EXPATRIATE ABROAD

How many students would like to be admitted to an internship program in a foreign country?

Making first steps in a professional environment and, at the same time, experiencing the enriching cultural melting pot and especially the practice of other languages than the ones we are used to speak.

It is true, to leave for a foreign country is dream because of all of these advantages. Nonetheless, finding an internship needs a previous deep analysis process and many questions to be solved.

Where to look for an internship? How to find one? How much does it cost to be enrolled in internship program in a foreign country? Are there any scholarship possibilities for students that would like to do their internship abroad?

To answer the first question, you should know that the choice of your destination has to be justified by the possibilities that the chosen country could offer to optimize your education training.

Do not forget, being on an internship program is not being on holiday. Even if abroad, an internship should remain what it really is above all: a training. As far as possible, choose the country that will enrich your specific knowledge the best.

Besides, get informed, several months before leaving, about the internships programs offered in the country of your choice. Have a look to the net or to the dedicated magazines. Get in touch with the School Administration as well. Some educational establishments have partnerships with schools or universities from other countries. In this case there are many educational exchange programs that are carried out and obtaining an internship could be easier.

Check to the Foreign Office that every year offers to a number of students regularly enrolled in educational establishments that have signed an outline agreement the chance to be part of an internship program in many different fields (press publications, chancery, politics, culture).

Target the companies based on the spot and that have representation units abroad. That will allow you to learn how to master a foreign professional environment however settling down smoothly. Moreover, some companies consider these transitions in their foreign subsidiaries as a means of pre-recruiting!

Don't forget the AIESEC. Organization member of the UNESCO, AIESEC is the biggest organization in the world managed by students. AIESEC offers 8000 students every year the possibility to get enrolled in an internship program in many different fields over more than 107 countries.

It is understood that it would be always possible to send spontaneous applications to the companies you have targeted in your chosen country. Never forget to write your application form (resume, cover letter) in the official language of the country you chose. Do not neglect to get an internship agreement from your establishment and to send it to the establishment of your destination.

Once this step is over, you should estimate the budget you need to be an intern abroad: transportations (plane ticket and transfers on the spot), accommodation, food and leisure activities.

It is wise to get as much information as possible on the different options there. For instance it is useful to know if it is possible to rent a room in a youth hostel or within a university exchange program, to have a room on the campus.

You have to take the same precautions concerning food and transportations. Think in advance the complementary costs as well. For students willing a scholarship, there are many organizations and NGO that allocate scholarships to students desiring to take part in an internship program in a foreign country.

There are also some schools and universities that help students financing their internship.

Start you research long time before your internship period. After getting some information about the assignment criteria, apply to as many scholarships as possible.

When you will be sure about the internship stability, go to the embassy or the consulate of the country of your destination for the administration formalities (visa if necessary or residence permit, vaccinations, etc.). Get sure that your passport is valid and start the procedure right away if it is not.

In the end, do not neglect the lessons. Don't forget that the internship is a crowning achievement of what you have learnt theoretically all over the year.

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