Career Benefits of Interning Abroad

Career Benefits of Interning Abroad Image via Isorepublic.com Learning a second language It’s no secret that speaking two or more languages is extremely beneficial in the workplace. If you intern abroad in a country whose main language is not English, you will be forced to immerse yourself in another language. This kind of immersion is the best way to learn a new language, since you will constantly have to speak and read it (bonus points if you write it also). It’s a safe place to make mistakes, since you will have teachers and fellow students to help you, and you can help them, too! By the end of your trip, you will be much more proficient in this language than you were before. Learning a second language will allow you to communicate with a whole new set of people, and this will be attractive to potential employers or graduate schools. For this reason, learning a second language is a substantial career benefit you will gain when you intern abroad. Connections When you spend a few months in another place, you are bound to make connections there. You will interact with many people, such as fellow students, teachers, and locals that can serve as important connections. You never know if they can help you find a job or provide a recommendation letter in the future. Of course, you could do the same for them. Because interning abroad is such a bonding experience, it’s likely these connections with the people you meet during your journey will last a long time. The connections will be one of the most valuable parts of interning abroad. Plus, how cool is it to have a friend who lives on the other side of the world? It will give you something to talk about on applications or interviews Most jobs or graduate schools that you apply to want to know something that will make you stand out from the crowd. An experience abroad will definitely make you stand out among a pile of applicants! Not only does interning abroad make you seem like a more well-rounded candidate, but it will also give you many stories to tell. People love stories, and telling them a good story about your intern abroad journey (and how it has helped you grow as a person) will make you more memorable to them. If you are selected for an interview, be prepared with a good story to tell, as it is likely they will ask you about your experience if you mentioned it in your application. Hiring managers and graduate school admissions committees love memorable, well-rounded applicants, and interning abroad will definitely make you one! Personal growth Picking up your entire life and moving to a foreign country will cause you to grow like no other experience will. Interning abroad will require you to be independent in a country where things are much different than you are used to. Adjusting to these differences and managing your own life requires you to grow up. Still, it will be extremely satisfying to overcome these challenges and to know that you CAN do it. Clearly, interning abroad will present you with many challenges, but as you overcome them, you will grow. This growth will help you become a good employee or graduate student, and hiring/admissions committees know this. Problem-solving skills While we are on the subject of skills you gain when you intern abroad, let’s discuss problem-solving skills. As I mentioned before, you will likely encounter many challenges when you intern abroad, but you will also learn how to overcome these challenges and solve these problems. These problem-solving skills will help you when an issue comes up at work or at school, because you will know how to tackle it. Of course, hiring and admissions committees also love to hear that their applicants have good problem-solving skills. Learning how to work with others When you intern abroad, you will have to work together of people with different nationalities and who speak different languages. This experience will help you learn to find things in common with others, and to work in a team with them despite any “differences”. This will serve you well later in life, as you will encounter many kinds of people in your workplace or your graduate school. All in all, interning abroad will benefit your career in many ways.