So you know you want an international experience, but you’re not sure exactly what kind. The great thing about an international internship is that you will gain professional work experience with the added opportunity to travel. Read more to learn about the many advantages of an internship abroad.
Spending an extended period of time in a foreign country is completely different than merely passing through. Although it can be fun to spend a little time in lots of different places, an internship abroad and an extended stay in one city will give you a deeper more nuanced perspective on the local culture, allowing you to establish personal connections with locals and see lots of different parts of a city – not just the tourist areas.
Traveling doesn’t quite put you in the same circles as interning abroad. If you’re working at an office in a foreign country you’ll be able to establish working relationships and connections with locals that are in your field. These professional contacts can come in handy when you’re looking for a job or if you decide to move back abroad later down the line.
Traveling is fun, but an internship abroad will prepare you for a career while also allowing you to explore a new part of the world. Going back home after being abroad and demonstrating international work exposure on your resume is a huge benefit to doing an internship. Moreover, your experience will likely help you stand out to snag an interview!
Being based in one city during your time abroad sets you up to be able to travel around easily, while still having a place to call home. This is one of the many advantages of an internship abroad. You can do weekend or day trips catching inexpensive flights or trains and still be able to return to your accommodations and have a sense of home, with your roommates and fellow interns. It’s the best of both worlds.
Staying in one place, working alongside locals and staying for an extended period of time all means you’ll have a much deeper understanding of the local culture than a tourist. You’ll see firsthand what the local work culture is like, get recommendations of the best local restaurants and see the city through the eyes of the people who actually live there. It’s a unique travel opportunity that also has career benefits at the same time, what’s better than that!
When most English speakers are traveling short term and don’t speak the local language, they tend to gravitate towards people who can speak English. Luckily, Working in an international office can expose you to the local language in a way that will make it easier to learn and pick up over time. Learning another language takes repetition and immersion, which is another one of the advantages of an internship abroad.
Once you establish relationships with locals, at your office and during your free time, you’ll realize that you have a city you can always come back to as if it’s your own. Having those deeper connections to a place makes it easier to come back whenever you want in the future.
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Photo 1. by The Intern Group
Photo 2. by The Intern Group