When it comes to internships, how can you separate your experience from everyone else's? By interning abroad! Sure, interning anywhere is a win—period! But do you really want your resume to glow? Then doing an internship abroad is your chart-buster. For starters, the majority of folks still choose to intern in their home country. Your decision to step outside of that norm will truly catch the eye of future employers.
An internship abroad isn’t an experience to be taken lightly.
How do you get the most out of internship programs abroad? By picking the internship that meets a number of factors and ultimately matches your interests and future plans. Now, trust us, this is a crucial decision that you do not want to aimlessly dive into.
On the surface, internship abroad programs can all seem like identically incredible opportunities. However, all internship programs are not created equally. There are subtle differences which can make or break your experience. So, as you narrow down the best intern abroad programs, you’ll have to flesh out the most essential info to make the wisest choice. Here’s how to sift through internship abroad programs like a boss—and find the one that's right for you!
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12 questions to ask when comparing internship programs abroad
At first, researching internships abroad can feel supremely daunting. There are enough similarly sounding programs out there to make your head spin. Paid internships abroad, summer internships abroad for college students… sooo many options! No worries for you though because you’re in luck today, pal! Mull over the following factors and choosing the right internship abroad will be a pain free process.
1. How unique is the experience?
We can’t emphasize this point enough.There are a gazillion people doing a bazillion different internship abroad programs out there. Some folks are having totally stellar internships, while others are a bit on the meh side. You want the programs that offer the perfect blend of incredible cultural experiences and unique skills development that will have you and your resume sparkling.
Chew on this scenario for a sec: which experience sounds more marketable? An internship that involves you filing videos all day in the moldy basement tape library? Or... the internship that lets you brainstorm scripts and help out with indie film productions? That’s a no brainer! Apply to internships that offer the outstanding experiences that your average internship abroad does not. You’ll be flexing your intellect and your qualifications will trump your competitors. The value of this type of internship will positively reflect in your future employability and salary. Cha-ching!
2. Will you gain new skills?
The best internship abroad programs add tangible value to your life. When you complete it, you’ll have gained new skills such as language fluency or a physical results like a resume reel. If you’re a college student, perhaps you’ll earn a few credits toward graduation (that’s why a chat with your academic advisor before you pick an internship is a must!). So, as you evaluate international internships, keep an eye out for programs that offer you palpable smarts to make job hunting or your path to graduation that much smoother. You want return on the investment you’ve made by signing up with a program.
3. Does it offer on-site support?
Even the GOAT interns abroad need a sturdy support system. So as impressive as your decision to intern abroad is, choose programs with reliable and available in-country staff. You’ll need their guidance as you adjust into your new role as an intern abroad. On site staff will help you everything from orientation to loaning you emergency cash when your bank card gets declined (hey, it happens!)! There are umpteen situations that can pop up for foreign interns. Yet with strong support staff, these hiccups will be way more easy to navigate. While exciting, interning in another country can also wear on your mental. A program that supports their participants physical, mental, and emotional well-being will churn out more healthy and satisfied interns in the end. So keep an eye out for phrases like “24/7 on site support” as you compare internship programs abroad.
Keep your eyes on the prize #CSuite
4. Does the provider ensure your safety?
The chances of having an emergency abroad are pretty slim. Still, an internship program with a sound emergency plan in place is vital. Remember, ish can go down even in the “more stable” regions of the world. During emergencies, it’s important for foreign interns to have info such as escape routes, assembly points, staff phone numbers, and emergency numbers. Without a plan, things can go south really fast and interns can literally go missing! Responsible programs recognize the importance of preparing for the unexpected and keeping your safety a top priority. Evaluate internship programs abroad by the provisions they’ve made. If a program has no emergency protocol, slash it off your list.
5. What do alumni have to say?
Remember how we mentioned how sometimes internship program manuals all start to sound the same? While every provider may sound amazeballs, program reviews always separate the bomb.com internships from the subpar ones. Basically, reviews from past interns will give you the real tea on an internship program. Reviews are one of the truest pictures of the value you can expect from investing in an internship abroad. Internship directories (like ours :) and forums are great places to find genuinely honest feedback. Or, you can ask your potential internship to put you in touch with a few former interns. Maybe intern housing isn’t as comfy as advertised in that glossy program literature? Have a few paid internship abroad programs had to cut intern stipends mid-semester? If those are deal breakers, you’ll probably want to know before touching down. For a truly unfiltered opinion of a program, definitely compare internship programs abroad reviews!
6. Will you be able to participate in cultural immersion?
As mentioned above, some internships can be total snoozers. Who wants to be chained to a chilly cubicle 12 hours a day abroad? #hardpass Meanwhile, wasn’t the whole point of you choosing to intern overseas to experience a new culture? For example, learning magazine layout skills is fab, but if you’re all the way in Joburg, you should probably explore the local community, learn a little Xhosa, visit Robben Island, and binge on beef at braais. Quality internship abroad programs understand that developing skills is only half of the intern’s education. A huge chunk of schooling comes from the intercultural exploration and interactions in the community. When you evaluate international internships, definitely put a big fat star next to programs that mesh deep cultural immersion into their internships.
Will you get to interact with the culture in meaningful ways?
7. Is it worth the money?
As you compare internship programs abroad, you’ll find a wide range of program fees. Some will have pretty hefty price tags while others hinge on the more affordable spectrum. Also keep in mind that some programs will offer you a lot more for your dollar than others. Once you know your budget, compare programs within the same price range. Evaluate internship programs abroad by what’s included in its price tag and compare that to similarly priced programs. You want to know exactly how far your program fee will be stretching. What if the programs within your price range are missing that extra internship umph? Raise your budget and look at more expensive programs. Then research scholarships, grants, fundraising, and start saving up (part time Genius Bar gig maybe?) to raise the remaining cash.
8. Is there post-internship alumni networking?
Get this: your internship abroad can extend past its official end date. And that’s actually a good thing! How so? Some programs have strong alumni networks built right in. They may run a monthly alumni newsletter, send you an alumni directory, or even pair you up with a mentor for career advice. For example, engineering internships abroad may offer post internship resume development. These are all great opportunities for academic guidance and professional networking—priceless connections that will prove valuable for decades. Heading abroad for a few months? Even summer internships abroad for college students can be great networking launch pads! A program with post internship support is definitely worth looking into.
How’s this for a view from your office building?!
9. Is the provider partnered with locals?
Internships abroad can be managed a variety of ways. They can be run by a local org or by an international provider that runs internships all over the planet. In the world of international education, the best foreign-run programs have some sort of partnership with locals. A provider may have collaborated with a local university or nonprofit to identify the best sectors to offer foreign interns. This factor can seem like more of an ethical aspect that doesn’t directly impact you. However, it is worth paying attention to as you compare internship programs abroad. And that’s because the truly game changing overseas internships work in conjunction with natives who naturally know the local industries best! This approach is a win-win: interns get to develop skills in a well-thought out program and the host country thrives from your socially responsible extra pair of hands.
10. What is the accommodation like?
Housing—as you evaluate international internships, don’t overlook this cardinal interning abroad consideration. Let’s say you’re shacking up with seven other interns every night. Will you have enough energy to perform well during your internship? Or maybe you get lonely easily and prefer the late night chats. You know that having a few roomies will help stave off homesickness. Hostel life, bunking alone, roomies in a flat, sharing a dorm bathroom, living with a host family...there are many different housing options out there to suit various personalities. As you evaluate internship programs abroad, pay close attention to the different housing options.
Having opportunities to network during AND after your internship is key.
11. Is the internship paid or unpaid?
Are you fine with forking over your internship program fee and missing out on income for a few months abroad? If you can handle little to no income during your time overseas, cool beans. On the flip side, interning abroad for free out may be of the question for your budget. Then you’ll need to search for paid internship abroad programs that offer interns stipends or salaries. Keep in mind that certain fields (e.g. engineering internships abroad) and destinations will have more paid opportunities than others. Recently, there’s been debate over the ethics surrounding unpaid internships. Some people feel it’s only worth it to apply for paid internship abroad programs. However, the general consensus still seems to be that the long term value of quality unpaid internships are priceless. As you evaluate international internships, focus on the proven long term value an internship has had to decide which financial route is the best fit.
12. How large is the workplace and how much time will you work?
Remember your school advisors suggesting you consider class-size during your college application process? Did a large urban or quieter small sized campus attract you? The same comparisons can be used as you evaluate internship programs abroad. Some internships are at large corporate buildings while others may be in small rural health clinic. Are you looking at interning at a large corporation? Then you’ll want to know how the program ensures interns don’t get lost in all the workplace busyness. Do they assign each intern a mentor? If it’s a small start up, will you be overloaded with so much work that you barely get to socialize? As you compare internship programs abroad, think about the type of setting you’re more comfortable in and the type of experience you’re looking to have.
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Now you can start comparing programs like a pro!
Time to sit on a log outside and find your ideal internship program!
If you’re like most folks, your decision to intern overseas was not made flippantly. You’ve decide to invest a good piece of time and money into yourself. You’re putting faith in an unconventional internship path without the familiar comforts of back home to lean on. And, you’ll be picking up new personal and professional skills throughout it all.
Seems kinda daunting, huh? Well, if you thoroughly evaluate international internships you can eliminate a lot of that anxiety. Thinking about hitting that apply button on the first few programs that pop up? Slow your roll! Take the time to compare your options and make a well-informed choice. When you evaluate internship programs abroad, a little research goes a long way. Happy planning!
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