If You”ve Found it Hard To Find Interview Magazine Internship , This is The Place For You!
Why do an internship overseas?
When hundreds of thousands of people set off on wonderful volunteering trips every year, it’s a little strange that internships don’t enjoy similar popularity. Given the constant need to gain an advantage in the job market, the number of internships could well be about to grow. There’s much more to internships than working for free; they’re a great opportunity to learn the ropes. In fact, sometimes they are the only opportunity to learn the ropes.
Though they are a great way to gain experience, internships aren’t just the ticket for everyone. For example, most are unpaid and if you can’t afford to work for free you may want to consider paid teaching placements as a way to get experience of work abroad. However, if you do your research and are pretty sure it’s the sort of area you want to work in; internships can be a very positive experience. Here are a few top reasons to intern abroad and a little advice on making the most of the experience.
Enhance your CV
Potential employers love hands-on experience and in today’s job-market it may be difficult to compete without it. Amongst the many candidates talking about their enthusiasm and love for the profession, you’ll be able to actually demonstrate that you do. As well as indicating your commitment to your career, an internship is also a great opportunity to hone those skills you can only really learn ‘on the job’.
Test-out a career!
Marrying someone before you’ve been on a date with them or buying a house before looking round seem like a bit too much of a leap faith, likewise a career is something else you might spend your life with. Sometimes careers can be very different in the real world and there is no way of knowing what’s involved until you do it yourself. You may find that it’s better than you expected or not quite what you were hoping for; either way it’s best to find out now.
Get networking
To find the best ways to be successful in an industry there’s no-one better to talk to than those already working in it. Forming relationships with people who have years of experience means getting access to valuable information about what to do and what not to do. They can tell you what its like; suggest areas of your work that need improving and help you become more confident.
The academic benefits
Whether you’re planning to go to university or intend to train for your chosen career professionally, an internship could give you a wider perspective that you can bring to your studies. You’ll have lots of reflect real-world experience and a greater understanding of how theories apply to a real-world context. Being able to use examples of time spent working in the industry will really help your work stand out and increase your future employability.
First step on the career ladder
Some companies view internships as extra long interviews so if you impress enough you may even get a job. As the number of people going for jobs increases, it’s not uncommon for companies to hire graduates exclusively from their group of interns. This applies more to larger companies than smaller ones so make sure you do your research and find out if it’s likely. Even if the company itself is not hiring, internships are bound to open doors and bring you into contact with other people in the industry. If working abroad is something that interests you, internships can be a great first step.
The top three ways to get even more out of your internship abroad
· Go for the one which sounds like it will benefit you most; try and find out as much as you can about the sorts of things you’ll be doing. Don’t just pick the one which will look best on your CV!
· Ask questions and read Industry Magazines while you’re there; find out everything you can about the industry. Companies usually have a lot of information lying around waiting to be devoured.
· Keep a record or write a diary of your time as an intern. Not only will it prove a useful reference for you but it will help you remember things about the job. It’s also a good chance to write down lessons you learn and helps you not to make the same mistake twice.
About the Author
I’m totally passionate about travel, it’s been my life and work for a good few years! My travel adventures haven’t really been about seeing monuments etc but far more about people and getting off the beaten track. Even in a country that has large numbers of tourists you can still find hidden places if you look hard enough, living and working in country gives you such a different perception of it and more of a chance to absorb the local culture. I would like to share my many experiences and offer a little advice if I can to fellow travellers or anyone who is just about to set off on a life changing trip!