How to Make the Most of Your MBA Internship Abroad
An internship is a great way to kick-start your career. It
gives you the opportunity to gain real world experience and make important
connection with people in the field you're interested in. Doing an internship
abroad is an even more valuable experience, because it also allows you to
experience a new culture and sets you apart from the pack.
Whether in your home country, or abroad, the trick is to
make the most of your 40+ hour workweek. This can be a life changing and
formative experience, but you'll only get out of an internship abroad what
you're willing to work for. Keep the following tips in mind to ensure that your
internship experience is the best it can be.
1. Before arriving, research the business culture
Dress code, etiquette, hierarchy, and the importance of
being on time; these are the basics of any work situation that you have likely
already figured out in your own culture, however, there may be key differences
between practices in your home country and the one you will be working in.
2. Have a positive attitude
When you're used to work being done a certain way, it's easy
to get frustrated if your host country's work ethic is be completely at odds
with yours. The business culture may feel too rigid or too relaxed, and some of
your coworkers' behavior might be downright offensive. At the end of the day,
it's important to always be patient and keep a positive attitude. At the very
least, you'll be gaining invaluable experience by working within and learning
from a different type of corporate culture.
3. Work hard!
Don't settle for the minimum requirements, and always go
above and beyond what you're asked to do. Working hard, especially at the
outset, is the best way to make a good impression and to set yourself up for
success in the future. Additionally, asking for more work - without making a
song and dance about it in front of your colleagues - will demonstrate to your
supervisors how capable and conscientious you are. Just be sure not to outshine
your boss, either!
4. Network
You may think that since you're in a "faraway
land," it isn't important to develop and maintain close networks with your
colleagues. When will you see them again, anyways? Wrong! The opportunity you
have to network with your co-workers, boss, and others in the country is quite
probably one of the most valuable aspects of working abroad. With the ever
increasing rate of globalization and international expansion in the world
today, it's entirely feasible that your future employer may open new offices in
your country, or will someday expand internationally. You can never predict
when your international connections will come in handy, so don't be afraid to
get your network on!
5. Make friends with your coworkers and hang out with them
outside work
This suggestion has less to do with your professional life
and more to do with your personal one, but it is still just as essential and
important as the rest - doubly so if you're in a country with a different
native language than your own. We all know the benefits of being friends with
your coworkers, but in your international case, these people are your lifeline
to the place you live, as they'll take you out, show you around, and give you
the locals' lowdown on how to get around wherever you are. Similarly, make
friends with people outside the workplace by joining a club, or attending a
religious gathering, in order to diversify your friend group.
6. Study and practice the language
If you're currently studying the language spoken in your
chosen country, or if you're simply an amateur enthusiast looking to develop
your talent of the tongue, consider taking a language class outside of working
hours. In order to master a new language, you'll need to try as hard as you can
to limit how much you speak your native language. It's important to shed your
fear of making mistakes and embarrassing yourself, and there is no better
circumstance to acquire a new language than living and working in the country
where the language is spoken.
7. Live with native roommates
This might be the most challenging task, but it really
doesn't have to be. We all know it's hard enough to find a roommate you get
along with in your own country, in your own culture, and so the prospect of
living with someone from a different culture is a pretty scary thought. Having
said that, if you can find a roommate you think you'll get along with, the
benefits of cohabiting with a foreign roommate are innumerable.
8. Be curious and ask questions
In both your personal and professional life abroad, don't be
afraid to ask questions. While it may be embarrassing to display your
misunderstanding or ignorance on a subject, quietly clarifying things with a
colleague or friend you trust may help you avoid really embarrassing yourself
in the meeting with the CEO tomorrow morning, or heading to that part of town
that not even locals dare enter.
9. Request a letter of recommendation
This is another key opportunity that you cannot miss out on.
The good news is that most, if not all, types of business cultures are
comfortable with this practice. The only question is how to go about requesting
the letter, and indeed who you should ask to write you one. Check in with a
coworker for their opinion before asking the CEO to write you a recommendation
letter - it could be better to ask a lower-level colleague.
10. Travel on your days off
This is a perk only afforded to those interning abroad - the
chance to travel to Machu Picchu, the Australian Outback, Teotihuacan, or
Oktoberfest. These are once in a lifetime opportunities that you won't want to
pass up. Request days off work or plan around your schedule to make sure you
balance your internship with your personal life.
Collection by
Mr.Prakash Bhosale
eBarnding India Technologies
Ph +91 8097027355 , + 91
9222086563 , SMS + 91 9224335234
WhatsApp :- 9867806399 , Skype
:- eBrandingIndia
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