How To Do an Internship While Studying Abroad

Doing an internship while studying abroad can be challenging, but it is absolutely worth it. Students abroad are often concerned that if they do an internship and study at the same time, it means saying goodbye to their social life. With the right internship abroad, you can have fun while doing both! Wondering how to start? Here are eight pieces of advice from the educations.com team about how to get an internship abroad and manage it effectively while studying. 

Finding an internship abroad

Getting an internship abroad is the first challenge students face. You’ll need a resume or CV and a LinkedIn profile which includes  your study and work experience. Let your international and local friends know that you’re trying to find an internship abroad. They might be able to help you find one. Looking for an internship abroad on LinkedIn and joining the career center at your school can help. You can also ask your classmates or previous students for advice on how to get an internship abroad. Consider asking them where they did their internships so you can apply to those companies if there are positions open.

Another useful way to get an internship abroad is to make a list of international companies in your study abroad city, and contact their HR departments about internship opportunities. Limiting your search to international companies can be quite helpful if you’re not a fluent speaker of your study abroad destination’s language. If you have a good relationship with your professors, asking them for ideas of where to find an internship abroad can also be helpful.

Beware of placement services where you will need to pay money to do an internship abroad. Taking an unpaid internship is one thing, but paying to intern is another!

Applying and interviewing for an internship abroad

As a student abroad who wants to do an internship, you should do some research on how CVs or resumes are formatted in your study abroad country. For example, in some countries, it’s unheard of to place a photo of yourself on a resume, while, in others, it’s mandatory. Similarly, some countries expect lengthy paragraphs about your studies and work, while others prefer bullet-pointed achievements. If you want to get an internship abroad, you should pay close attention to these details during the application process. 

Send your CV with a cover letter or motivation letter while applying for an internship abroad. The cover letter should be persuasive and you should briefly explain why you want to do an internship there, what you hope to learn and bring to the organization, and how your study or work experiences relate to the internship. Some organizations might also ask for a letter of recommendation.

Send your documents and usually you’ll hear back from them within a couple of weeks. If you’re a good candidate for an internship abroad position, they will invite you for an interview. Whether you do your interview over Skype or in person, be confident and honest. Another thing you should do is to research the interview style of your study abroad country.  While in Scandinavia, it’s typical to be realistic and modest about your abilities, in the U.S. it’s expected that you will be more confident in your abilities. Every country is different, so be prepared to follow cultural expectations during an interview. This plays a decisive role in how to get an internship abroad. 

Whether paid or unpaid, it is valuable experience

Many companies offer unpaid internships and that might be a bit challenging for students abroad because they can’t afford living expenses without an income. If doing an internship abroad is important to you, but you’re worried about losing out on the income, you can try working a summer job before arriving to build up savings.

To do an internship in a different country with a different culture will give you valuable experience and broaden your horizons, in addition to building a network and strengthening your CV. Most importantly, as a student abroad, you can see what it feels like to work in your field of study and decide whether you want to continue on that path. Studying and getting an internship abroad should open up more opportunities for you to explore. 

Take your responsibilities seriously

As an intern, you’re supposed to work while learning. This means that your tasks probably won’t be too complicated. You should definitely take it as you go and not stress out, but keep in mind that even if you are assigned a simple task, you are responsible for completing it.

It can be challenging to find an internship abroad, and you should cherish this opportunity. Try to be helpful to the company where you’ve chosen to do an internship abroad. You never know, you might get offered a full-time position at the end of your internship, or a good reference from your supervisor could be a stepping stone to a paying job at another local company.

Don’t forget to have fun

Life shouldn’t be all about work and study. You’ll need to take it easy sometimes and have fun while doing an internship abroad. You’ll probably make friends with some of your coworkers, so you can spend time socializing during lunch breaks and work get-togethers.

Don’t forget to hang out with your friends from school on the weekends though! The balance between study, internships, and social life is essential for students abroad. Remember to work hard, but also have fun!

Have a plan and be organized

Juggling an internship on top of your studies abroad means that you’ll have to work extra hard to manage your time efficiently. The ability to manage your time well is essential to doing an internship abroad as an international student. Planning out your work, home, academic, and social responsibilities will help ensure that you don’t end up with a big internship assignment due the same day as a big research paper after you’ve spent a night out with friends. An internship abroad is a great way to gain experience and achieve personal development, however, as a student abroad it is crucial to prioritize your course work over anything else. You’ll need to make sure that you’re clear about exams and assignments with whoever is supervising you. 

How to manage your time

When you do an internship abroad, it is important to plan your schedule ahead of time and to have a clear idea of what you must do each week. During the first week of your internship abroad, you will likely be able to estimate how much time you will need to spend studying to meet exam deadlines. You will also figure out what time you should wake up in the morning to reach the office and how much time you need for cooking and cleaning per week. 

As soon as you’re able to estimate the time you need to do your chores, study and work, you can make a plan for a week ahead and you’re good to go! 

What it feels like to work and study simultaneously

Studying abroad while also doing an internship is not an easy task. The first week of your internship will be the most exhausting and challenging. You’ll probably feel tired but motivated. 

You’ll be learning and growing by taking on two important responsibilities at the same time - in a foreign country. You’ll meet many new people at your company and receive a lot of information about the company in your first week. After that, all you have to do is keep doing what you’re asked to do and to get some studying done after work or on the weekends. 

Doing an internship while studying abroad is challenging and can be stressful but remember to take it as a learning opportunity. Don't be afraid of asking questions or making mistakes. These experiences will all add value to your time abroad.