The Value of International Internships cannot be argued hence it provides incalculable value in the modern world. With an increasingly connected world, the job market is now more competitive than ever. Attending a university and graduating in your class may not be enough to get the job of your dreams, and training abroad may be a major competitive advantage for students, graduates, and young professionals.
Having experience in training is a great way to show future employers that you have become involved in your chosen field of work. However, training abroad will help you stand out from the crowd as someone who has challenged themselves in a new environment.
Benefits/ Value of International Internships
You may ask yourself why training abroad is so important. It is true that internal training in the states can be of tremendous value, training abroad and living in another culture is very attractive to employers seeking to hire new people. Not only is the academic component of conducting important international training, overseas training will also enrich and fulfill personal life that will ultimately remain with you for the rest of your life.
- It makes your CV unique
Gaining professional experience in another country clearly sets you apart from Resten, an increasingly competitive global job market. Employers really want to get hands-on experience and know-how potential new employees challenge themselves. Only a few students and graduates choose to do internships abroad. Show confidence, initiative and interpersonal skills. These are all important features that any potential employer will look for in any professional field.
- Improve foreign language skills
Whether you’re fluent or just able to capture the basics, your newly improved language skills will make you more marketable to future employers. Training abroad and full cultural assimilation is the best way to speak fluently in a second language, and you will be able to engage yourself in the local community and get to know the locals who live in your host country, leading to a unique and authentic experience like a citizen rather than a visitor. Internships with a company or organization in another country give you a simple choice but to speak, practice and master the language of the host country daily, and fully immerse themselves in a foreign office.
- Personal, academic and professional growth
Jumping into a new culture is not an easy thing, but a worthy challenge. Great things happen outside the comfort zones. You will push the boundaries of what you are capable of and grow in independence, giving you the confidence to face even greater challenges in the future. Intercultural learning experiences lead to personal, academic and professional development.
- Expand your global network
International training will give you the opportunity to build a global network. This can bring you an entirely new network and influential industry experts. You will also bring together like-minded individuals from all over the world who will have the same experience that you have, which can lead to lifelong friendships, which is invaluable to your future. Most importantly, you will become a master in communicating and making friends with people from all walks of life – invaluable assets.
- Job evaluation
The best way to try and try out a career without serious commitment is through overseas training. You can get an insight into what it will be like to work in the industry and personally evaluate yourself to see if you are totally fit. Even if you decide that the career or industry is not right for you, you will learn a whole host of transferable skills that will make a great impression of any potential employer in the future, and you will have a clearer idea of where you see yourself in the future.
- Global-View
Experience abroad experience will also broaden your understanding across cultures, increase your global awareness and understand the impact of global trends on local economies and communities, and this will enable you to better understand cultural values and beliefs in a new context and also understand and respect others.
- Earn academic credit and achieve academic goals
Most universities will accept an internship abroad to support your academic credit and can also form part of your university thesis. So, if you’re still in college, you can link your international coaching experience to your life and academic goals.
In conclusion, The Value of International Internships clearly demonstrates the drive, passion, desire to break comfort zones, and all the attributes that will take anyone away in the global job market. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to develop your personal and professional skills and will definitely make you more marketable to future employers.
How to find International Internship opportunities
There are hundreds of international training resources. In universities, the administrative offices of individual academic departments and professional service centers will be the first avenues for exploration, followed by international relations or foreign affairs offices. Old websites, social media, and networks are valuable tools as well.
NewBalanceJobs.com have compiled a short list of some other noteworthy International Internship resources (note: most of these fees are charged for their services):
AIESEC – Manages students and is present in more than 100 countries. This fee-paying organization provides 60,000 members a year an opportunity to live and work in foreign countries in the fields of administration, technology, education and development.
IAESTE – Founded in 1948 and located in over 80 countries, this program is open to students of science, engineering, technology and applied arts level students in the second year of study and above.
KOPRA – a non-profit entity that manages over 500 internships focused on East Asia.
Leonardo da Vinci program – run by the European Commission as part of a lifelong learning program, this provides financial support to EU students participating in training in other EU countries.
CIEE – a non-profit, non-governmental organization that provides programs for international students, fresh graduates, and professionals working as part of the US government’s J-1 exchange visitor program for eligible international candidates for up to 18 months.