Securing a summer internship as an international student is a great way to kickstart your new career abroad. It provides an excellent opportunity to gain relevant skills through local hands-on work experience, explore your field of study, and build a professional network. After completing your internship, the employer might hire you for a full-time role at their company. While exciting, finding the right summer internship as an international student can be overwhelming due to the application process, visa regulations, and cultural nuances. In this article, we will outline practical steps to help you score a summer internship.
Pro Tips to Score a Summer Internship
Where to start?
- Start Your Research Early– It is always good to start researching the different employers in your field offering summer internships in advance. It is important to research early as many summer internships have deadlines that close before the summer starts. You can start your research by exploring platforms such as LinkedIn and Indeed. Attend career fairs hosted by your university as these events are excellent opportunities to meet recruiters directly early on. There might be some country-specific job platforms that you can explore as well. For example, in New Zealand- New Zealand Internships is one of the platforms used by international students to find out about the different internship opportunities.
- Leverage Your University’s Career Centre And Your Existing Network– Most international universities have a career centre that offers free-of-cost services to all its students. Your university’s career can help you with finding openings, connect you with alumni in the same field, interview prep, and review your CV or cover letter. Additionally, remember to leverage your existing network of classmates and lecturers as they might be able to connect you with the right people in the industry. Once you find a relevant network at your desired place of work, do not hesitate to ask them questions or ask them for a coffee chat when possible to develop authentic connections and learn more about the company, their role and potential internship opportunities.
What next?
- Tailor Your Application– Ensure that you tailor each application according to the requirements of the summer internship. Make sure to include transferable skills such as teamwork, communication, adaptability etc. that you have been able to build throughout your studies, prior internships or volunteering experiences. Highlight your unique background as an international student in the application and how would that add to the company’s goals, vision and culture.
- Interview Prep– Develop an understanding of the different behavioural, role or industry-specific questions that the interviewee might ask and practice with a peer or career counsellor. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to frame your answers. The STAR method is a globally recognised framework used to convey clarity and impact in interviews. At the end of the interview, make sure you are asking the interviewer any questions that you might have, this shows your genuine interest and enthusiasm for the role.
- Seek Feedback– It is important to acknowledge that it may take you multiple tries to land the right summer internship, so do not get disheartened. It is important to always remember to follow up and if unsuccessful in your application to ask for feedback from the employers. This will help you improve your future applications increasing your chances of success.
Overcoming Challenges as an International Student
- Visa Requirements– Alongside researching and applying for summer internships, it is important to check your visa regulations to be aware of your work rights as an international student. You can do so by looking up the country’s official, government study abroad website. For example, if you are an international student studying in Australia, you would go to the Study with Australia website and look at the Work in Australia section. You can also confirm the same from your university’s international office.
- Cultural Differences– Be mindful of cultural differences and pay attention to professional etiquette, communication styles, and team dynamics. Ask your experienced classmates, lecturers and career counsellors for tips to ease yourself into the internship application process and what to expect from a summer internship. Seeking help will also help to ease your transition into a professional corporate environment and make a good first impression.
Scoring a summer internship as an international student may require extra effort and time but the benefits are invaluable. By starting early, reaching out to the right people, tailoring your application, showcasing your unique experiences and addressing potential challenges proactively, we surely believe that you can secure a role that aligns with your career aspirations whether you find a paid or unpaid opportunity, summer internships open doors for career growth, making them a stepping stone in your professional journey abroad.
