Internships Abroad | Top 4 ones that you should know of!

Internships abroad | What do you need to know?

We live in the best day and age to make our dreams come true. Thanks to digitization, we can now condense the world to fit in the palm of our hands and access information at the push of a button. Hence, securing internships abroad has become more convenient nowadays. People often wonder what’s so special about an internship; after all, many perceive that it’s just making coffee for your seniors. 

What is an internship?

Debunking the myth of making coffee, internships are work experiences in an organization for a limited time. If your work and proficiency match the company’s requirements, they hire you full-time. All in all, after your internship, you will get a certificate that will help you secure a full-time position in different organizations.

Read on to find out everything you need to know about applying for internships abroad and how they benefit you!

Benefits of applying for internships abroad

As a matter of fact, gaining work experience outside your home country from early on in your career can give you the right tools to groom you into a cosmopolitan professional. Below are some advantages of applying for internships abroad –

• Practical experience to prepare you for a successful long-term career in the industry of your choice.
• Increased awareness of and exposure to diverse work cultures, people, and languages.
• Improved connections and increased confidence for future work opportunities.
• A more comprehensive range of career opportunities to choose from after an internship.
• As a matter of fact, you will get an edge over traditional study abroad programs.
• Additionally, you will earn extra college credits if you’re still studying.

How to apply for internships abroad?

While you might be excited about gaining international work experience, the process of applying might seem a little tedious. We are here to simplify it for you so that you focus on putting your best foot forward.

#1. Align your goals clearly

The foremost task is to figure out what you want to gain from your internships. Ask yourself questions like what skills you are looking to develop, are you looking at a specific country, how much time you can dedicate to the internship, etc. Answering these questions to yourself honestly will help you solidify your goals and simplify your search process.

#2. Market yourself well

Internships abroad are highly coveted, and you might have a ton of competition to beat. So, how to stand a class apart from the crowd? By letting your employer know how you can benefit them. Get yourself noticed by polishing and re-polishing your resume and cover letter to perfection. Learn to market yourself well and increase your chances of being chosen for your dream internship.

#3. Prepare yourself

While there is plenty to gain from international internships, there is also plenty to prepare for. Firstly, brush up on your foreign language skills if you go to a country where English isn’t the first language. Secondly, if it’s an unpaid internship, do you have the resources to sustain yourself through the course of the internship? Can you arrange for accommodation and stay away from home alone if it’s an offline internship? It’s always best to prepare yourself beforehand to avoid being caught off-guard.

#4. Send out several applications!

It’s good to get specific about what you want, but be careful not to lay all your eggs in one basket. In addition to this, keep your backup options ready if your internship application doesn’t go through in the place you’ve wanted.

#5. Practice for the interview

So, your application got selected, and you have an interview – that’s great. Pat yourself on the back, and start practicing for that interview. Additionally, prepare a basic script for the commonly asked questions. But keep your answers flexible so that you don’t sound rehearsed during the interview. Also, spend enough time learning about the company, its values, and the work culture.

Top 4 internships abroad that you must check out

Organization	About the internship	Eligibility criteria	Skills required	Payscale	Duration
World Bank Group, USA	Offers the Bank Internship Program (BIP) for students in the fields of Economics, Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, etc.	Undergraduate degree and are currently enrolled in a master’s or Ph.D. program. However, there is no age limit.	Computing skills and foreign language skills.	Hourly + travel allowances up to $3000. No accommodations.	Four weeks.
UNICEF, Seoul Liaison Office, South Korea	Gives exposure to UNICEF’s work in the UN system. As a matter of fact, students work under UNICEF staff.	Must be in a graduate program or have graduated within the past two years.	Research, communications, coordination, planning, analytical.	Monthly stipend. However, no travel allowances or accommodations.	Six months.
CERN, Switzerland	CERN offers short-term internship programs in various fields.	Undergraduate degree in environmental protection, scientific communication, applied physics, etc.	All in all, you need good knowledge of English and/or French.	Monthly stipend. However, no travel allowances or accommodations.	One-six months.
Google Cloud, France	It offers an apprenticeship where students understand the technical and business requirements and assist fellow Google sales teams.	Postgraduate in technical areas. Additionally, you will also need a work authorization in France.	You should be fluent in spoken English and French, have technical and communication skills, etc.	-NA-	Two years

Key takeaways

• All in all, if you are interested in doing internships abroad, you have to keep an eye on these organizations. 
• Because the vacancies fill up soon, make sure to fill out the forms at the earliest. 
• As a matter of fact, do your research, prepare your documentation, send out your applications, and sit tight! 
• As has been noted, international internship experiences are challenging, rewarding, and career-boosting. Make the best of it.
• In addition to this, if you need more information on the same, please get in touch with us!

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FAQs

Question 1: Will internships abroad guarantee a full-time offer letter?

Answer: It depends on the company you’re interning with. Most places offer short-term internships to students who will return to their enrolled courses after the internship. However, some places may extend permanent job offers based on your internship performance.

Question 2: Can I apply for an online internship abroad?

Answer: As a matter of fact, yes! Since the world is still recovering from the pandemic, several companies offer virtual internships to students globally. Some of these are Microsoft, Google, and Abbott.

Question 3: Will I get paid for the internship abroad?

Answer: All in all, most organizations do pay a monthly stipend to the interns. However, travel and accommodation expenses are not included in that.