Participant Stories
Bernd Feyand
Global partnership provides beginning of exciting placement initiative
From Spring 2006
Germany continually ranks in the top list of countries for AIPT exchanges to and from the United States, and AIPT’s German Global Partner Zentralstelle für Arbeitsvermittlung (ZAV) has been instrumental in this feat.
It is this successful collaboration that provided the opportunity for both organizations to widen their knowledge and understanding of German/U.S. exchanges via a particularly unique avenue in 2005.
“Working with AIPT for more than 6 years, I wanted to get to know the American side of business and applied for a practical training position within AIPT,” explained ZAV Placement Officer Bernd Feyand.
AIPT decided to offer Feyand a training position through AIPT’s Career Development Exchange Program, the Trainee category of the J-1 visa. AIPT had the dual role as not only Feyand’s sponsor organization, but his host employer as well. Feyand, who entered the United States in January 2005, said that his training plan encompassed both sales and marketing. During his one-year program, he was charged with contacting AIPT’s dormant host employers in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria and developing plans in an effort to promote the placement of German candidates.
“With help from AIPT’s communications and marketing department, a detailed plan was developed and we worked on contacting more than 350 companies,” he said.
Feyand added that he introduced himself to sales contacts as a placement officer providing free and expert advice for identifying qualified German-speaking candidates. He offered to help employers in any way he could through placement service, translation, and much more.
“While the overall reaction to my services was not overwhelming, we believe while promoting these opportunities, we also informed host employers of the valuable connections of AIPT and the benefits of German-speaking candidates,” Feyand said.
Sr. Business Development Manager Chad Newill, who directly supervised Feyand, agreed that AIPT immensely benefited from Feyand’s training.
“It was very helpful to learn in detail how Bernd recruits candidates and works within the parameters of the German government and German culture,” Newill explained. “We learned so much from Bernd about German culture, especially business culture and how conservative it is compared to the United States.”
Another idea that evolved from Feyand’s training was his vision of incorporating a teacher program designation at AIPT that was widely requested by German participants. Since Feyand’s departure, AIPT continues to pursue the possibility and collaborates with him regularly.
Overall, both Feyand and AIPT have seen the benefits of this type of exchange. The working relationship of AIPT with ZAV has strengthened. AIPT understands the business styles and training needs of German businesses and professionals. Feyand is able to provide ZAV with an insider perspective of the processes of the American exchange organization and the needs of American businesses that sponsor trainees.
“Personally and professionally – I had a heck of a time!” Feyand remarked. “I believe I helped both our organizations maximize efficiency and understand each country’s policies. I also gained a much deeper insight in American business practices in general.”
