Labor & Industrial Relations Internships Abroad

My experience with the Absolute Internship abroad program was incredibly valuable and memorable. Spending 6 weeks in Madrid, Spain, allowed me to gain professional experience while also experiencing a new culture, work environment, and a new sense of independence. One of the highlights of the program was the opportunity to work at Asesoria Debe Haber Asociaciones, where I was able to develop skills in establishing new nonprofit national or local organizations by working on founding their board or statutes. The internship gave me a better understanding of my career interests and allowed me to apply what I have learned in school to a real-world environment while also educating myself on how this country's system differs from that of mine and learning how this can help me build upon my current professional knowledge. Outside of work, living in Madrid allowed me to explore new places, meet people from different backgrounds, and experience the local culture. The program staff was extremely supportive and helpful, making the transition to living abroad much easier. Although there were some challenges, such as adjusting to a new environment and working for the first time at a location that aligns with my professional goals, along with a slight language barrier, these experiences helped me grow personally and professionally. Overall, I would highly recommend this program to other students considering an internship abroad. It provided me with meaningful professional experience, unforgettable memories, and a greater sense of confidence and independence.

I joined an internship at a startup focused on sustainable fashion, creating bags and accessories with a mission to care for the planet. For every item sold, one is donated to a child in Africa. My role involved developing marketing, business, and expansion strategies, applying everything I learned in my Master’s and undergraduate studies. This experience taught me the importance of adapting to different corporate cultures and allowed me to contribute meaningfully to a company with a beautiful mission.

After graduating with a degree I wasn’t sure how to use, I found myself feeling lost. I knew I needed time to refocus and understand what I truly enjoy doing. That’s why I decided to take a gap year, to focus on myself and explore new opportunities. When I was first consulted by Korea Gap Year, I immediately felt understood. They guided me through every step of the process and made sure all of my questions were answered. Their support helped me feel at ease before and during my stay in South Korea. I came to Seoul for a one-month internship at Korea Gap Year, where I worked in marketing—my first time ever in this kind of role. I was both nervous and excited, and I truly wanted to do my best. Three years earlier, I had studied abroad in Seoul for six months, so I already had an idea of what to expect. I knew a month would be the perfect length for me this time both emotionally and financially. If I could have stayed longer, I absolutely would have, because I really enjoyed my time working at Korea Gap Year. At first, I wasn’t sure what to expect from a Korean work environment. When I arrived, Olivia kindly introduced me to everyone and gave me a tour of the office. I was asked to present myself and share my skills so they could assign tasks accordingly. One of the things I enjoyed most was translating past participants’ stories into English and Spanish. It turned out to be something I loved, and it made me realize that I want to pursue a career in this field. My schedule was Monday through Thursday, 9 AM to 6 PM. It was definitely an adjustment especially sitting for eight hours straight but I got used to it. One thing that surprised me was how quiet the office could be. In the U.S., people often greet each other with “good morning” or “have a good day,” whereas in Korea, people just quietly go about their work. At first, I felt a bit rude not saying anything, but eventually, the introvert in me appreciated the quiet too. My main goal during this internship was to become more confident and focused on my career. While I sometimes felt frustrated knowing I had to go back home, this experience gave me time to reflect. The job market in the U.S. has been tough, and I often felt uncertain about what was waiting for me. But living alone in Korea for a month was an eye-opener. It helped me learn so much about myself. I've always struggled to express how I feel, but being here helped me open up. Being a student in Korea three years ago was a completely different experience from working here. It’s much easier to make friends as a student. As a worker, it was more difficult, but I appreciated the little moments when locals would approach me during dinner just to speak English. Some even asked about my Mexican heritage and my Spanish, which made me happy and proud to share. It was a meaningful exchange of cultures. Korean culture was breathtaking to experience again. From packed subways during rush hour to cute themed cafes and late-night karaoke, everything felt surreal. I know I’ll truly miss this lifestyle when I return home. It's definitely true when they say Seoul never sleeps! Don’t be afraid to try new things! Try new foods, drinks, visit places, and step out of your comfort zone. You’re in a different country, don't be shy. If you feel discouraged or homesick just remember that you are working towards your goal and future. I also believe your accomodation should be around a loud neighborhood so it’s not totally quiet making you feel at ease being abroad alone. Thank you, Korea Gap Year, for welcoming me as an intern. I’m incredibly grateful for all that I learned and for the support you gave me. To future participants: - Don’t overpack, unless you don’t plan on spending money in Korea. Honestly, it's hard not to! Everything is more affordable compared to the U.S. or Europe, so bring two suitcases. - Research before you go! Watch videos about getting around Incheon Airport, SIM cards, and public transportation. It’s super helpful. - Be prepared for loneliness if you’re traveling for the first time. At home, eating alone is comforting, but in a new country, it can feel isolating. Thankfully, some coworkers invited me to eat together, which I truly appreciated. - Try new things! Whether it’s food, places, or stepping out of your comfort zone. You’re in a different country! Don’t be shy. If you ever feel homesick, remind yourself why you’re here and what you’re working toward. - Stay somewhere lively. If possible, choose accommodation in a busier area. The noise and energy can help ease feelings of loneliness. What to Bring: - Seoul has tons of stores. Daiso is a lifesaver for essentials and affordable finds. - Two things I had trouble with: finding foundation that matches my skin tone, and pants that fit (if you’re tall, they may run short). So pack those ahead of time! - Don’t forget an adapter for your electronic, but don’t worry if you forget something everything’s accessible here. My Gap Year Review! Environment ★★★★★ I was not used to such a quiet working environment but it was really nice getting to experience a different working culture. Language ★★★★★ It was nice being around the Korean language as it made me learn new vocabulary but if you don’t speak it that’s okay there so many things that are translated to English. Accommodation ★★★★★ I got an Airbnb near the company which was so convenient especially during working hours it gets super busy in the subway. So, if you can get an accommodation near the company I suggest that. Safety ★★★★★ Seoul is very safe in my opinion so I never had to worry about any dangerous parts or activities but it’s still an important thing to be safe wherever you are. Learning ★★★★★ Thank you Korea Gap Year for giving me this opportunity! I learned a lot of new skills and realized what tasks I really enjoy doing. I also learned more Korean than I thought!

Throughout my 2 months living and working in Madrid, I absolutely fell in love with the city. The culture, food, social scene, and environment was unmatched. Thanks to Absolute, I met some of my best friends while abroad. I am so lucky to have found such an amazing group of people to share this experience with including our program coordinators who were the BEST. On top of my actual internship which gave me so many great connections, I truly built a life in Madrid during my time there. This summer has been the best of my life, I gained so many friendships, learned so much about myself, and experienced places and memories that will last a lifetime.

I had a great time here in Taiwan with the internship from AIP. Everyone was very kind and the food was good here. I learned a lot from my host company and would highly recommend this program to my peers 10/10 experience for sure.

The internship experience in Barcelona was absolutely amazing both in the office and out of the office. Our local host Isabel was amazing when getting us acclimated to the city, as well as providing reccomendations and ensuring our safety. On top of that, her community events that she planned for our group were so much fun whether it was a day trip to the beach, going to dinner, or attractions like park guell. The internship on the other hand was a great work experience, and I learned so much about working abroad.

I had a great time in Berlin! I got to experience living on my own for the first time in a brand new city. Learn how to use public transportation, save money, take care of myself, and learn new things from my internship.

I will always be an advocate to intern or study abroad. No matter where you choose to go, you will leave with your life changed. The Intern Group is a reputable, reliable choice. Dublin is a great city to explore and work in, especially if you like more mid-size and communal cities. What you put into the program is what you get out, so explore and experience all you can. There’s a lot to do in Dublin, as you have both of best worlds, being by the city and sea. As an avid ocean lover, I was able to be in the ocean, but also get my city girl on which I loved. Adam and Laura were our ECs here in Dublin. They were great in coordinating social plans while getting accustomed to Dublin and if we had any questions, they were very supportive.

This internship abroad is the kind of experience that changes how you see yourself. Away from the usual routines and support systems back home, you’re forced to figure things out on your own, and that’s where the real growth happens. Navigating a new place, solving problems solo, building a routine from scratch: it teaches you more about independence than any classroom ever could. The program also gives you room to actually test out a career path instead of just guessing at it. You get to try the work firsthand and see what genuinely clicks. What stands out most is the community and the events. Everyone’s going through the same adjustment, which creates a natural closeness. People get it, and they show up for each other, which makes the hard parts a lot easier to handle. Overall, a genuinely worthwhile experience. Highly recommend.

This experience gave me so much. During my internship, I learned to see things from different perspectives and to try new things without fear also because the people I worked with were very kind, helpful and supportive. I'm very grateful for everything and experiences like this are very important because if you think that you have an open mind like this one helps to think outside the box and learn how to solve problems and new challenges without fear!

London was the most unrealistic experience for me! The work-life balance culture, dressing, food, lifestyle, people everything seemed like a fantasy. These 2 months are something I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Never did I think I would get to meet such great people, eat all this food, and party as I've never done before! The experience coordinators were the absolute best. They ensured we had a great time, did not make us feel like we were away from home, and most importantly, they were our friends! We talked, ate, and went out together like we've known each other since forever. Honestly, I wasn't sure about this entire experience, but once I got here, oh boy, I would give my heart and soul for this to just be my reality. My opinion, be unsure, dream unrealistically, spend that money, overthink it, but take that step and go for it, because what's the worst that could happen?

I had one of the best time of my life! The internship has helped me to grow both personally and professionally and I will be forever grateful to The Intern Group for the opportunity given. Not only the work environment was fantastic, but also the moments spent with my flatmates made a difference in this experience

The program itself was amazing. I had a great placement. Work life is very fun and chill, but also enough work where I was learning a great amount. The program has a ton of opportunities to get together and do cool trips, but it also gives you the free freedom to travel. The two coordinators were awesome. Honestly made us feel so comfortable being in Barcelona.

I couldn’t have asked for a better program to join. Everyone was so amazing and our program leaders were the absolute best and the events were extremely fun. I was placed in the best internship I could have asked for.

Living and working on the other side of the world in a completely different culture is not the easiest thing in the world. Beyond Academy made this transition as smooth as possible, and made sure that I was safe and accounted for frequently throughout my two months there.

My global internship experience in Madrid, Spain, with Absolute Internship made my summer unforgettable! Absolute provided an easy transition during the travel process and the start of my internship experience. The internship placement process was smooth and provided professional and cultural growth.

Berlin is an amazing city. The Base, where we lived, was very comfortable. Beyond was great at having activities and initiating meet ups with the other interns. I loved the atmosphere of Berlin. I felt that it had a very gritty, artistic vibe to it which I really enjoyed.

I had an amazing time doing the 8-week program with Absolute Internship. I had the opportunity to travel to three different countries during my program and got to explore all over Spain. I met amazing people and I am very grateful for the experience and memories made throughout this internship.

My internship with The Intern Group was a very valuable experience for me, both personally and professionally. As this was my first experience working in the industry, I wasn’t completely sure what to expect, but I was able to adapt to the working environment much more easily than I thought. One of the most valuable parts of this experience was that it made me think more seriously about the career path I would like to follow in the future. There are so many different areas and opportunities within computer science and technology, and having the chance to gain real work experience helped me better understand what kind of work I enjoy, what I am good at, and what might suit me best in the future. I also had the opportunity to meet new people, experience a different working environment, and learn many things outside of my university studies. I am especially grateful to my workplace mentors, who were incredibly patient, supportive, and welcoming throughout my internship. They always took the time to help me whenever I had questions or was unsure about something. Everything was explained to me in great detail, and I was guided through unfamiliar tasks in a way that helped me genuinely understand what I was doing. Having such supportive mentors made it much easier for me to learn, build my confidence, and feel comfortable in my first professional working environment. I also really appreciated all the events and activities organised by The Intern Group. I genuinely enjoyed every event I attended, and they made the whole experience even more memorable and enjoyable. They were also a great opportunity to meet and spend time with people from different backgrounds and make new connections. I am very thankful to The Intern Group team for organising them and for always being so supportive throughout my time here. Overall, I am very grateful for this experience and for everyone who contributed to it. I feel like I am leaving with a clearer idea of my future career, new experiences, new connections, and great memories. Thank you to everyone who made this experience so positive!

I had such a wonderful experience working at a Whiskey Distillery in Dublin. The staff were all so genuinely nice and made me feel right at home. Rotating through the cafe, reception, and the back bar allowed me to understand all the different phases of a working distillery, and meeting the bosses was a great addition to the program. Dublin attracts so much tourism, I really enjoyed meeting so many different people from all over the world at my work. It felt like a true mix of diversity, which allowed me to learn so many unique things from everyone I encountered. I was also incredibly glad to use my Mandarin skills to help out. On my days off, I had the best time exploring Dublin, traveling around Ireland, and adventuring into other European countries. It was a beautiful journey both professionally and personally!