I decided to write about this subject because I understand how important this decision is. It may just seem like a college request, but I know how life-changing these international experiences can be. In the past 3 years, I was able to intern abroad twice, and now I am working with Worldwide Internships as a Recruiter. This gave me the chance to see how the process works from both inside and outside the company. I would love to share these five tips with you, to reduce the guesswork for your internship process, but most importantly, to help making a decision easier for you.
1. OPTIONS
Sometimes we think we can do an internship in any country we want, but we forget about visa process, special permissions companies need to receive trainees, availability of vacancies, and specific information that you may not know from the beginning (and that’s normal). This is why you need to do some research first to see what options the agencies offer you, so you can choose the one that is best for you (based on which destinations, vacancies and support they offer).
2. KEEP YOUR MIND OPEN
Once you know your options and have chosen your agency, let them guide you! Don’t close your mind to just one city or just one vacancy, because you may be losing a great opportunity elsewhere because you just want something really specific. Remember, the main experience is living in another country!
3. IT TAKES TIME
This part may not seem as fun as the others, but I think it’s the most important one when we choose where to do our internship. Most destinations require a 4 to 6 month processing period, including finding the vacancy, and more importantly, processing your visa! The visa may take up to 3 months to be ready and we want you to buy your flight tickets with time and no rush!
4. DON’T BE AFRAID
It is normal! You will be in another country with a different culture, traditions, language, and mindsets, but that’s the best part of the experience. Challenge yourself to take new risks and get out of your comfort zone. Don’t let anyone make you take a “safe” option, I promise you, you will never regret taking a step further.
5. YOU ARE THERE TO LEARN
Go there willing to learn from everyone and let them share their knowledge. You are going to be surrounded by people from all over the world not only to work with, but to be a team, develop professional relations, and create new friendships that may last forever! So, go there and give it your best, so others will be willing to give their best to you too!
I really hope these tips help you to decide when, where, or how to start looking for an international internship. In the end, all that matters is that you take this opportunity and live an experience that will change your life.
