An international internship experience is an investment. Like all investments, there are costs and benefits. It’s your job to figure out if an intern abroad experience is worth it for you.
To help inform your decision, here are some things you should consider before committing to an internship…
My name is Peri Bowman. I’m 21, from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. I’m currently midway between my Bachelor of Architecture and Masters of Architecture degrees and I’m here doing an internship with Paul Keogh Architects.
So, why Ireland?
I didn’t have a particular place I wanted to go. I’d finished my degree but I felt I didn’t really know what to do with my three years of learning. I didn’t know if it was actually enough to be able to work. So I wanted to get out there and see what I could do with what I learned. As part of our masters program, we have to write a thesis. I had no idea what I want to write about so I hoped working would help point me in the right direction. My friend Mia decided she was going to Ireland and asked me to come. So, here I am!
by Hanna Sise. Photo courtesy of Avenley Horner.
On June 19, 2010, my life changed forever. As I boarded the Iberia airbus from Chicago O’Hare to Madrid Barajas, I took a deep breath knowing adventure awaited. Sevilla was my final destination. After arriving in the breathtaking Spanish city, I knocked on the door of a stranger. This woman, Esperanza, was to be my host mother for the next two weeks.
As I navigated my way through the foreign streets, jet lag, and much different food than I was used to, my eyes opened to the wonder of this amazing country. For the first time in my seventeen years, I was seeing something other than myself. Being used to living in this bubble that others created for me, I was finally able to see that there was life outside of Bartlesville, Oklahoma. And that was it: I was officially hooked.
by Perrin Thompson
When I considered writing a reflection on my time as an intern in Dublin, I thought it would be easy. However, when I sat down (multiple times) to gather my thoughts and begin telling my story, I realized how difficult it was to put what I had experienced into words. How could I convey what a life changing experience I had? How many amazing friendships I had formed? How much I had grown personally and professionally? And how much I had learned about myself being immersed in a foreign culture?
by Christine Loughlin
As a kid, I used to wake up on a Sunday morning to the smell of bacon frying and the gentle sounds of Irish traditional music. “Low lie the Fields of Athenry…!” Listening to the stories told to me about my great- great grandmother’s journey from Ireland to America filled me with admiration for this strong woman. My Claddagh ring that I wear every day grounds me to my Irish roots through its tale of love and loyalty. Memories and stories like these as well as small, yet meaningful, pieces of Irish culture have been artfully woven into my life ever since I can remember. It helps, too, that Boston is a place where shamrocks and all things Irish are far from scant!
If you’re reading this, you already know you’d like to go overseas. Perhaps, you’ve always dreamed of living in a foreign country. Maybe, you’ve studied abroad before and you’re trying to go abroad a second time. Whatever your story, you just know an experience abroad is in your future.
The questions is, where?
Our answer: Dublin.
No, not the one in Ohio or California. We’re talking Ireland. The Emerald Isle.
So, why should you intern abroad in Dublin?
I had a crisis midway through college, one I’m sure many of you have had. I realized my college education would mean nothing once I’m in the “real world.”
Now, hold on. College wasn’t a complete waste of time – it was a load of fun, first of all. I’m just saying a college education is useless by itself. In the end, it’s just a piece of paper saying I received a degree in history. And all that meant was that I took about 10 classes in the subject – hardly making me a “historian.”
The hard truth is no one is going to hire you as an events manager just because you received a 4.0 GPA and “planned events” for the culture club. An education has to be complemented with practical experience.
This week we are highlighting a range of quality internships in public relations.
Elevate PR. A PR and social media agency based in Dublin. The intern will participate in the planning and execution of innovative and savvy campaigns for Elevate’s various clients. Inquire now.
Internship opportunities galore! Available placements include working with a global food growing movement, an after-school intervention organization, and in occupational therapy.
It’s rabbit season. No, it’s duck season! Nope, it’s actually job season. It always is, isn’t it?
In order to help you get your dream job, we’ve compiled this set of links covering various aspects of the job process. With this link pack, you’ll be well on your way to becoming the ultimate super person employers would die to hire.