot involve unskilled or casual labour, child or elder care, or medical contact with patients, and administrative work must not exceed 20% of the tasks.
You do not apply on your own: a sponsor organisation designated by the State Department issues the exchange visitor document, vets the host company and monitors the internship. The sponsor collects, for example, the employer's tax identification number, contact details and proof of workers' compensation insurance, and has evaluations completed and signed by the intern and the supervisor. The maximum length of the Intern category is in principle twelve months; the rule that applies should be confirmed with the sponsor.
Health insurance is compulsory during the stay, and the fees of the sponsor, the visa and the insurance are in most cases paid by the intern. Amounts vary from one organisation to another, so ask for a detailed quote.
Federal internships: USAJOBS and the Pathways programme
USAJOBS is the official portal for federal government jobs. It presents, among other things, the Pathways programme, a paid internship scheme reserved for students enrolled at least part-time and for recent graduates. After a minimum number of hours of experience and depending on performance, some interns may be converted to a job, at the agency's discretion.
Be careful: federal employment is as a general rule reserved for American citizens, and each posting sets out its own criteria. An international student therefore often has no access to these positions. Reading the posting to the end, including the notes on nationality and eligibility, saves you from preparing a useless application.
University research: REU and laboratories
The National Science Foundation funds Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) at universities. These programmes are aimed at students in science, mathematics, engineering and computer science, with a stipend and sometimes housing. Status rules are strict: for federal funding, participants must generally be American citizens or permanent residents, as the programme page specifies.
An international student can nonetheless approach a laboratory directly, a university that is a partner of their institution, or a researcher whose work they know. Some agreements between universities in other countries and American ones provide for research internships with a J-1 sponsor. An application of this kind is stronger if it cites a paper or project from the laboratory and proposes a precise contribution.
If you are already a student in the United States: F-1, CPT and OPT
A foreign student enrolled at an American university on an F-1 visa can, under certain conditions, carry out practical training related to their studies. CPT (Curricular Practical Training) must be authorised by the institution's designated school official before work begins. OPT (Optional Practical Training) is for students in the course of a degree or graduates, with a normal duration of twelve months and a possible extension for certain science and technology fields. The precise rules change, so the university's international student office remains the contact to consult before any step.
One point is essential: working without authorisation can jeopardise your status. Never start an assignment before you have the necessary document.
Timeline: when to start
American recruiting has to be planned ahead. Large companies, notably in finance, consulting and technology, launch their summer campaigns as early as the preceding autumn, sometimes with very early deadlines. Smaller organisations recruit later, often between the start of the year and spring. For an internship outside your home country, allow at least four to six months between the first application and departure, because you must add the search for a sponsor, the documents, the consular interview and housing.
- Five to eight months before: define the project, build an American-style resume, identify companies.
- Four to six months before: apply, go through interviews, compare sponsors.
- Two to three months before: receive the offer, contract with the sponsor, gather the documents for the file.
- One to two months before: visa application, insurance, housing, agreement with your school.
The American-style application file
The American CV, or resume, fits on one page, includes no photo, age or marital status, and starts with the most recent experiences, using action verbs and figures for results. The cover letter is shorter than in many countries and explains in a few paragraphs why you and why this team. Recommendations from a teacher or a former internship supervisor are appreciated.
In interviews, expect behavioural questions ("tell me about a time when...") and a conversation testing your level of professional English. Practise presenting your background in two minutes, stressing what you bring rather than the courses you have taken.
Pay, cost of living and frequent pitfalls
A general rule of American employment law is that an intern at a for-profit company must be paid when they are considered an employee; an unpaid internship there is limited by precise criteria. The non-profit and public sectors follow other logics. Pay levels vary enormously by city, sector and level of study; no single figure can be given here.
The cost of living, especially housing in large cities, can exceed what you imagine. A serious budget must cover rent, transport, health insurance and initial costs.
- Using a tourist visa or travel authorisation to work: work is not permitted under them.
- Accepting an offer without the sponsor having approved the company.
- Underestimating the waiting times for a consular appointment.
- Not having the internship approved by your school before leaving, which can prevent your course from being validated.
- Trusting an intermediary who promises a guaranteed internship in exchange for payment.
Before you pay anything, ask the sponsor or the institution for a written list of everything the advertised fee covers.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do an internship in the United States on an ordinary tourist trip?
No. A tourist or business trip does not allow you to carry out internship activity. For an internship you need a suitable status, most often J-1 with a sponsor organisation. Working outside the authorised framework exposes you to a future visa refusal or removal from the country.
Who can apply for a J-1 Intern visa?
People enrolled at a higher education institution outside the United States, or who graduated less than twelve months ago, can apply, provided the position has real training content. A sponsor organisation must accept the application. It will specify the documents to provide and the fees.
Are federal internships open to international students?
Generally not: American federal employment is most often reserved for American citizens. The USAJOBS portal states the eligibility conditions posting by posting. It is better to check this point before preparing an application, and to concentrate on private employers and universities.
Is an internship in the United States paid?
Often yes, especially in for-profit companies, but it depends on the sector, the city and the organisation. Internships in non-profits or research may provide a stipend. Always ask for the amount and the payment frequency in writing, then compare it with the cost of housing on the spot.
How far in advance should I start?
Allow at least four to six months between the first application and departure, and more for large companies, which sometimes recruit in the autumn for the following summer. Add the time needed for the sponsor, the consular appointment, insurance and housing.
Does work-study alternation exist in the United States?
Not in the French form. American apprenticeships exist, mainly in the trades, and are aimed first of all at workers already established in the country. For an international student, the most common solution is an internship with an internship agreement, often through the J-1 category.