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22 Apr, 2018

The Pros and Cons of Interning Abroad

There are a lot of articles talking about the benefits of interning abroad and you may have read some of them. But somehow you still have doubts: Is it really worth it? What are the pros of interning abroad? Are there any cons? That’s okay. It’s also necessary to question those things because it’s important to see things from both sides. Here are some pros and cons of interning abroad that you should know before actually applying for one.

Image source: blogs.cornell.edu

Pros

Interning abroad is a great resume booster

Having the experience of doing internship abroad will set you apart from the rest of the crowd. You’ll definitely stand out more than others that is applying for the same position as you. Interning abroad gives you a level of sophistication in proving that you cannot only impress the professionals in your own country, but also in other country. International experience is a huge asset to your future career, prestige, and salary.

Real world experience

Every internship gives you real world experience. Even so, it’s quite different if you’re interning abroad. You don’t have the comfort to live at home or in your community. Meaning that you have to plan everything on your own from meals to transportation. Not to mention the stress of adapting to a new culture and language. But at the same time, you’ve to learn how to balance your work and social life. All of these make you develop not only as a professional but also as a person. You gain independence and confidence by adapting, arranging everything and living by yourself. This will make you ready to tackle anything once you go back.

Improving language skills

You’ve no choice but to adapt yourself with another language if you’re nterning abroad. You’ve no choice but to practice your English or even learn the native language. It will be hard at the beginning, of course, but this will benefit you in the future. And persistent attempts to speak in any country’s native language will also lead you to fluency in a while.

Expanding your circle

When you have friends from all over the world you can learn a lot from them. They will teach you to be open to the ideas of others. Learning how to engage with individuals of different backgrounds is always a good trait. Not to mention that you will also have connection with professionals who work abroad. Having professional contacts in another country may help you find a job after you finish your education.

All of the pros make interning abroad trip seem like a great thing, but of course every situation has a positive and a negative. If you’re planning to do internship abroad, it’s better to pay attention to the cons below and prepare yourself how to handle it in the future. 

Cons

You will be on your own

Unlike taking classes abroad, internships start and finish at different times for different people. You may find yourself walking into an office with other interns who have been there for several months already, and it can be intimidating to try to make friends when there is an established group dynamic. Even outside the office, you’re in completely different community. Your family and friends are faraway from you so you can only depend on yourself. While it’s important to do internship abroad with a friendly and outgoing attitude, it can be a little overwhelming when everyone else isn’t in the same boat as you.

Upside-down culture shock

Moving to another country and adapting yourself with the new culture can be overwhelming. It’s a normal thing to experience while interning abroad, but you need to know how to manage culture shock or it can lead you to depression. Even though you manage to overcome it, it doesn’t mean you’ll not get it again. After getting used to so many things after living in another country, going back home can cause much stress.

Homesick

You’re miles away from your beloved ones after all. You cannot deny that there will be times when you feel lonely and miss the trivial things when you’re with them, especially when work starts to overwhelm you.

If you look at the big picture, you will recognize that interning abroad is giving you more benefits. You will encounter many challenges, of course. But consider it as a valuable experience. There must be things you can learn from the challenges. Our Bright Internships staffs will be available for you 24/7 to support you during your programs, make sure to contact us for further info.