Doing an internship abroad after you finish school is a great way to earn experience while completing your studies, though some people might find it to be a bit too ordinary for their post-school lives. If you’re one of those people and would like to turn the ordinary into EXTRAordinary, this article is for you.
We’re taking you through the 5 reasons you should consider doing an internship… abroad!
1. Personal Experience
The first thing you’re probably asking is “What’s in it for me?” And by that, you’re likely not referring to the professional or educational value that an internship abroad holds for you. Well, the first reason you should consider doing an internship abroad is 100% you-based: travelling abroad to do an internship gives you the opportunity to see a whole new country, experience interesting cultures, taste exciting new flavours, and meet brand new personalities. In other words, you’ll be gaining a very rich personal experience from doing an internship abroad. Imagine the things you’ll see!
2. Networking
So far, you’ve likely spent most of your time with the same people you grew up with in the same environment you grew up in. This means that you have quite a limited group of people in your network, which does not count to your advantage in a professional environment. Travelling abroad to do an internship will mean that you are (quite literally) expanding your network beyond country borders and, in doing so, adding a lot of new contacts to your professional network. Networking is super important in the job world as it can expose you to many different job opportunities as your career progresses. Imagine wanting to move to Spain in your thirties and being able to do so, because one of the people you met during your internship in France offered you a job at a Spanish company. That is what networking dreams are made of!
3. Academic Merit & Work Experience
This might sound not-so extraordinary, but trust us, when you are ready to build on your career, you’ll be grateful for this one. The truth is, that many universities and companies prefer to enrol/hire students who have completed an internship. This is because it shows them that a candidate is willing to learn and committed to doing so. If you’ve done an internship abroad, you have made yourself ten times more appealing on an academic and professional level to prospective academic institutions and companies. Basically, you get the chance to travel and up your employability in the process – what’s not to like?
4. Building a Variety of Skills
Internships are skill-building goldmines. If you get the opportunity to do one abroad, you’re setting yourself up for a great experience during which you will learn a massive amount of skills. Most people learn better by doing, and an internship is exactly that. You will be obtaining skills through practical work in a number of different departments/fields. You’ll also get the chance to do a variety of tasks that could give you a better idea of what it is you would like to take on as a career. Doing an internship abroad is like taste-testing different ice creams to see which one you prefer, only, that you’re not proofing it in your living room – you’re proofing it while standing next to the Colosseum. Imagine building a skillset… next to the Colosseum! Well, you can if you decide to do an internship abroad.
5. Brand New Viewpoint
If you’ve ever had the opportunity to travel to a new country, you’ll know that you returned home with a whole new perspective on the world and life in general. One can become so entrapped in the same routine in the same place, that you lose sight of the beautiful things around you. Getting the opportunity to see a new country while working with new people is an experience that will change your point of view on the world around you. You’ll also probably end up appreciating your own country more after travelling and living abroad. Absence really does make the heart grow fonder.
Conclusion
There are so many reasons for you to consider doing an internship abroad. Whether you go for 6 months, a year, or more, you are sure to return a greatly-enriched person. So, what are you waiting for? Set up your CV and start applying! You won’t regret doing it.
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