Intern Guidebook: Jakarta
As the economic and trade center for Indonesia, Jakarta is home to many local and international companies. For that reason, Jakarta boasts the highest number of internship opportunities in Indonesia. With the many international influence, internship in Jakarta will be a challenging and rewarding experience.
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Visa and Accommodation
For an Internship in Jakarta, 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.
The most important thing to consider, for your accommodation in Jakarta, is the location. Because Jakarta has a pretty awful traffic jams sometimes, it is best to find an accommodation that is close to your internship location. Even if it is more expensive, it can be worth it if is within walking distance to your future workplace. Also, the distance to the nearest TransJakarta Bus Station is also pretty important, as it is the main public transportation in Jakarta. 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 Jakarta is Rumah Kost, a type of boarding houses where you can rent a room with a monthly fee. You can also rent an apartment, although most rents are paid annually. Many of these properties are listed online on specialized websites, however you can also go to the local real estate agents to get more options.
Internships Placements
As the center for economic and political activities in Indonesia, Jakarta attracts many kinds of businesses, both local and international. Business and economics internships, like in finance and marketing, are among the most popular positions for an internship in Jakarta. IT positions are also in the rise, especially with the large number of internet users and rapid growth of online-shopping in Indonesia. Marketing, communication, and journalism, where materials in English are in high demand.
Working Condition
For Indonesians, community is extremely important and group harmony is highly preserved. Decisions are made through consensus and the process can take a bit more time as it is important for them to have everyone supporting the decision made. In preserving this group harmony, Indonesians might find it hard to say no as they are afraid of offending someone. They can be pretty indirect and you will have to read between the lines to find out whether that ‘yes’ really mean a ‘yes’. Because of this, business is always started by building a personal relationship and trust between partners. Being able to speak a bit of Indonesian can go a long way to endear yourself to the locals. Although many of them can speak English in Jakarta, they might switch back to Indonesian when socializing, even when foreigners are present. Therefore, by understanding the language you can build better relationship with your coworkers and business partners.
The culture of ‘jam karet’ (literally means ‘rubber time’) might still be experienced in Jakarta, although it definitely is changing. With the increasing presence of international relations, Jakarta now has a fast paced and challenging working condition.
Life in Jakarta
As the biggest city in Indonesia and also the center for economic activities, Jakarta has attracted many domestic immigrants who are looking for a better life. They bring their own different cultures and customs, turning Jakarta into a melting pot for practically every cultures from all over Indonesia. You can experience all of Indonesia in Jakarta.
In Jakarta, you can find anything you want. From various restaurants and cafes, huge shopping malls, vibrant nightlife and music scene, to amusement park, and even beaches. There are neverending choices of entertainment in Jakarta. But like many other big cities, heavy traffic and pollution are pretty commonplace in Jakarta. It is not really a city made for walking. Instead, you can use the TransJakarta busses to go around the city. It is pretty cheap and cover a lot of areas. Taxi is also another alternative, however with the traffic condition, it will be cheaper and faster to use ojek (motorcycle-taxi). Online taxis and ojeks can also be found pretty easily.
Having an internship in Jakarta will boost your CV and prepare you for an international work experience. If you want to know more about Internship in Jakarta, contact us!