International Opportunities
The ability to travel and immerse yourself in another culture is one of the greatest benefits of interning abroad, however there are many important considerations to think about before you decide if an experience abroad is right for you. Research and planning are key to finding an international internship that meets both your personal and professional goals.
It is important to consider your career goals, skillset, finances, time commitment, housing needs, transportation, and desired work schedule and ensure that they align with the internship job description and the employer offering the opportunity.
Not to worry, you are not alone…we are here to help! We encourage you to take the time to speak with a BCE Career advisor to help you better identify and assess the opportunities and benefits of studying abroad based on your field of interest.
Internship Abroad Resources
- Berkeley Global Internships program. This program offers project-based in-person and virtual academic internships in a variety of industries and is open to students of all majors and class levels. You may also earn academic credit while gaining practical internship experience in locations around the world.
- GoinGlobal This program provides country guides, career guides, and global employment and internship opportunities. A diligent online search can help you discover even more resources than what is presented here.
- U.S. Department of State accepts students for non-paid internships in their embassies around the world.
- Handshake Always check Handshake as employers often post positions for all geographic regions.
- Overseas Jobs
- International Jobs Center
Steps You Can Take To Prep
- Devote time to acquiring professional skills, knowledge, and experience related to your chosen career. This will strengthen your resume and give you a competitive advantage when applying those international opportunities. A great way to accomplish this is by and by interning or volunteering here in the U.S.
- Network in the career fields that interest you and let people know what you want to do and what you have to offer. If you plan to study abroad, take advantage of that opportunity to intern in your career field in that host country- cultivate your contacts, leads, and network!
- Work on refining your resume (both the U.S. and the host country’s version).
- If you are interested in working abroad by going through a particular organization, check out the information carefully. Find out if you can talk to any recent participants and ask them tough questions about what they liked/disliked about the organization; get a clear idea of what the organization can offer in terms of an internship/job so that you know what to expect; determine what, if any, support the organization can give you in the host country.