The Recruiting Agency is an in-country organization contracted to publicize CEI training missions and recruit potential participants. Typically this is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that is contracted by CEI to assist in the program. It is expected to have a wide range of contacts in industry, to have an office with reasonable Internet access, English language capabilities, and the skills to be able to conduct this training mission program.
Before the participant selection process
Recruitment of training mission participants is based on selection criteria provided by CEI. Anyone meeting these criteria is eligible to apply for the program. In the recruiting process, the Recruiting Agency will:
Announce the training mission to leaders in the target industry and encourage qualified people to apply. CEI’s objective is to have 32-50 applicants for each mission.
Give prospective applicants CEI’s recruitment brochure and application form.
Recruit a Technical Writer for the training mission.
The Recruiting Agency can use such tools as:
Newspaper advertisements
Newspaper articles
Radio and television
Government
Company directories
Trade associations
Telephone contact using the CEI prepared script
Direct mail
Personal interview
During the Selection Seminar
The Recruiting Agency is responsible for the arrangements at the selection seminar. Activities include:
Make logical arrangements including rooms for interviews, CEI presentations, discussions, and training exercises
Act as a moderator at the selection seminar
Assist CEI with the group discussions by leading the discussions, especially if they are not in English
Schedule interviews with applicants and prepare the interview forms
After the Selection Process
Send all applicants letters informing them whether they are being invited on the training mission.
If participants and alternates do not have foreign passports, provide them with a passport application and give a deadline for returning it.
Get U.S. visa applications.
Conduct a pre-departure orientation session with participants and alternates.
Send in all visa documents. Participants will be invited to an interview at the U.S. Embassy where they will receive their visas.
Shortly before departure, conduct an orientation meeting at which participants and alternates complete paperwork, and learn about trip logistics. Some specific activities that can take place at the meeting include:
Return passports, visas, and distribute airline tickets.
Outline the tour schedule and the scope of the training mission.
Discuss the obligations of the Group Leader and the Technical Writer.
Invite a participants from a prior CEI training mission (if possible) to share insights.
Present travel information such as security in airports, rules on planes, customs and immigration forms, layover between flights, etc.
Familiarize the group with U.S. business and social customs, such as presenting business cards, asking questions when they visit host companies, staying together as a group during company visits appropriate souvenirs to present to hosts, workplace behavior regarding gender, race, and status issues, etc.
Discuss comfort and grooming issues, such as expected weather, appropriate clothing, expected hygiene, and how much luggage to bring.
Orient participants to American shopping and restaurants.
Have the group select a Group Leader and Technical Writer if CEI has not already designated people for these positions.
Determine roommate preferences and communicate these to CEI by e-mail.
Ensure that participants have their CEI-supplied airline tickets, visas, and passports at departure.
After the training mission returns home
Check that all participants return home
Help prepare and print the Technical Manual
Monitor media articles and interviews about the training mission and send CEI copies.
During the CEI follow-up visit
When the CEI team arrives 6-12 months after the training mission for the follow-up program, schedule meetings for the CEI representatives with the participants.
Assist CEI in organizing other requested meetings.
Organize a possible networking meeting.
Assist CEI in obtaining industry and farm productivity data and other information needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the training mission.