Tips for a successful internship abroad

Young students and aspiring trainees might ask themselves many questions before starting their internship: how to find an internship, how to choose the country, what documents are needed, what are the steps to follow and the risks, etc.? We have tried to answer these questions with testimonies from people who have successfully done internships abroad.

What are the perks of doing an internship abroad?

There are many benefits to doing an internship abroad. Beyond traveling and discovering a new country, immersing oneself in a different culture allows one to leave their comfort zone. Once abroad, the intern has no choice but to adapt to where they are. This will enable them to acquire a certain maturity and enrich their language skills at the same time.

But be mindful of the company's culture and that of the country you have chosen. Indeed, corporate life abroad can be very different from the one you are used to in your home country, with norms and situations that are sometimes far from those you expected to encounter. 

If the intern is mainly there to learn, the company also has an interest in welcoming them since they can bring a new and different perspective thanks to his or their knowledge and expertise. A good example is the QHSE sector in Spain (Quality, Health, Safety and Environment). According to Teresa Cordovilla, head of international relations, and Laurent Navarrete, director of corporate partnerships at the ESAIP engineering school, this sector is still young, so foreign interns can bring real added value.

It's a give-and-take concept. Keep in mind that internships abroad should not be considered a vacation.

What are the difficulties of doing internships abroad? 

Take your time to decide, and do your research on the company before signing anything. An internship is a contractual agreement between an employer and the intern, so it's recommended that you read the contract clauses carefully to better understand points like wages and other benefits if you are entitled to any. Most of the time, internship contracts are standard, but there can be tricky situations like those experienced by some foreign trainees in Japan. An article published in France Info last March on "technical apprentices" made shocking revelations. Trainees can be easy targets for unscrupulous employers or even a source of cheap and exploitable labor when young people feel obliged to do anything just to get good comments at the end of the internship. So in case of a bad experience with the company, regarding the contract, the accommodation, the underestimated budget, or in any other situation, make sure to report it and ask for help.

Veggies, a former trainee, warns against companies that take advantage of interns and advises to be careful with the budget: "Beware of companies that hire a lot of interns (more interns than employees!). The problem with this type of company is that you will be poorly trained, there will be no follow-up and tutoring, and the tasks and missions entrusted will not be clear. These companies are not looking for 'quality' but just free or cheap labor." She recalls that the laws are not the same everywhere regarding the remuneration of interns. "In Malta, for example, few companies remunerate interns. This means that your internship can be expensive for you, so calculate your monthly budget: accommodation, transportation, food, leisure, etc. Few companies will contribute to your accommodation costs. Others may partially take charge of your public transportation costs. So if you are not remunerated for your internship, you have to see what they can offer you so that you don't pay for everything out of your own pocket." Finally, she recommends finding accommodation close to your workplace and checking whether public transportation is easily accessible and whether you can even ride a bike.

Juliette is a French expat from Perpignan. She left her parents' home at the age of 17 to study engineering in Reunion Island. "I was looking for a good compromise between pursuing my studies and discovering the world. I then got the opportunity to specialize in sustainable building design and energy at ESIROI, the only engineering school in the Indian Ocean. As part of my training, I had the opportunity to do several internships, including a four-month internship in an English-speaking country". She admits that she encountered difficulties in preparing for her internship. "As a novice in visa applications, I found it particularly complicated to find the information necessary to set up my project. I finally applied for a work permit under the International Experience Canada (IEC) program through the International Co-op visa. The visa process was quite stressful, especially because it is almost impossible to contact the embassy for information. I relied a lot on feedback from other people via several platforms, such as Facebook and expat.com, to overcome this problem". Juliette also found that the cost of living is very high and that it's important to carefully consider this before moving to Canada as an intern. "For a shared apartment or a room, count on a minimum rent of 700€/month, and transportation costs about 40 dollars per week if you have to take a bus to get to work". Still, she believes that Canada is a great place to be for interns."If you are a sociable person and you are afraid to go alone on an adventure, don't hesitate to try it! Canada has a very active and supportive expat community. To prepare yourself for your arrival and to feel reassured, you can join Facebook groups of expats in Canada, for example (...)."

Marianne, another former trainee, has the following advice for future interns: "When it especially comes to finding accommodation and dealing with administrative procedures abroad, don't hesitate to ask for help from locals or people who know the country. (...) You should also be aware that living costs are expensive, so make sure to budget before leaving. If the internship does not go as planned, you must inform the school/faculty and your internship supervisor. Also, do not hesitate to ask for help and/or advice from your family and friends if you are faced with unforeseen circumstances".

Valery, a foreign intern in the United States, made the following statement: "My company hired several foreign interns. They were all studying at an American university and were already on F1 visas. Some of them interned after their second or third year, some both years in a row. After applying through the company's website, they had to go through a lot of interviews before being accepted for their summer internship (in an IT company). This helped them to get full-time jobs right after graduation, and the company took care of all the paperwork with the immigration authorities".

But it is not always that easy in the United States. For Olivier and Parenga, obtaining a visa was very complicated. According to them, it is not easy to get an internship if you are "outside the US university system". The entire process requires time, heavy administrative procedures, money and especially a lot of willingness on the employer's part to go through with the process. This discourages many American companies from hiring foreign interns. "It's not impossible, but it's not easy. Specialized organizations help to overcome the challenges of the process and are a source of valuable information."

How to choose the right destination for an internship abroad?

Your choice should be based on the type of internship and company, depending on your degree. Then, do proper research on the countries that might be suitable. 

Most students seek to join large companies, but it is also possible to find very good and rewarding internships in smaller companies or even startups where there will perhaps be a better follow-up than in larger companies and multinationals.

Many countries are constantly looking for foreign interns. Depending on the interns' needs, it's a good idea to choose countries according to their language and culture but especially according to the fields of expertise for which they are recognized or which are in development and where the student's expertise is expected.

The cost of living is another crucial factor that should not be neglected. Budgeting in terms of accommodation, transportation, food, leisure and other extras will help you avoid many difficulties.

The destination can also be a strategic element in a CV, so it is also interesting to stand out from the crowd by opting for less traditional and more innovative destinations. This shows a more daring and adventurous character that a future employer will appreciate.

Marianne thus chose to do her internship in the Netherlands. In fact, she got the chance to do a 6-month internship in Amsterdam at a pharmaceutical company. "I moved here because I wanted to leave my comfort zone and discover a culture that was unknown to me. Concerning the organization of the internship, I was mainly helped by a student from my faculty who was also an intern in the company. The main challenge was to find accommodation. The internship went extremely well, I liked the country and the local culture very much, so I would say that the experience was satisfactory beyond my expectations."

Why doing an internship abroad is a plus

Juliette, who has just started her internship, says: "During my applications, I was offered a first work experience in Canada, in a startup based in Toronto. I took the chance and made the necessary arrangements to work there. It's been a while since I arrived, and I'm getting the most out of my free time to visit the region". She also shares her perspective on her life in Toronto: "I have no regrets about my choice of destination! I find life in Toronto extremely rich, especially culturally. It is indeed the world's most cosmopolitan city since half of its population is born outside Canada. Most of the people I know here are immigrants, and hearing their stories was an enriching experience for me. When I arrived, my colleagues were very welcoming. They immediately integrated me into their team and did everything possible to make me feel comfortable during my stay. I think Toronto is an ideal city for students and young professionals because it is very dynamic, especially in the summer when you can attend many events such as concerts, plays and sports events (field hockey, baseball, basketball, ...). I found it a very nice and positive experience that I can only recommend".

Marianne could talk about her experience for hours as she has so many good memories. She especially appreciated "the international openness and the opportunities for meeting new people from all walks of life. "I liked the fact that I was immersed in the labor market even before I had my diploma, and I had the chance to learn a foreign language and be more independent. This experience also helped me rediscover myself and allowed me to meet great people who still share my life, like my friend Caroline who is also an expat." In other words, Marianne's internship helped her grow. She gained confidence and even learned to budget.

So the list of benefits of doing an internship abroad only gets longer and longer.

To conclude

At the end of her internship, Marianne was offered a permanent position: "I was offered an employment contract, so I was able to stay for four years in this beautiful country". 

Meanwhile, Juliette is already planning her future: "At the end of this internship, I'll be moving to Ireland as part of an exchange semester with TU-Dublin. As I want to start my career abroad, I am already considering applying for my first job in North America".

Visibly without any regrets and with a lot of memories, Marianne and Juliette sound more ready than ever to live a new adventure abroad.

For those who are still wondering whether they should do an internship abroad, our advice is to be well prepared, adequately informed about their destination, and seek advice before embarking on an adventure overseas.