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All About International Internships
When someone mentions international internships, a lot of students are likely to pass in favor of looking for something more familiar and close to home. Although it may sound a bit stressful and would entail a lot of preparation and effort, getting an international internship is surprisingly easy, if you know how.
Here are some of the essential things that you should consider and know in applying for an international internship program.
Ask Yourself Why?
First, you should have a clear understanding why you want to seek an international internship. Usually, there are two major reasons to go abroad for an internship. First, you want to live abroad and an internship will give you a framework for accomplishing that goal. Second, you want to gain work experience in a foreign country that can help hone your professional skills for a full-time position when you complete your degree.
If your main reason is just living abroad, then you might want to reconsider getting into an internship program. If you simply want to live abroad, you can just find opportunities to work abroad rather than an internship. By finding work in the country where you want to live, you will be able to fund your stay there by your own labor instead of having to save or borrow to go. However, if you are looking for long-term career advancement rather than merely a job that will pay your way, an internship, even an unpaid one, may well be a good long-term investment in yourself.
Where To Go?
Generally the organizations that sponsor international internships are based in the United States. Such programs are frequently located in places with a high level of international activity, such as New York or Washington DC. However, if your heart is really, truly set upon having an internship sponsored by an organization in the country where you will be staying, it is generally possible to do so. You will just want to be very diligent in researching the organization to make sure that it is legitimate and that there will not be any unpleasant surprises such as cultural gaps in assumptions.
How Much To Get One?
Getting into an international internship program can be expensive, since most of them do not pay you for your work and generally do not provide an allowance for travel or lodging. However, it is often possible get financial aid to meet your expenses. Also, there are some internship programs that are actually sponsored by your university; getting one can give credit toward your degree.
Expenses can vary widely. If you're going into an unpaid non-academic internship, you will want to consider the living costs. If the expenses are high, they can quickly become as costly as a tuition-charging internship program, but without the benefits of financial aid and credit.
However, the major benefit of getting into an international internship program would be the professional experience you will gain and the contacts you will develop in the field, both of which will go a long way toward improving your long-term career prospects.
How About Volunteering?
There are also volunteer positions you can apply for. Many of these volunteer programs abroad can provide you board and lodging. This is one option that can make your internship less expensive compared to an unpaid program in which you are expected to provide for your travel and living expenses while you are on your internship.
One good example of a volunteer program that can make working abroad affordable is the Peace Corps. They do pay well, although you will have to make a two-year commitment with the organization. Additionally, the repayment of your educational loans is usually deferred for the duration of volunteer work, and some portion of them may be forgiven altogether depending on where and when you work. Getting a volunteer position with the Peace Corps or a similar organization can be your best move if you are focusing on a career working with people in developing countries, particularly at the grass-roots level.
All these possibilities are very important to consider if you want to do an internship abroad. Although the possibility of living and working in a foreign country may seem stressful, it can also offer considerable benefits for you.
