International Internships in Madrid

I went into this internship looking to better understand what kind of work I would be doing in my path and I found that. I also wanted to experience life abroad which I loved and I wanted to make great friends, which I did. everything i set out to do, I accomplished.

My 10 week program was an absolutely life-changing time of my life. Before choosing this program, I wanted a whole cultural experience, I wanted something new and I wanted to see a different side of the world. I had no expectations of what I was going to experience in Spain; I knew nothing about it, I didn't know how to speak Spanish, and I knew nobody going into it; and yet I can say this was the most life-changing experience I have had. I was placed with INES Ingenieros Consultores, a fascinating engineering consultancy with a specialisation in transport infrastructure and restoring built heritage. I was tasked to assist them with flood modelling for 4 different regions around Spain. The country is quite known for their flooding from its mountainous geography so it was quite fascinating to see the focus on construction and infrastructure assets. The company also showed me the different projects they worked on and different contracts they have with clients regarding asset management, consulting, and design services which was very insightful. My co-workers were very friendly and advised me a few times with their day-to-day lives and general travelling around Spain. My mentor was very smart and experienced in his field and I learnt a lot from his teachings. Overall the work was a 10/10 experience, it's a vast contrast to the work I've experienced in Australia and I feel quite accomplished having done this internship. I felt motivated most days to come into work and learn from the opportunities they provided me with. From visiting the historical villages and getting to know different people from various backgrounds, this program was an absolute pleasure for organising events to meet other interns and see the main parts of Madrid. The organisers were extremely helpful and provided valuable insights with travelling. I've made lifelong global friends with this program with different backgrounds, and absolutely want to visit their home countries. I was very happy with the hospitality provided by this program. In terms of Spain itself, it was an absolutely insightful experience to travel around the country. Weekends were an opportunity to explore different cities around Spain, to see its unique landscapes and explore the night-life of Madrid. Madrid is quite famous for its night-life, and its no disappointment; the streets felt safe, the music and culture is lively, and I'm quite happy to have seen this. For an adventurous and outdoorsy person, Spain is definitely on top of the list to visit. Hiking is plentiful and quite rewarding in this country. From the famous Picos de Europa, Pyrenees Mountains on the French border, and even mountains just one hour north of Madrid; just the experiences were absolute eye gazing moments. The landscapes were lively and the animal-life was abundant even during the late-winter/early-spring season. For a historical and cultural person, everywhere in Spain is abundant with life and heritage. Stone structures are preserved throughout time, religion is a big part of Spain, and the food is most Spanish the further away from the city you go (from my experience at least). Overall, this solo adventure will forever be a big part of me and will sit deep in my heart. A huge thank you to The Intern Group Madrid Team for giving me this opportunity, for organising housing, events, and the internship itself; I will be forever grateful for the memories I've made on this journey and I will always want to return. It is such a lively country, suitable for almost everyone, and there will always be something to do in Spain. Hasta luego, España!

My experience with The Intern Group in Madrid fully met my expectations, and I am leaving the city incredibly happy and grateful for everything I experienced. From a professional perspective, as an architecture student, one of my main concerns was finding an internship that truly matched my field of study. The Intern Group successfully placed me in a company that was well aligned with my academic background and professional interests. The company was relatively small, which, in my opinion, turned out to be a great advantage. On a daily basis, I received very personalized feedback on my work, and the work environment felt close and supportive. I never felt like “just another intern,” but rather like a valued member of the team. Regarding the language aspect, it was not a problem for me since Spanish is my first language and my internship was conducted in Spanish. However, the social side of the program was mainly in English, as interns come from all over the world. This actually became a great opportunity for me to practice and improve my English in a very natural way, which I truly appreciated. As for the accommodation, it was very good overall. The location was really good, well connected to public transportation and conveniently situated. One important thing to consider is that you may share the apartment not only with other interns from The Intern Group, but also with external tenants. If you are not used to living with people you don’t know, this is something to keep in mind. That being said, in my personal experience, living with other people was very positive. Living with other interns from the program also created a sense of community and support, it felt reassuring to have people going through the same experience under the same roof. Socially, I would say this is one of the strongest aspects of the program. There were always activities organized throughout the week, which made it very easy to meet other interns. I am leaving Madrid with great friendships and connections with people from all over the world, which is something I truly value. In conclusion, this is a very complete experience in all aspects, professional, personal, and social. I would definitely recommend it to anyone considering doing an international internship. It has been an enriching experience that I will always look back on with appreciation.