Complete your academic requirements

Many university degrees include internships as a requirement to completing the qualification. An international internship offers you the option of combining work and travel. Immerse yourself in a new culture for a few months; you’ll come out the other end feeling like a whole new person.

Gain the experience you need to get that first job

Getting your first job can be difficult as most organizations want people with experience. A résumé that doesn’t illustrate work experience in some form is less likely to attract the recruiter’s attention than one that shows relevant and meaningful work experience.

Many graduates start work with little or no work experience and are not prepared for the workforce. An internship is a great way to gain practical experience so you are work ready when the time comes to look for a full-time position. An internship can help you get your foot in the door – many of our interns have been offered permanent positions at their internship company once their program was complete.

An international internship offers you the opportunity for professional development and can help you gain much-needed confidence you need to succeed in your chosen career. Why not start your working life in a fun way that will make you more hirable and help you secure your next job more easily? See it as an investment in your future (as well as a thrilling way to start your working life).

Get real-life exposure

No amount of education can replace the role of experience and real-life exposure to work. An internship will allow you to take all the knowledge you’ve gained over years of study and apply them practically. If suitably selected, your internship won’t be filled with meaningless trips to the coffee shop; instead, you will be given proper training, duties, and assignments to complete within the workplace. You’ll be able to make a positive contribution to your host company. Just as good, you’ll get to understand how professional world works without the pressure.

Develop your professional network

Networking is the art of creating meaningful and beneficial connections with other professionals. These connections can be important to your career, enabling you to access resources or contacts that can significantly support your success. Networking within an internship will connect you with other interns, professional organizations and an Alumni who live across the globe. Being an intern gives you something in common with these people, allowing you to make deeper connections than if they were mere strangers.

Transition to full-time work

Over 70% of Go Abroad China’s interns, receive an opportunity for permanent full-time work once their internship is complete. While an internship doesn’t always guarantee a permanent role at your host company, it does give you exposure to the world of employment. You get to know how the work environment functions and develop hands-on experience that looks good on your résumé. This experience can help you next time you apply for a role, increasing your chances of getting an interview.

Learn to be diplomatic and adaptable

Learning to navigate the workforce and cope with different situations, especially if you are in another country learning a new culture, can teach you how to navigate and adapt to different situations. You’ll learn how to be diplomatic in your communications as you begin to understand working with people who have a different background and values to yourself.

Get to know yourself and challenge your boundaries

If there is one certainty about an international internship, it’s this: your internship is going to expose you to new environments, different cultures, and professional life. If merely traveling abroad can change you, how much more can living and working in another country? You’ll develop independence, confidence and a sense of self that will make a positive impact on the rest of your life. Your experience at work will help you clarify what you like and don’t like, help you explore career options and refine what you want from work and life. You couldn’t ask for a more beneficial and fun experience than traveling and working in another country.