Internships
In your world-wide search, you may find that “internships” are defined and named in different ways. Common to all of these experiences is the opportunity to develop skills and explore careers through a combination of hands-on work, specialized training, and personal mentoring. To find the option that’s right for you, it’s important to identify specific goals for your experience and to share them with a potential “mentor” organization to find out how you will both grow professionally and contribute to that institution’s mission. Begin your planning with these tips and resources
Read the following information and then click on Job Search Resources!
Internship Opportunities – what they might look like
- Formal industry- or organization-based opportunities
- Formal country-initiated internships for foreigners
- Informal arrangements made by you with an organization or business
- Component of study/intern abroad programs
Key Issues
- Set Goals
Identify your five top goals for getting experience abroad. Which are non-negotiable, which are flexible?
- Time and Timing
Can you dedicate sufficient time to meet your goals? Are you going abroad during a time of year that accommodates short-term work in your host country or will you have to strategize around timing?
- Internship Listings
Because “internships” are defined in different ways world wide, there’s no one source list. It’s best to check broader international listings that include work, internships, and volunteering to find appropriate opportunities.
- Personal Network
Your network – friends, family, teachers, co-workers, Brandeis alums, and supervisors – is very important in locating and negotiating internships abroad. Get in touch, share your goals and ideas, and seek out advice and referrals.
- Visas and Legal Matters
Internships can be subject to specific visa requirements. Are you eligible to work legally in your host country? What are the regulations about working (paid or unpaid, any amount, however small!)? What are the procedures to gain proper authorization? International students at Brandeis who want to intern in the U.S. should seek expert advice at the ISSO.
- Financial Matters
Most internships are unsalaried and you will have to support yourself while you work. Do you have a solid estimate of the total costs you’ll incur? Are there scholarships and grants to help you fund your work? Can your host organization help with room, board, or transportation? If you use a program to arrange your internship, the program may charge a fee; is financial aid available from the provider?
Best Search Strategies
- Your network: share your interests and goals with your broad group of personal, academic, and work contacts
- Advertised internships: use full-time work, internship, and volunteer resources
- Self-initiated contact and negotiation with an organization that is doing the kind of work you’d like to explore
Special Considerations and Tips
- Cost: You’ll determine what’s right for you; be sure to have a good idea of the total cost, including international and in-country transportation, living expenses, incidentals, insurance, additional travel or sightseeing, passport, inoculations, specialized equipment, etc.
- Compensation: If an organization cannot provide a salary, inquire if they might consider assisting you with housing costs, commuting costs, or meals, for example, during your stay.
- Brandeis International Centers and Experts: Consult the many regional and international centers and experts at Brandeis to learn about opportunities, receive advice about the country you’d like to visit, and get connected with others who have interned in the past.
- Brandeis Credit or Transcript Notation: You may want to investigate the options for academic credit or transcript notation for your internship.
- See the “Volunteering” section: Some of the issues, tips, and resources related to volunteering may apply to internships as well.
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