What inspired you to work for Intern Abroad HQ?
I spent 15 years working in social services, driven by a deep passion for helping young people achieve their goals. With a love for travel and cultural exchange, I was naturally drawn to my current role at Intern Abroad HQ. I truly enjoy the multicultural aspect of my work - interacting with interns from around the globe - and find it incredibly rewarding to support them in reaching both their professional and personal aspirations through international internships.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Traveling to my internship destinations to meet the local coordinators & interns, working with a multicultural team, and supporting interns in achieving their goals via an internship. There's nothing more rewarding than being able to walk someone from an enquiry stage all the way to the point where they complete their internship.
Robben Island - South Africa
What advice would you give your pre-travel self?
Plan ahead, but stay flexible. Embrace the experience with an open mind, and be ready to adapt to a different lifestyle - whether that’s the culture, environment, food, people, or climate. Show respect for other cultures and beliefs, maintain professionalism, demonstrate a strong work ethic, and take responsibility for your actions. Remember, travel expands your perspective, and you’ll return home a changed person - more aware, more adaptable, and more empowered.
Why should someone choose Intern Abroad HQ over competitors?
Intern Abroad HQ stands out because we offer a unique blend of affordability, flexibility, and meaningful impact. Our internships are designed to be accessible without compromising on quality, with start dates year-round and programs that cater to a wide range of academic and career interests. We focus not just on placing interns, but on personal and professional development—through guided reflection, support from experienced coordinators, and an emphasis on cultural immersion. With Intern Abroad HQ, participants don’t just gain internship experience - they grow as individuals, build global connections, and return home with a broader worldview and a stronger sense of purpose. In addition to this, we offer affordable remote and international internships with over 330 programs across 26 countries, ranging from 2 to 24 weeks. Earn academic credit while gaining hands-on experience. As a Certified B Corporation and 100% carbon-neutral organization, we’re committed to providing ethical, locally-driven internships that create meaningful, mutual benefits for both interns and host organizations.
What is your organization's mission, and how do you continue to work toward it?
Our mission at Intern Abroad HQ is to empower young people through affordable, accessible, and impactful international internships that foster personal and professional growth. We believe that experiential learning and cross-cultural exchange are powerful tools for shaping globally-minded & responsible citizens.
To achieve this, we offer a range of internship programs across diverse fields and destinations, ensuring they are flexible, inclusive, and aligned with real-world needs. We also provide structured support - before, during, and after the internship, and through personalized guidance, reflective learning resources, and a commitment to ethical, community-centered partnerships. Every step of the way, we aim to create transformative experiences that go far beyond the internship experience.
Street in Seoul (South Korea)
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
The experience of a lifetime!
An international internship offers so much more than just work experience - it’s a powerful stepping stone for your personal and professional journey.
Here’s what you can gain from an internship:
- A smoother transition from study to the working world
- Enhanced skills and industry-specific knowledge
- A deeper understanding of a particular career path or sector
- Valuable industry contacts and networking opportunities
- Exposure to roles and career options you may not have considered before
- First-hand insight into how organizations operate and the challenges they face
- Real-world examples and experiences to draw on in future job interviews
Whether you're clarifying your career direction or building a global resume, an internship abroad can open doors, broaden your perspective, and leave a lasting impact.
How do you help support participants?
There are basically three layers of support for you as an intern:
- I’m the Program Manager for our Australia, South Africa, South Korea & Japan internships, and I will be supporting you for your preparation steps before you start your internship.
- The local coordinators in your internship destination are responsible for sourcing your placement and accommodation. They will also be the team to provide you with in-country support, such as your airport pick-up.
- Finally, you have your internship supervisor who will be working alongside you in your host organization, and this person will be there to guide, support, and mentor you in your daily tasks during your internship.
If you could participate in one of your organization's programs, where would you go and what would you do?
I started my career in hospitality, so I'd love to visit South Korea to participate in the Tourism & Hospitality internships in Seoul. Tourism & Hospitality is a fun, dynamic, and ever-evolving industry with so much to learn as it focuses on different areas. I would definitely want to immerse myself in the Korean culture and polish up on my Korean language skills, and this would be a great opportunity to do it.
Wearing a traditional hanbok at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul (South Korea)
What questions do participants often ask you, and how do you typically respond?
Q: When are your start dates?
- A: We have start dates every Monday (for most destinations) or several times per month. The internships are not available during a public holiday or when the placements are at capacity.
Q: How far in advance should I apply and pay the deposit?
- A: ASAP! This is because placements are subject to availability and fill up quickly - this is often the case during peak periods like summer, as it's our busiest booking period of the entire year, and many interns make plans way in advance. If you plan far ahead, you might also be eligible to pay your Program Fees via installments. It’s often cheaper to book flights in advance as well for the abroad internships, so it definitely pays to plan way in advance.
Q: Can I earn academic credits via my internship?
- A: Yes - this is possible! Please check out the link for more details.
Q: I have no or little experience. Can I still do an internship?
- A: Most of our interns are undergraduate students, and our internships are specially designed to accommodate an immersive learning experience for those with little or no experience. We encourage interns to submit an application as an expression of interest so that we can review their application. And if we feel that they might not be a suitable fit for the program that they've applied for, we can recommend other alternative internships that will best suit their educational background, skills and experience.
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
With technological advancements in travel & communication, the world has now become a globalized village. It is important to travel abroad and experience new cultures as this broadens one's perspective beyond the familiar, challenges one's assumptions, helps to cultivate respect & empathy towards other cultures & beliefs, and builds bridges.
From personal experience, my life changed forever when I left to study in London when I was 19 on my own. I was pushed out of my comfort zone to navigate a new environment, a different lifestyle, a colder climate, and different food than what I was normally used to. It was quite scary at the beginning, being so far away from family in a foreign country, but this experience was invaluable, for it made me very independent and resilient, and it taught me life skills that I would have never learned in a classroom or textbook. This enriched my life so much that I was confident enough to migrate to New Zealand when I was in my 30s, all on my own.
Experiencing different ways of life, traditions, and viewpoints not only enriches one's personal growth but also equips one with the adaptability and open-mindedness needed in today’s interconnected world. Ultimately, travel cultivates a deeper appreciation for diversity, encourages meaningful connections across borders, and shapes more globally conscious and compassionate individuals.
Kimono experience in Tokyo (Japan)
Why do you think learning a new language is important?
Learning a new language helps to bridge any cultural barriers in today's globalized world. It opens you to a new culture where you will get to understand someone else's culture in terms of their way of thinking, culture & customs, food, history, art, geography, architecture, and more. You don't just have a language - you embrace the richness of a particular society or civilization (some that might even be thousands of years old).
Learning a new language is important because it broadens perspectives and opportunities, and enhances communication, allowing you to connect more deeply with people from different backgrounds and build meaningful relationships.
Beyond practical benefits like career advancement and travel, language learning also sharpens cognitive skills, improves problem-solving, and boosts confidence. I've travelled a lot and being able to understand another language has helped me tremendously when I want to ask for directions in Korean, order food in Mandarin, or communicate with a taxi driver in Malay.
Ultimately, it fosters greater empathy and cultural understanding, helping you navigate and contribute to an increasingly globalized world.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
For me, it goes beyond visiting a new place or seeing the touristy spots. Meaningful travel is about immersing in a new culture, respecting a different custom, connecting with the locals, and gaining an in-depth understanding of the world beyond one's own backyard. To me, meaningful travel means approaching each experience with curiosity and respect, being open to learning and growth, and leaving a positive impact on the communities one visits. It’s about creating authentic memories that broaden one's perspective, challenge one's assumptions, and inspire personal transformation & inner growth from within.
