How to Succeed in an Internship Program Abroad

Going abroad for an internship will give you a completely different experience that you could never get in your own country.

Internships alone are excellent opportunities to gain plenty of work experience.

Going abroad for one will not only give you experience in the workplace but also in a country that you aren’t familiar with.

This enables you to learn skills to bring back home or even make connections with people who may help you turn an internship into a job offer abroad in the future.

When presented with such an opportunity, it’s important to make the most of it.

Here’s how you can succeed in an internship program abroad:

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate

When you are abroad for an internship program, it is not the time to keep everything to yourself.

Before you communicate with your boss or coworkers, make a point of learning more about their culture and the way that they operate.

Whether you are becoming an intern in the next country over or going halfway across the world, there are customs and traditions that you may not be familiar with.

It will be difficult for you to successfully communicate if you do not understand the context of the culture.

Things that are considered acceptable to say in your country might be considered inappropriate in another.

Actions that may be perfectly acceptable in your destination may be seen as rude in yours.

Make sure that you do your research on this beforehand.

Keep That Positive Attitude

Going abroad all by yourself isn’t always easy.

There will be times when you feel frustrated or lonely.

However, those emotions won’t be helping anything.

You need to learn to keep a positive attitude and cheer up quickly when you feel down.

Things will not always go your way, but it’s important to stay positive and learn from it.

Your time abroad will not last forever, so there’s no time for frustration.

Turn that frown upside down and keep on working and taking in everything you can!

Be Proactive

An internship abroad gives you the opportunity to learn about things that you would never get to in your own country. Remember - the more you ask, the more you learn. However, don’t just stop at asking questions.

It’s important for you to take initiative in the workplace. There is no need to be shy and hide your capabilities. If you show them what you are capable of, your superiors might even assign you to do something more significant than what a typical intern would do. Another thing that you should remember to do is always ask for feedback when you’ve completed a task.

It can be quite tricky to detect your own flaws and weaknesses, especially when you’re doing something that you’ve never done before.

Therefore, ask your boss to give you feedback and advice on how can you improve yourself.

Show Your Determination

When you let everyone know of your passion and determination, you will be leaving them with a positive first impression.

Making room for new skills and knowledge is important.

What’s the point of going abroad for an internship if you don’t want to learn more?

Every little thing that you can get from being an intern will benefit you more than you’d think.

Stay Culturally Aware

You cannot ignore the culture of the country that you’re going to.

It’s incredibly important to study the culture in as many areas as possible. How much do the locals value punctuality? How do they greet their peers? Their superiors?

Developing an understanding of the local culture will help you adapt and feel more at home.

Adapt to the New Culture

It is crucial for you to adapt and be flexible. Keep in mind that there will be many things that you will have to adjust to. If your coworkers work overtime when deadlines loom ahead, you might have to work extra hours just like them.

It’s important to stay open-minded during your internship. Doing so will make your experience as an intern abroad even better!

Have Fun With Your Coworkers

Sure, you traveled to gain work experience, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make new friends.

Your internship is a great opportunity for you to meet new people and expand your network.

Go out with your colleagues and have fun.

Treat yourself after working hard as an intern!

Are you looking for an internship in Asia? Get in touch with us today! We’re happy to help.

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