Have you ever considered getting an internship abroad? For some students, the thought of getting an internship abroad is daunting. Even getting an internship at home can be tough, much less in a different country, with different visa or work requirements, a different language, a different culture... Suffice it to say the list can be intimidating.

We're going to explore the benefits of getting an internship abroad as well as the ways you could pursue such an opportunity and some of the ways you can leverage your internship after you've experienced it (future career, etc.)

However, for right now, we're just going to focus on why you might want to consider the effort involved in an international internship.

You can develop multicultural communication and problem solving skills.
One of the most important benefits of interning abroad is not only getting to interact with people from another culture (which a study abroad experience would generally incorporate), but getting to work with people. Working to meet a common set of goals or objectives requires perseverance, communication, and adaptability. Working to meet a common set of goals within an international context requires all of that and creative problem solving. You'll need patience and humility to be able to admit your mistakes (which are inevitable) and work to find common understanding.

You can improve your language skills.
Obviously if you're pursuing an internship in a country where English is not the first language, you'll have the opportunity to really enhance your knowledge of the language by using it in an everyday work setting. That communication is the type of valuable experience that will really cement your ability to use the language for the rest of your life.

You can work in a new field and potentially gain experience you wouldn't be able to gain at home.
Frequently if you have a company in mind or work with a placement agency, you may be able to gain access to a segment of the market that would be extremely competitive and difficult to get an internship in at home. There are excellent opportunities to expand your skills and challenge yourself within the international internship field. We'll discuss this more in how to find an internship.

You can enhance your resume.
All of the cross-cultural communication, language, and problem solving skills you'll be working hard to develop display characteristics that employers want. By proving you can work in a setting that requires you to adapt and communicate effectively, you show you can conquer two of the biggest challenges new employees face when entering the work force or trying to fit into a new company. This makes you a much more attractive job candidate than your peer who stayed home and worked at his dad's business all four summers.

You can build international relationships with professionals in your field who may be able to help you find a position after you graduate.
This point is related to the previous one, but a slightly different advantage. Networking is a vital skill in most careers today and having an international network can be a huge advantage, particularly if you decide you want to work for an international company or pursue any range of opportunities around the globe.

You can participate in an internship in a community that needs help.
Another interesting aspect of pursuing an internship abroad is that you can potentially combine it with another interest such as volunteering or working for an organization that engages in community development or service of some type.

While a few students will find great paying international internships, the primary benefit to such an experience is in the points we've explored in this article. The return on investment is incredible, but you may not see the immediate pay-off you would from a higher paying summer job at home. Only you know what's important to you and whether the benefits you would achieve from pursuing an international internship make it worth the effort required and the sacrifice it might mean monetarily.

Next month we'll be exploring more information on internships abroad and how to find the one that's right for you and pursue it so be sure to check back in.

Find study abroad scholarships for internships.