Hi Sugar, I am coming to the end of my placement in Melbourne. I have been interning at a consultancy firm here in Australia for nearly 6 months and it has really flown by. While I feel like I have definitely made the most of my time abroad and in the workplace, I want to make sure that I reap all the benefits of my experience moving forward. I was wondering if you could give me some advice on how to best make the most of an internship as it comes to a close. Thanks in advance! -Derek.
Hi Derek! Thanks for getting in touch with your question. First of all, congratulations on nearly completing your placement. I can only imagine how rewarding it must feel and how many great memories you have from your time in Melbourne. I completely empathize with you as the end of my internship here at The Intern Group is quickly approaching. I’ve had an amazing few months but I also want to make sure that I really take advantage of all the doors this international experience could open. After some thought, I have listed the ways I plan to make the most of my internship and how you can too!
By now, I’m sure you’re well acquainted with what a great boost your international internship will give to your CV. Over the past few months you will have accumulated innumerable skills and capabilities in the workplace. Meanwhile, living abroad in a different culture will have provided a whole other host of personal benefits. Moving forward, it is vital to showcase all of this on your resume.
I plan to make a list of all the various tasks I have carried out over the course of my internship, before it ends. While this may seem excessive, I know that later on I could struggle to remember all the things I’ve done. I can then think about all the skills these tasks have helped me develop. This will make my resume stand out to future employers. While people will recognize the benefits of an international internship, by clearly explaining them you can really demonstrate your strengths.
While you’re so far away from home, it is the ideal time to see new parts of the world. It may sound cheesy, but travel really does broaden the mind. Before heading home from Australia, traveling around the country and surrounding countries could be a great way to end your placement. You can immerse yourself in even more cultures and give yourself a well-deserved break from the 9-5 life. You deserve it!
It is so helpful to gain an insight into your performance in the workplace. This way, you can get a good idea of your strengths and weaknesses. You are then able to think about how to improve moving forward. We often are unaware of our strengths and weaknesses, so asking your supervisor for an end of placement review is the perfect way to get this information. Nobody starts out their career with no faults and over time you will improve massively. But having a clear indication of your performance can help speed the process along.
Over the past 6 months, you will have built up an extensive network of friends and colleagues that have made Australia your home away from home. Staying in touch with the people who have made your experience so amazing is such a good way to make the most of your internship abroad. You now have an international professional network and these connections could be very helpful in your future career. Outside of the office, I am sure that you have similarly made friendships that will last a lifetime. You now have friends in every corner of the world to visit and travel with.
Photos
1. based on Hosier Lane Melbourne,by Bernard Spragg. NZ, CC-by-SA 2.0
2. based on Airport,by Jorge Díaz, CC-by-SA 2.0
3. based on Office, by Jesús Corrius, CC-by-SA 2.0