Internships are an integral part of our hospitality management programs in Switzerland. Depending on your program of study, you will have to complete between 1 and 3 internships for 5-6 months each (4 month minimum for ski resorts). These internship opportunities allow you to gain experience in diverse departments and positions within the hospitality industry before completing your degree.

For quick access to a section in this page, please click on one of the following links:

• The Internship Department
• Internship Placement Process
• Wide choice of establishments and location 
• Companies that hire our students for Internships
• Undergraduate Internships
• Postgraduate Internship
  
  

The professional Career Development and Internship Placement (CDIP) department employs a 3 person staff to ensure that students get the best opportunities for real-world experiences. The internship placement resources are organized and promoted by the CDIP through a structured system for getting students started and supporting them throughout the internship placement process.

The following overview will help you understand the step-by-step internship placement process and the resources available for internship placement.

Internship Opportunities

In Les Roches, you will be exposed to a variety of internship opportunities from your first week on campus:

• Internship Fair: presented by returning students during the first week
• The CDIP publishes internship offers: average 3 offers per student
• Company Visits: 20-30 per semester with presentations and interviews

When considering internship possibilities, you will be urged to keep in mind:

• Language Requirements: Most of the internship offers require proficient English, but you can also look for internships that require other foreign language skills.
• Visa and Work Permit Regulations: Student nationality and international bylaws can influence the receipt of a work permit or visa for a particular country. The cost of work permits vary in each country.
• Salary and Facilities: Generally, companies offer meals and other benefits and many offer accommodation.

Contacts and Applications

Once you are familiar with your internship objectives, options and preferences, you will begin preparing your applications. With the support of the CDIP, you will:

• Prepare a cover letter and refine your CV
• Practice interviewing techniques
• Apply for at least 4 offers
• Follow-up on offers
• Interview with interested companies using the new Skype services

Preparing for your Internship

Once you have found an appropriate position, the fine tuning and preparation for internship can begin. The following details are worked out before the semester ends:

• Work Permits
• Accommodations
• Storage of personal belongings
• Expectations for supervision and follow-up after internship
• School health insurance covers students on internship (private accident insurance will be required)

The CDIP will guide you through these steps and ensure that by the time you leave campus, you will be ready to embark on the next exciting phase of your practical education.

Internships are varied in terms of the type of establishment and locations. It ranges from private family-owned hotels to international five star hotels chains or restaurants. Students will have the opportunity to work in Switzerland, in which case the internship will be supervised by our team. Depending on your nationality and on work permit conditions, the world is open to you! Exciting and exotic destinations are available and you could work in a business hotel in a large city or in a beautiful resort on a small island. Regardless of the type of establishment or location, this real work experience will help you mature and develop into a true professional and leader.

With more than 40 countries to travel to and to choose from, the world is open to you and to a challenging work experience.Below are examples of countries where our students go for their internship.

The long and excellent relationships Les Roches has with the industry translates into international hotel chains and companies coming on campus to interview students for internship positions as well as for permanent positions. Many hospitality businesses have been recruiting our students semester after semester for operational or administrative internship positions. The list below provides an overview of some of the hotel chains which currently employ our students.

For students in the hotel management diploma program, each internship will develop specific skills and provide a different experience.

1^st internship:
This internship is of operational nature and students will either work in service and / or at the reception. They will work in a “Front-of-the-house” position, which means that they will deal with guests and ensure their well-being. Students will therefore develop specific skills such as their presentation, communication and language skills.

2^nd internship:
This internship is also of operational nature but students will generally work in the “Back-of-the-house”, meaning in the kitchen or in housekeeping. Although they will not be in contact with guests, they will develop another set of skills, namely those relating to organization, time management, pressure and team work.

3^rd internship:
Students on their third internship will move towards a more administrative position where they will have more responsibilities and will have to take the lead on certain projects. During that internship, students will further develop competencies which deal with self-management, decision-making, problem-solving and managing stress.

Postgraduate students generally undertake one Internship that lasts a minimum of four months and takes place in the hospitality industry. As students in this program are more mature in nature due to their background and previous education, they will generally be given an administrative, supervisory, or training position with, if possible, exposure to a variety of operating departments) in a Swiss or international hotel or other hospitality establishment. The supervisor will work with students in order to incorporate the knowledge and skills they will have already acquired during their 2 semesters of classroom and craft-based-learning experience on campus.