These leading cities are the best places in the world to launch your career. Home to the world’s top businesses and organizations across a multitude of industries, these cities provide a competitive experience for interns looking to get their foot in the door at leading firms abroad. Besides the opportunity to build up your professional experience and contacts, these cities also offer the chance to get to know a cosmopolitan city and understand a new culture.
1. London
A global leader in culture, finance, innovation, and government, London has a long history of being a competitive city for professionals working in many different industries. London is a truly global metropolis, attracting professionals from all cultural backgrounds. There’s no better place to get ahead in your industry than with an internship abroad in London, where you can launch your career and leverage your professional experience abroad to find a job back home. Aside from the many professional benefits of launching your career in London, the city also offers a multitude of cultural activities that can be enjoyed rain or shine, including a trip to the West End to see some of the world’s best theaters, a visit to the British Museum, home to some of the world’s most treasured artifacts or a trip on the London Eye, for an unforgettable look at this unique and bustling city.
2. New York City
There’s nowhere in the world quite like New York City. This dazzling American city is a genuine melting pot, attracting leading professionals, artists, musicians, and intellectuals from all over the states and the world. Whether you’re looking to launch your international business career or get your foot in the door at a leading marketing firm, New York City is the place for upcoming professionals seeking competitive experience, international contacts, and the adventure of a lifetime. In your free time, you’ll never be stuck for something to do. It will be quite the opposite as New York City truly lives up to its title, “The City that Never Sleeps”.
3. Medellín
Colombia is so much more than the homeland of cumbia, coffee, and beaches. The country can now boast about its booming city of innovation: Medellín. Interns will love getting to know Medellín’s friendly and welcoming locals while also earning real-world professional experience and learning one of the world’s most widely spoken languages, Spanish. Named “Most Innovative City” in 2013 by The Wall Street Journal, Medellín has developed into a start-up hub and infrastructural envy, attracting top-notch entrepreneurs, engineers, and business professionals from all over the world. There’s no better place to learn Spanish, launch your career, and live a vibrant, international experience.
4. Melbourne
Youthful, competitive, and charismatic Melbourne is Australia’s unique capital, full of live music venues, coffee shops, and universities. It’s also an excellent hub for entrepreneurship, business, marketing, and other industries. Any young professional looking for a hip, outdoorsy city to gain real-world professional experience should consider Melbourne, “The World’s Most Liveable City”.
5. Hong Kong
There’s a reason Hong Kong is known as the gateway to China. This dynamic metropolis is arguably Asia’s most international city, with leading professionals across many different industries. A banking, financial, and commercial hub, Hong Kong attracts established professionals from all over the world. Moreover, the city offers a blend of the old world and new, with towering skyscrapers and honored temples.
6. Dublin
Dublin is a perfect place to launch your career if you’re looking for a major metropolitan city that’s English-speaking and competitive, but also not overwhelmingly crowded like New York City or London. This beautiful city is stunningly green, full of parks and other green spaces where you can take a book, picnic, or join in on a quick football match. The Irish capital is also the UNESCO City of Literature, home to more Nobel Laureates in literature than any other city in the world. Those looking to launch their writing career: get inspired in Dublin!
7. Madrid
Madrid is a city for the young, or at least the young at heart. Its bohemian energy and international nature make it a wonderful place to intern abroad and launch your career. The city center is small and lively, so interns can easily get from their accommodation to their internships. Besides having leading professionals across all industries, the city is also home to a multitude of memorable sites and museums like Retiro Park, Reina Sofia, and Plaza Mayor. Moreover, interns in Madrid have the chance to learn Spanish, one of the most widely spoken languages in the world.
8. Tokyo
Tokyo is a bright and bustling city in Japan that attracts expats from all backgrounds, giving you a rich cultural experience beyond Tokyo's own quirks and eccentricities. This gorgeous city is home to some of the best leading companies in technology, making it the perfect place for those looking to start their careers in IT or computer science. After you've finished work for the day, Japan has plenty of restaurants for you to try, temples to visit, and you can even get on the bullet train to explore new places.
9. Bangkok
Bangkok has a progressive economy and a more affordable cost of living compared with some other Asian countries. The city attracts professionals from across the globe and has a rich cultural heritage with plenty for you to do and see during the downtime of your internship. Bangkok has a great focus on innovation and a rapidly-growing tech scene.