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Comments 25

Asley Patricia4mo ago

Asley Patricia4mo ago

The internship is the most important part of getting practical experience building own career and professional networking and enhancing skills.

The internship is the most important part of getting practical experience building own career and professional networking and enhancing skills.

Reply

Regina Cardoso4mo ago

Regina Cardoso4mo ago

I'm not young anymore and I'm starting over. I think it will be difficult to get an internship, but I am willing to try.

I'm not young anymore and I'm starting over. I think it will be difficult to get an internship, but I am willing to try.

Reply

Paula Olguín Ponce4mo ago

Paula Olguín Ponce4mo ago

It's always easier if you are still a student, in this case your school provides an agreement.

It's always easier if you are still a student, in this case your school provides an agreement.

Reply

Yuliya Syadro4mo ago

Yuliya Syadro4mo ago

I have an internship experience throughout the year in the parliament of my country - the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The internship helped to understand in what direction I should develop myself, what skills I still need to acquire and gave the most valuable experience of real work in politics. Such an experience can not be obtained by studying literature, it can only be seen from the inside.

I have an internship experience throughout the year in the parliament of my country - the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The internship helped to understand in what direction I should develop myself, what skills I still need to acquire and gave the most valuable experience of real work in politics. Such an experience can not be obtained by studying literature, it can only be seen from the inside.

Reply

Emin Yigit Koyuncuoglu4mo ago

Emin Yigit Koyuncuoglu4mo ago

Especially mobility programmes made internship abroad easier than before and it is definitely should be experienced in order to practice in your field and get involve in a different culture than yours.

Especially mobility programmes made internship abroad easier than before and it is definitely should be experienced in order to practice in your field and get involve in a different culture than yours.

Reply

Md Moniruzzaman4mo ago

Md Moniruzzaman4mo ago

Really important for any job perspective

Really important for any job perspective

Reply

vera pitzalis4mo ago

vera pitzalis4mo ago

Thanks a million for this very helpful and detailed article!!

Thanks a million for this very helpful and detailed article!!

Reply

Sara Bouabdeli4mo ago

Sara Bouabdeli4mo ago

Thank you for the article!

Thank you for the article!

Reply

Najim Makran4mo ago

Najim Makran4mo ago

Looking for new opportunities, you must be open minded about doing internship

Looking for new opportunities, you must be open minded about doing internship

Reply

Unai Arregui4mo ago

Unai Arregui4mo ago

I totally agree with the content in this article but I will farther suggest not only focusing on an internship (as many people can not get 1) but also to TRAVEL and look for opportunities in the country you are visiting. Last years I have been traveling around Australia and Asia and I have learnt so many things from different jobs that changed my life. They changed the way I was thinking and therefore change the way I face work now. I have many competences to adapt to any job and try to excel it for the shake of the organization you work for or even your own business. Everyone should get out of the comfort zone and evolve.

I totally agree with the content in this article but I will farther suggest not only focusing on an internship (as many people can not get 1) but also to TRAVEL and look for opportunities in the country you are visiting. Last years I have been traveling around Australia and Asia and I have learnt so many things from different jobs that changed my life. They changed the way I was thinking and therefore change the way I face work now. I have many competences to adapt to any job and try to excel it for the shake of the organization you work for or even your own business. Everyone should get out of the comfort zone and evolve.

Reply

cristina gadaleta4mo ago

cristina gadaleta4mo ago

I agree! i have just finished my internship abroad and i think it was one ofthe best experience of my life!

I agree! i have just finished my internship abroad and i think it was one ofthe best experience of my life!

Reply

Pouya Sarrafan4mo ago

Pouya Sarrafan4mo ago

Great document!!

Great document!!

Reply

L'djida Bitam4mo ago

L'djida Bitam4mo ago

An internship abroad is a great opportunity to gain a work experience in an international environment. you've gotta learn a job but also a language, a culture. it shows that you are capable of working with different languages and people from different parts of the world and ye achieve a good job. Thus, flexibility

An internship abroad is a great opportunity to gain a work experience in an international environment. you've gotta learn a job but also a language, a culture. it shows that you are capable of working with different languages and people from different parts of the world and ye achieve a good job. Thus, flexibility

Reply

Yasin Aliyev4mo ago

Yasin Aliyev4mo ago

Thanks for the article. I think the best time for the internship is the university years. At that time the student become compatible to start a strong career just after graduating university.

Thanks for the article. I think the best time for the internship is the university years. At that time the student become compatible to start a strong career just after graduating university.

Reply

mithun nair4mo ago

mithun nair4mo ago

thanks fot the usefull info

thanks fot the usefull info

Reply

Danielle Easton4mo ago

Danielle Easton4mo ago

Great advice. I definitely think going abroad to undertake an internship is a great way to get you out of your comfort zone and see the reality of the working world, which is definitely not how you thought it would be at university! It is also a fantastic way to learn or improve any language skills as well as make friends from all over the world.

Great advice. I definitely think going abroad to undertake an internship is a great way to get you out of your comfort zone and see the reality of the working world, which is definitely not how you thought it would be at university! It is also a fantastic way to learn or improve any language skills as well as make friends from all over the world.

Reply

Rodrigo Francisco Maia4mo ago

Rodrigo Francisco Maia4mo ago

Do something abroad is a unique experience, it change life.

Do something abroad is a unique experience, it change life.

Reply

Vinicius Veroneze4mo ago

Vinicius Veroneze4mo ago

Outstanding text. Thanks!!

Outstanding text. Thanks!!

Reply

Edoardo Vecchio4mo ago

Edoardo Vecchio4mo ago

During an internship abroad, you will be challenged to adapt both personally and professionally, and the payoff of this adaptation will be enormous. Intercultural communication is a vitally important part of the modern professional world, so employers will drool over the fact that you have already undertaken an internship abroad, and therefore have experience in a multicultural environment.

During an internship abroad, you will be challenged to adapt both personally and professionally, and the payoff of this adaptation will be enormous. Intercultural communication is a vitally important part of the modern professional world, so employers will drool over the fact that you have already undertaken an internship abroad, and therefore have experience in a multicultural environment.

Reply

Ali Brohi4mo ago

Ali Brohi4mo ago

True that!

True that!

Reply

Tiago Martins4mo ago

Tiago Martins4mo ago

Totally agree. Being outside of our confort zone make us expand.

Totally agree. Being outside of our confort zone make us expand.

Reply

Rupert Gibson4mo ago

Rupert Gibson4mo ago

awesome!

awesome!

Reply

Salvatore Minnella4mo ago

Salvatore Minnella4mo ago

I think that the most important things for a job is the practice,and why not do this in a foreign country,studying languages and learn the culture of the place for example!

I think that the most important things for a job is the practice,and why not do this in a foreign country,studying languages and learn the culture of the place for example!

Reply

Marina Michielin4mo ago

Marina Michielin4mo ago

Living and working abroad was one of the best experience of my life. Adapting to the new culture gave me a better understanding of my own, and made me more prepair to deal with the Challenges.

Living and working abroad was one of the best experience of my life. Adapting to the new culture gave me a better understanding of my own, and made me more prepair to deal with the Challenges.

Reply

Alfiia Mukhametova4mo ago

Alfiia Mukhametova4mo ago

Useful information

Useful information

Reply

The Importance of Completing an Internship Abroad

October 31, 2024 min read

Many people feel that finishing university with a good grade is enough to see them sail happily into their dream job

It can come as a bit of a shock when you realise you aren’t as employable as you thought you were. The days of receiving no positive responses turn into weeks and your confidence drops. As a result, your motivation plummets too, and you’re wondering what on earth is wrong with you. Your CV is good, your cover letter is on point and your grades are good; but the missing, and often most important piece of the puzzle is experience.

At this, perfectly natural stage, applying to internships is something you should really consider doing. The likelihood is that what you have in qualifications, you lack in practice, and it’s a stage that many (if not most) of us go through. In reality education and qualifications are boxes that all of the candidates applying for the position will have ticked, and in an increasingly competitive world, experience is everything.

Education tells you very little about an individual, and innovation, creativity and ability to adapt are much more valuable than the traditional skills in the modern day job market. This is due, partially, to the erratic nature of modern business itself. 

Things change very quickly and if companies can’t adapt with it then they are swiftly forgotten – look at Nokia

What is an internship?

An internship is different from a placement or work experience, for example, in that it can last between anywhere from 4 weeks to a year. A placement, such as a year in industry or a “sandwich year”, generally lasts a full year and occurs while the individual is still in university education.

An internship can be completed before the end of a university degree too, but people often opt to do a summer internship in this case.  Some are paid, but many aren’t, and those that are, are often paid at a much lower rate than the company would typically offer.

Nowadays the concept of the internship is being used as a kind of extended interview, or trial period, for companies to pick and choose the best interns too take on.

Advantages 

The most obvious benefit of completing an internship is the experience that it offers. This can be key exposure to the world of work and should give you that workplace confidence that is essential and yet an awkward thing to learn.

Internships can also be perfect sources for vital connections – make sure your LinkedIn profile looks good ahead of your first day! An internship offers you the chance to gain mentors, references and relationships with people in a parallel situation.

Disadvantages 

At the other end of the scale, there are downsides to doing an internship. The title of Intern itself is not exactly a desirable one and there is the danger of being given the menial tasks that nobody else wants to do. 

Also, many internships are unpaid, so you will have to be able to support yourself financially. Think of them as paying for experience, so don’t pay for experience you won’t want or use. If the internship is only part-time then maybe you can get a part-time job to pay the bills, but money will be tight and you can kiss goodbye to any free time!

To accept a full-time, unpaid internship you have to be 100% sure that it is vital for your career, especially if money is tight and you will have to support yourself. It should be a smart investment of your time. 

Do I need to do an internship?

An internship is not necessarily an essential step on the path to getting a job, but it is fast becoming so. But if that job is your dream job, the chances are that it’s many other people’s dream job too, and competition will be high! 

Of course it depends on the industry, but in a climate where experience trumps qualifications, an internship is always worth considering as an option. It doesn’t mean that you’re settling for less than your potential, you are bettering yourself and increasing your employability.

Internships abroad

Doing an internship abroad not only shows that you have gained experience in your desired field of work, but countless other things too. There are numerous reasons why people move abroad, and it is something that you should really consider if you want to dramatically boost your employability. Moving abroad to gain experience shows independence, confidence, adaptability, cultural awareness and bravery, things that a normal internship in your home city would not demonstrate. You’ve shown that you are a risk taker and not afraid to adapt and innovate.

It also provides you with the ideal opportunity to develop skills such as languages. Speaking foreign languages is more highly valued than ever and it could be the deciding factor between you and the other candidate who gets to the final interview stage. In the era we live in, it is possible to learn languages from your bedroom, but the most effective, swift and enjoyable method of learning is to immerse yourself in the culture.

Looking for an internship can be tough in itself, but deciding where you want to do it is becoming an increasingly important question that young people are asking themselves too.

Do you have any experience or advice concerning internships? Share them below – they could help someone out!

About Lucyna Polok

Lucyna is a content creator specialising in the areas of career advice, expat life, and travel. As a 3-time expat and an avid traveller, she uses her own experience to share unique tips in Europe Language Jobs' articles. A writer by day and a reader by night, she lives and breathes written content.

Lucyna is a content creator specialising in the areas of career advice, expat life, and travel. As a 3-time expat and an avid traveller, she uses her own experience to share unique tips in Europe Language Jobs' articles. A writer by day and a reader by night, she lives and breathes written content.

Comments 25

Asley Patricia4mo ago

Asley Patricia4mo ago

The internship is the most important part of getting practical experience building own career and professional networking and enhancing skills.

The internship is the most important part of getting practical experience building own career and professional networking and enhancing skills.

Reply

Regina Cardoso4mo ago

Regina Cardoso4mo ago

I'm not young anymore and I'm starting over. I think it will be difficult to get an internship, but I am willing to try.

I'm not young anymore and I'm starting over. I think it will be difficult to get an internship, but I am willing to try.

Reply

Paula Olguín Ponce4mo ago

Paula Olguín Ponce4mo ago

It's always easier if you are still a student, in this case your school provides an agreement.

It's always easier if you are still a student, in this case your school provides an agreement.

Reply

Yuliya Syadro4mo ago

Yuliya Syadro4mo ago

I have an internship experience throughout the year in the parliament of my country - the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The internship helped to understand in what direction I should develop myself, what skills I still need to acquire and gave the most valuable experience of real work in politics. Such an experience can not be obtained by studying literature, it can only be seen from the inside.

I have an internship experience throughout the year in the parliament of my country - the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The internship helped to understand in what direction I should develop myself, what skills I still need to acquire and gave the most valuable experience of real work in politics. Such an experience can not be obtained by studying literature, it can only be seen from the inside.

Reply

Emin Yigit Koyuncuoglu4mo ago

Emin Yigit Koyuncuoglu4mo ago

Especially mobility programmes made internship abroad easier than before and it is definitely should be experienced in order to practice in your field and get involve in a different culture than yours.

Especially mobility programmes made internship abroad easier than before and it is definitely should be experienced in order to practice in your field and get involve in a different culture than yours.

Reply

Md Moniruzzaman4mo ago

Md Moniruzzaman4mo ago

Really important for any job perspective

Really important for any job perspective

Reply

vera pitzalis4mo ago

vera pitzalis4mo ago

Thanks a million for this very helpful and detailed article!!

Thanks a million for this very helpful and detailed article!!

Reply

Sara Bouabdeli4mo ago

Sara Bouabdeli4mo ago

Thank you for the article!

Thank you for the article!

Reply

Najim Makran4mo ago

Najim Makran4mo ago

Looking for new opportunities, you must be open minded about doing internship

Looking for new opportunities, you must be open minded about doing internship

Reply

Unai Arregui4mo ago

Unai Arregui4mo ago

I totally agree with the content in this article but I will farther suggest not only focusing on an internship (as many people can not get 1) but also to TRAVEL and look for opportunities in the country you are visiting. Last years I have been traveling around Australia and Asia and I have learnt so many things from different jobs that changed my life. They changed the way I was thinking and therefore change the way I face work now. I have many competences to adapt to any job and try to excel it for the shake of the organization you work for or even your own business. Everyone should get out of the comfort zone and evolve.

I totally agree with the content in this article but I will farther suggest not only focusing on an internship (as many people can not get 1) but also to TRAVEL and look for opportunities in the country you are visiting. Last years I have been traveling around Australia and Asia and I have learnt so many things from different jobs that changed my life. They changed the way I was thinking and therefore change the way I face work now. I have many competences to adapt to any job and try to excel it for the shake of the organization you work for or even your own business. Everyone should get out of the comfort zone and evolve.

Reply

cristina gadaleta4mo ago

cristina gadaleta4mo ago

I agree! i have just finished my internship abroad and i think it was one ofthe best experience of my life!

I agree! i have just finished my internship abroad and i think it was one ofthe best experience of my life!

Reply

Pouya Sarrafan4mo ago

Pouya Sarrafan4mo ago

Great document!!

Great document!!

Reply

L'djida Bitam4mo ago

L'djida Bitam4mo ago

An internship abroad is a great opportunity to gain a work experience in an international environment. you've gotta learn a job but also a language, a culture. it shows that you are capable of working with different languages and people from different parts of the world and ye achieve a good job. Thus, flexibility

An internship abroad is a great opportunity to gain a work experience in an international environment. you've gotta learn a job but also a language, a culture. it shows that you are capable of working with different languages and people from different parts of the world and ye achieve a good job. Thus, flexibility

Reply

Yasin Aliyev4mo ago

Yasin Aliyev4mo ago

Thanks for the article. I think the best time for the internship is the university years. At that time the student become compatible to start a strong career just after graduating university.

Thanks for the article. I think the best time for the internship is the university years. At that time the student become compatible to start a strong career just after graduating university.

Reply

mithun nair4mo ago

mithun nair4mo ago

thanks fot the usefull info

thanks fot the usefull info

Reply

Danielle Easton4mo ago

Danielle Easton4mo ago

Great advice. I definitely think going abroad to undertake an internship is a great way to get you out of your comfort zone and see the reality of the working world, which is definitely not how you thought it would be at university! It is also a fantastic way to learn or improve any language skills as well as make friends from all over the world.

Great advice. I definitely think going abroad to undertake an internship is a great way to get you out of your comfort zone and see the reality of the working world, which is definitely not how you thought it would be at university! It is also a fantastic way to learn or improve any language skills as well as make friends from all over the world.

Reply

Rodrigo Francisco Maia4mo ago

Rodrigo Francisco Maia4mo ago

Do something abroad is a unique experience, it change life.

Do something abroad is a unique experience, it change life.

Reply

Vinicius Veroneze4mo ago

Vinicius Veroneze4mo ago

Outstanding text. Thanks!!

Outstanding text. Thanks!!

Reply

Edoardo Vecchio4mo ago

Edoardo Vecchio4mo ago

During an internship abroad, you will be challenged to adapt both personally and professionally, and the payoff of this adaptation will be enormous. Intercultural communication is a vitally important part of the modern professional world, so employers will drool over the fact that you have already undertaken an internship abroad, and therefore have experience in a multicultural environment.

During an internship abroad, you will be challenged to adapt both personally and professionally, and the payoff of this adaptation will be enormous. Intercultural communication is a vitally important part of the modern professional world, so employers will drool over the fact that you have already undertaken an internship abroad, and therefore have experience in a multicultural environment.

Reply

Ali Brohi4mo ago

Ali Brohi4mo ago

True that!

True that!

Reply

Tiago Martins4mo ago

Tiago Martins4mo ago

Totally agree. Being outside of our confort zone make us expand.

Totally agree. Being outside of our confort zone make us expand.

Reply

Rupert Gibson4mo ago

Rupert Gibson4mo ago

awesome!

awesome!

Reply

Salvatore Minnella4mo ago

Salvatore Minnella4mo ago

I think that the most important things for a job is the practice,and why not do this in a foreign country,studying languages and learn the culture of the place for example!

I think that the most important things for a job is the practice,and why not do this in a foreign country,studying languages and learn the culture of the place for example!

Reply

Marina Michielin4mo ago

Marina Michielin4mo ago

Living and working abroad was one of the best experience of my life. Adapting to the new culture gave me a better understanding of my own, and made me more prepair to deal with the Challenges.

Living and working abroad was one of the best experience of my life. Adapting to the new culture gave me a better understanding of my own, and made me more prepair to deal with the Challenges.

Reply

Alfiia Mukhametova4mo ago

Alfiia Mukhametova4mo ago

Useful information

Useful information

Reply