INTERN ABROAD
An internship abroad is a great way to combine travel with work experience! You will be able to develop your professional skills within an international environment and work with people from diverse backgrounds. While most interns work for a pre-determined period of time, as an intern you will be an attractive candidate should there be a need to hire additional permanent employees. Whether you stay at your internship site for an extended period, or leave when you complete your program, the skills you acquire will enhance your resume and come in handy later on in your career.
Grant Opportunity
Christianson Grant - Grant award of up to $10,000 for students who have arranged their own international volunteer or internship positions for six months or longer.
A FEW THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE YOU GO
• Your motivation: Being in a new country where you might not know the language or the people could potentially be a very stressful situation. Serious thinking should go into assessing your financial, emotional, and professional readiness for an internship abroad.
• Skills and qualifications: You should assess your skills to see if your professional skills and experience are appropriate for the internship that you are considering. How can your sponsors benefit by having you as an intern? For a list of some important skills, see the Skills Checklist.
• Resume: While US businesses require a resume, many overseas employers request a curriculum vitae (CV). A CV is similar to a resume but includes some personal information, and educational and academic background. Check to see what the employer asks for and look at sample CV’s or resumes, which are easily available via the web or books in the Career Center and International Resource Center.
Quick Links:
Third Party Placement Agencies - Governmental and Inter-Governmental - Private Organizations- Internship & Practicum Forms
CSU AFFILIATED PROGRAMS
Centre Songhai
Benin, West Africa, International Development Internship. Since 1985, Centre Songai has created sustainable living opportunities through agricultural training,research and production. Centre Songhai's mission is to improve the lives of disadvantaged African townspeople and farmers by training them in progressive and sustainable agriculture methods. Click for more information.
Dublin, Ireland
From politics to science to the arts, the internship team can provide a broad spectum of intellectually engaging internships based on your field of interest, internship goals, and skills. For more information
GENERAL RESOURCES
Idealist
www.idealist.orgAlso known as Action Without Borders, this website has a search engine with internship positions posted directly by host organizations. Because most of the organizations that post vacancies here are non-profit, many of the internships are unpaid.
Intern Abroad
www.internabroad.comThis page also has a comprehensive search engine of internship programs that can be queried according to location and type of internship. Unlike directly finding organizations like the ones found on Idealist.org, your search will usually yield third-party agencies (see below) which may not offer internship programs but will match interested applicants with other organizations for a fee.
Transitions Abroad
www.transitionsabroad.comOffers numerous useful, well-researched articles about working and living overseas.
IAESTE
www.iaeste.orgThe IAESTE (International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience) placement program matches students majoring in a technical field with paid internships abroad.
AIESEC
www.aiesec.orgAIESEC (International Association of Students in Economic and Commercial Sciences) is an international work exchange organization that facilitates international professional experience among young adults.
Third Party Placement Agencies
There are many non-profit organizations that offer short-term internship programs around the world. Applicants often pay a program fee to cover administrative costs and certain expenses such as housing and meals. You should know what additional expenses you will be responsible for prior to enrolling. By using a search engine such as InternAbroad.com, you can find other placement agencies that match you preferences.
ELI
www.eliabroad.orgELI (Experimental Learning International) is a Colorado –based non-profit organization that seeks to place interns in meaningful and fulfilling positions working on a variety of projects worldwide.
Boston University Internship Program
http://www.bu.edu/abroad/Boston University administers several for-credit programs at overseas partner institutions which combine internship experience as well as academic study.
Internships International
http://www.rtpnet.org/intintlInternship International is one of the premier placement organizations that help students find short-term internship positions that fit their goals and interests at a placement fee of approximately $1,100.
CDS
http://www.cdsintl.org/Arranges internships in Spain, Argentina and Germany for young professionals. Fees vary.
GOVERNMENTAL AND INTER-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
Some government-related organizations have internship programs aimed at providing real-world experience to those interested in pursuing a career in public service. They can be organized regionally or around specific issue areas such as women’s rights, economic development, or the environment.
US State Department
http://www.state.gov/careersThe State Department offers students interested in pursuing careers in the foreign service an opportunity to intern with U.S. embassies overseas.
Yahoo! Directory
http://dir.yahoo.com/government/Directories of popular search engines can be a great place to start. The Yahoo! Directory contains a list of some popular inter-governmental agencies and links to their web pages.
UN
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/internships.htmThis site provides a listing of many UN agencies that hire interns. Interns are responsible for all costs. Most internships are for graduate students.
European Union
http://europa.eu/Non-EU citizens are able to apply for internships with various offices located through Europe. Knowledge of at least two EU languages is highly recommended.
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND PRIVATE VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS
There are as many non-governmental organizations as there are interests. Chances are that you already know of many in your field of interest. If would you like to work for a particular organization, you can contact the human resources officer directly to see if there are internship positions available. If an internship program does not exist, consider submitting an internship proposal of your own. Small grassroots associations in local communities around the world may also have opportunities that are not widely publicized. You will need to inquire about possible internships personally, and be assertive in marketing your skills. The organizations featured below are only a sampling of the opportunities available. Don’t hesitate to do some additional research!
Duke University NGO Library
http://docs.lib.duke.edu/This is an excellent site that educates visitors on the roles and functions of NGO’s. It contains a great directory that lists organizations by geographical location and issues.
International Alert
www.international-alert.orgInternational alert is a human rights organization with regional offices around the world. They work closely with the EU and UN to help decision makers to help shape international policy.
Femmes Africa Solidarite
www.fasngo.org/An NGO aimed at promoting gender-equity in managing and resolving conflicts, the Femmes Africa Solidarite has offices in Geneva, Dakar, and New York.
World Wildlife Fund
www.panda.orgThe WWF initiates and facilitates thousands of conservation projects throughout the world. Internships in regional offices are available depending on project needs.
RESOURCES AT CSU
The Office of International Programs located on the north end of Laurel Hall is also a great place to begin your search. The International Resource Center in the Study Abroad Office has several books that are helpful in looking for professional experience overseas. In addition, you can also meet with a Study Abroad or International Education coordinator who can provide you with other resources. To make an appointment, call 491-5917 or email intled@colostate.edu.
*Disclaimer: Inclusion of a program on this list should not be interpreted as an endorsement by CSU. We cannot vouch for the authenticity or accuracy of programs outside of CSU. Please do careful research, including discussions with those who have participated in the program you are considering. Failure to provide the name of participants as references should be viewed as a “red flag.”