Intern Guidebook: Surabaya
Surabaya might not be on the top of anyone’s mind when thinking about Indonesia. But this second largest city has a lot of hidden potentials. For one, it is home to one the biggest and busiest port in Indonesia. It is an ideal location for business to grow. An internship in Surabaya will be a valuable experience for your future career. Also, Surabaya is known also to be one of the most tolerant cities in Indonesia. The people are among the friendliest and most accepting toward foreigners.
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Visa and Accommodation
For an Internship in Surabaya, you will need a Social Culture Visa. You have to apply for this visa in the Indonesian embassy or consulate in your home country. This visa is valid for 60 days after arrival in Indonesia and can be renewed 4 times, each for 30 days maximum. To obtain this visa, you will need an internship agreement and sponsorship letter from the company where you will intern in. After obtaining this visa, you must arrive at Indonesia within 90 days of your visa issuance. One thing to remember is that, with this visa, you are not allowed to receive any payment during your internship.
There are plenty of choices for accommodation, depending on your lengths of stay and preferences. One of the most popular choices for a short-term accommodation in Surabaya is Rumah Kost, a type of boarding houses where you can rent a room with a monthly fee. You can find many different kind of Kost in Surabaya, from the very basic room with only a bed and drawer, to the apartment-like room with air conditioning, television and personal bathroom. To find a Rumah Kost, other than from the internet, you can also go around the neighborhood and see if there are some houses putting up the sign saying “Terima Kost Putri/Putra”, basically meaning that they are offering a room for female or male boarders. You can also rent an apartment and the best way to find a rented apartment is from real estate agents.
Internships Placements
As the center for economy in East Java, Surabaya is one of the top destinations for business and IT internships. A social media or digital marketing intern can be an interesting choice, especially with the large growth of internet and social media user in Indonesia. If you are more interested in the creative processes, graphic design is also another popular position for an internship in Surabaya. You can also find some internship position in NGOs, where you can do many volunteering works, with children or environment.
Working Condition
Indonesia is a country with many diverse cultures. The working environment can also be pretty different from one company to the others. However, like many other Asian countries, it is characterized by high hierarchy and collectivism. Relationships with superiors and seniors can be pretty formal. Preserving group harmony is considered to be very important and public display of emotions is avoided. Surabaya people are generally pretty laid back, and this also translates to their working culture. “Slowly but sure” seems to be the agreed motto among the locals.
There are certain basic etiquettes that needed to be understood. For example, avoid giving anything with your left hand as it is considered to be very rude. But of course allowances will be made for foreigners, as most Indonesians are pretty welcoming and friendly toward foreigners.
Life in Surabaya
Living in Surabaya is certainly more easy-going compared to Jakarta. You can enjoy all the convenience a big city provides, like huge shopping malls and all kinds of restaurants and coffee shops, but with less traffic jams and lower crime rate. Known to be the City of Heroes, you will find many monuments that commemorate its role in the battle for Indonesian Independence.
Surabaya is the gateway to exploring East Java. You can easily go to nearby cities, like Malang, using trains or busses. Surabaya is also the regional hubs for many airlines, from its International Juanda Airport. There is also the Suramadu Bridge connecting Surabaya with Madura Island. However, public transportation inside the city can be quiet hard to navigate. Walking around the city can also be tricky, as most roads do not have a dedicated space for pedestrians. Taking a taxi can be a better choice, especially with the emerging online taxi or “ojek” (motorcycle taxi) services.
Having an internship in Surabaya will definitely challenge your ability to quickly adapt to new environment. If you want to know more about Internship in Surabaya, contact us!