Happy National Intern Day to all our current, past and future Kaya Interns!
National Intern Day was first recognized in 2017 and is celebrated on last Thursday in July each year. The idea behind it is to recognize and celebrate future leaders as they begin their careers as interns, while encouraging businesses to invest in the development of young people.
While the primary focus is on helping US businesses to provide inclusive, supported learning environments within companies, we also want to highlight the importance of global internship programs around the world, and how interning abroad as part of your academic journey can provide a valuable springboard into a successful career.
Why should I do an internship?
As you prepare to enter the workforce, an internship provides so many benefits;
1. Work experience
Working alongside people in an industry gives you great insight into what people in those jobs have to do day-to-day. You can learn the tricks of the trade, see the skills and knowledge they use, the activities they are involved with, and the dynamics of a workplace environment. With that, you’ll know what is important to focus on for your resume, your job applications and in your interviews
2. Insight to the industry
Until you work in an industry, most people don’t really know the many different roles and positions that exist, the industry challenges and what employers in that field find important. This can help you identify your dream role and research specific information around it to better position yourself for a future job in that role!
3. Transition from study to work environment
Employers worry that people who are new to the workforce might have a hard time transitioning from an academic environment to a real world workplace. This includes understanding the hierarchy of a company, work and time expectations and delivering to demands of customers and other stakeholders. Internships allow time for that transition and reassure future employees that you understand what they will demand of you
4. Networking
Working alongside professionals in your chosen field can provide you with honest insight, respected references, and if you make a great impression, even a future mentor in the field!
5. Identifying what you DON’T want to do
As much as an internship can help you find what you WANT to do as a career, it can also be very useful in helping you discover what you DON”T want to do! If your idea of your dream job is actually nothing like you imagined, then you can look at other options without burning any bridges. If you do an internship while you are still studying, it can even direct what classes you choose to take next!
These are just some of the great benefits to be had by participating in an internship
Why should I do an internship abroad?
So we know why an internship is valuable, but why do an internship abroad? When you do an internship abroad, in addition to all the other regular benefits of interning, you actually can gain so much more!
Intercultural competency
For a start, your experience abroad goes beyond just that of the workplace. As well as navigating the workplace, you are also navigating a new culture and environment outside of work. The soft skills developed in doing this enhance your global competency and intercultural integration skills. They tell an employer that you can handle a challenge and can navigate an environment working with people from different backgrounds and cultures. Even domestically, most modern businesses operate In a global environment – with employees, customers and suppliers from all over the world. Your future employers will know that you are experienced in managing those relationships and communications.
Guranteed placements
While domestic internships can often be competitive and exclusive, international internship providers, like Kaya, work to place you in a guaranteed position, providing that foot in the door that allows you to demonstrate your skills and go on to get a prestigious internship back at home.
Fulfill education requirements
Many institutions require students to include a global experience in their academic paths. An internship abroad can often be done for credit, helping you graduate earlier with work experience already on your resume.
A supported internship experience
International internship providers, like Kaya, offer a range of support services that guide you through your internship experience. Our teams work with company supervisors to ensure they are prepared to receive an intern and support their interns in their work. Our ground teams meet with our interns to check their progress and help them navigate difficult situations and set up internship placements to provide an “Internship-learning” environment for those new to the workforce.
These are just a few of the benefits of interning abroad – as well as the adventure and exploration that comes from immersing in a new country and its culture.
Kaya internships are unique in the way that they focus on “impact” – placements with social and environmental benefits, for the leaders of tomorrow that want to bring globally-responsible practices to future industry. Whether those are placements in healthcare, environmental sciences, ethical trade, government, social services or the hundreds of other career paths where global awareness matters, we are proud to celebrate the Kaya interns that are setting out to make a better world for us all!
Check out all the Kaya internship options – to get started on your internship journey!
Happy National Internship Day to you all!
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