Tips For Finding an International Business Internship

Choosing an international business degree with the hopes of landing an international career after graduation is no longer a surefire action plan for students. With the current economic climate, being proactive before graduating and doing an international business internship is the best course of action. The only drawback is that a majority of internships abroad fall out of the private sector. No to fear. Business students are armed with all the necessary tools to get a business internship abroad.

Here are some tools and tips to add to your search:

Photo by geishaboy500; creative commons license.

1. Identify large multi-national corporations that have their headquarters or subsidiaries abroad.
Find the companies that are best suited to build your work experience. Use resources like Wikipedia and Google to identify these corporations. Large names like, Sony, L’Oreal, Unilever, Shell, etc all have offices in multiple countries. Start by identifying those larger names and work through their website for internship possibilities.

2. Investigate opportunities with Consulate Offices abroad.
The Consulate Office functions just as any other business would with the exception that they are representing a country rather than any business in particular. Start by checking the State Department website. Depending on the country that you would like to work in, you may be eligible to apply to a Consulate Office different than your home country. This will depend on the individual Consulate Office. Also note that Consulates typically are located in the capital city or a major cities in that country. Assess whether or not living in a major city for you internship is what you want.

3. Research and connect with business associations.
Business associations, particularly those who house international businesses or subsidiaries of an international business, are a great starting place for an international business internship. Both the U.S and Canada have chambers of commerce in many countries abroad and may offer internships in their own office or help to connect you with their members. Start searching at www.uschamber.com/international/directory or  http://www.chamber.ca/index.php/en/about-us/C105/. Other groups that may be helpful are the International Chamber of Commerce, the Foreign Trade Association to name a few.

4. Utilize your college alumni network.
The alumni network is a powerful web of people that have already experienced where you are in your search for a business internship. They are eager to share job-hunting advice and their experiences leading to an international career. Quite often, the international alums may occupy positions of influence overseas and can facilitate an internship more quickly. The key as always when networking is to demonstrate your value, even though you may not have a long list of experience, through your humility and passion for the experience.

5. Find someone who has already done either an international business internship or had an international career.
Identify which professors, alumni or outside professionals would be good to have an informational interview. Start by speaking to the alumni office, the career center or the professors who teach international centric classes (i.e. foreign language, literature, music, etc).

6. Consider offering work unpaid.
In the recent e-book, “Recession-Proof Graduate” by Charlie Hoehn he emphasizes the advantages of offering unpaid work. According to Hoehn, unpaid work has the ability to “rapidly advance your career path and find work that you actually care about.” This alternative eases the legal process (e.g. working visas) and demonstrates how committed you are to a private sector internship abroad. Negotiate in free housing or a small living stipend.

7. Meet with people face-to-face in that country.
For a productive and efficient trip, identify the companies that interest you the most in that country. Make a list of the business associations and expatriate networks. Start reaching out to these groups before you leave and make personal contacts. Once you arrive abroad, visit the businesses; go to lunch with people from the expatriate networks, etc. Another helpful tool is to speak with the local international schools. Express that you are visiting and interested in pursuing an international internship in the private sector. They are quite often very willing to help.

8. Follow up! Follow up! Follow up!
The nature of the expatriate community is to be extremely helpful. Approaching these groups with humility and enthusiasm for an international business internship will open more doors for you. Their time is valuable so be respectful and mindful of this. By following up on your conversations with them, you will demonstrate your business skills and your dedication.

The private sector offers an enormous amount of possibility for an international business student. Use the search not as a task for your internship but as a journey to achieve your international career. What is most exciting in the expatriate community is building that base of like-minded individuals who share a passion for culture, history and traveling. Start building that base today.