Internship abroad

For many large and medium-sized businesses, especially those which export goods and/or services, maintaining international contacts is very important. Those who have spent a longer time abroad are assumed to be pro-active and to be interested, curious, courageous, independent, tolerant, and open.
All of these qualities are valuable when working in international teams and with partners in other countries.

Some of the potential benefits of doing an internship abroad are:

• improving your foreign language skills
• becoming familiar with other mentalities and cultures
• being able to adapt to working in international teams
• knowledge of other customs not just on the level of a tourist, but in daily working life
• higher awareness of new things
• the experience of living in a foreign country
• the opportunity to re-examine your opinions on certain issues
• professional experiences
• the chance to widen your horizons
• getting to know your own strengths and weaknesses and increasing your ability to take action
• expanding your network of contacts

You should spend a few moments answering these questions in advance in order to be sure that you make the most of your internship abroad:

• Where would it make the most sense for me to study? Can I live without certain rules and standards that I'm accustomed to?
• Regarding language, what is my starting level?
• Which enterprise or organization would be interesting for me to work at? Which branch do I want to become more familiar with?
• How does the position fit in with my studies and my major? Which theories do I want to apply in practice?
• Can I afford the internship financially? What is the cost of living in the respective country?
• How much time can I invest?

• Analysis and research
  You should try to get as much detailed information as possible and begin to plan at least 1 year in advance.
• Application process
  Preparing and customizing your application documents according to the country you wish to apply in and then applying
• Securing financial resources
  Applying for grants and scholarships, as well as fixing your salary with your prospective employer
• Learning about the country and its people
  Taking part in seminars on cultural awareness
• Organizing your trip
  ...as well as your accommodation
• Reflection
  What did I learn during my internship and what will I be taking with me for the future?

Before doing an internship abroad, it is advisable to have first done one in your home country. This will help you to familiarize yourself with certain processes within a company.

Ideally, an internship abroad is done at the end of your Bachelor's studies, i.e. in between your Bachelor's and Master's studies or during your Master's studies.
The recommended duration is somewhere between 3 to 6 months. The longer the internship, the more interesting your responsibilities and projects become.