regional manager

student exchange coordinator

director

program coordinator

marketing manager

International Cultural Exchange Services

     This position is an independent contractor; I do not get benefits. Overall, the training is straightforward when you’re first hired. The Department of State test is simple to pass to become certified; one needs to score at the lowest a 27/30. From my first month on the job, it took me a few weeks to get my certificate. The company assigned me a field manager and regional director to answer my questions. 
     Otherwise, I’m unclear about my expectations to perform this position. Be aware that there is no compliance manual to refer to,  since I asked for it and never received one. It is mostly commission-based in which local coordinators get paid from the completed placement paperwork of exchange students. In a pandemic, it is pretty difficult to place students, regardless of posting on Facebook or talking to people in person. My colleagues and I traveled to meet the exchange students and host families in person; no mileage coverage exists. I had to drive to Ridgecrest and Merced in 8/2021 to attend student orientations. I also worked with schools and the public to form a connection.
     I did get paid to supervise foreign exchange students on a monthly basis. I am fine with emails, and phone calls to reach out to my students and host families. I found it awkward to use text messaging to contact them. When my students have difficulties with their host families, I have to solve it myself. I only get my supervisors’ aid whenever I can’t solve the situations. So if the host families complain, I mostly held the accountability. For me, I believe I can achieve more from consistent guidance and an employee handbook.

I love my job and I'm currently employed as a Local Coordinator /Field Manager. This is an exclusively work at home position and you have to do your training through the Department of State online before you do anything else. Not until you are completed certified do you move on to training with the Director of your division; this includes weekly training calls with other coordinators in your region as well as calls with your Field Manager or Regional Assistant. Everyone is very friendly, willing to help and want you to succeed. You are given the tools to learn how to advertise online as well as out in the community and find volunteer host families who would be willing to host a student from overseas for a semester or a school year. The best part of this job is the students!! I love meeting students from all over the world and spending time with them. The company gives incentive trips on a point system for the number of students placed and although it can be stressful at times this is the best job I have every had! Great President, terrific staff and a wonderful and rewarding position. The pay is based on each student you place and then a monthly supervision fee. It's not something you can live on at least initially; this is more of a supplemental income job.This is my only job and I work many hours because I love it but many employees have full time jobs and do this on the side.

What is the best part of working at the company?
This is hard to answer simply because I never met anyone in person. The only perk was that if you got five students placed you win a all exclusive trip to the Dominican or if you don’t want to go then you get the cash equivalent 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
I live in ND, and the schools in my state or rather range that I could place students hardly allow semester students especially second semester students. I also had to deal with the fact that some schools don’t allow seniors and if they do, they are not allowed to do the ceremony. 
Right after the students I placed began classes I started getting pushed into getting more kids placed for the second semester or the fall of 2025. The problem was that even though I explained several times that the schools will not accept applications for the next school year they kept saying to send it in regardless so I did and then sent the reply I got from the school 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
It’s a work at home thing. It’s hard to get ahold of corporate 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
I didn’t have to do anything until it was nearly the end of the month and then I had to call, text or email the schools, host family, and students to check on how they were doing

This company is all about the money they get from the exchange students, once the student is placed they no longer care about the student or the host families. They don't follow their own rules. And some coordinators did not have to go through training, some don't check in they make up their reports just to get paid, and will lie about the families. They only pay every 6 months and sometimes they don't pay you at all. They have their "in" circle and if you are not part of they they treat you poorly and go behind your back on matters related to your student you are hosting, offer no support for any problems that occur.  I stepped down because I was treated bad and didn't feel comfortable supporting this company and their lies any more.

So at the start, you have support all of the people that you never see are great and then you have the local manager people and they try to do your job for you. Expect you to just sit on your hands while they send people that they feel are more qualified to do your job to do the things that you are mandated to do in the books and the trainings. I personally expressed my concerns about this and was told that all I had to do was sit on my hands and let him do all of the paperwork and all I had to do was digitally sign things that's not what I signed up for I signed up for a hands-on job. Do not work for these people if you want to actually work.

As the first local coordinator respresentative for the region, the ground breaking efforts were exhausting with little intrinsic or monetary rewards. The learning process of how best to do outreach was both invigorating & depleting due to low interest in the program. Learned much about myself & the need for supportive initiatives that would bolster efforts put forth.

This company is all about the money they get from the exchange students. They don't follow their own rules. And some coordinators did not have to go through training. I stepped down because I was treated wrong and didn't feel comfortable supporting this company any more.

You are to find families that will host. You do the job and the management discard all the relationship  you build with families and just give to other coordinator to help new coordinator. 
When having difficulty finding families you will be threatened to be terminated.

I find them to be very supportive of their local coordinators. We have a staff phone call once a week & a zoom call once a week. If you need help all you have to do is aak. 

The kids are amazing. The host families  for the most part are amazing. The new person in charge of this region is abrasive at times. Very by the book. Not much room to make mistakes.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Regional manager 4 salaries reported	$50,000 per year
Student exchange coordinator 15 salaries reported	$43,000 per year
Director 7 salaries reported	$51,500 per year
Program coordinator 5 salaries reported	$31,500 per year
Marketing manager 2 salaries reported	$60,000 per year

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