International internships are a type of stepping stone, which in fact are the base of global careers that the majority of people don’t even know exist. If you have it in your plans to work overseas for the long term, doing an internship may be the best decision you ever make, creating options that the regular job search just can’t touch.
Here is what we see as a great value to this approach: through internships you can prove your worth, while at the same time we as companies are investing in your success, which in turn benefits all parties.
The Hidden Pipeline
The best way for an international career to take off is via strategic internships, which in turn lead to internal advocacy and in-depth knowledge that secures permanent positions. At the UNICEF Internship Program, we see that we open doors for students and recent graduates from various academic fields to gain firsthand experience with us through our global internship programs, which also play into how large organizations use internships as a means of recruitment.
What we see is that many of us do not know that international companies use their internships as a way to identify and also develop future full-time employees. These programs are not charity; they are advanced talent acquisition tools that allow companies to evaluate job candidates without the commitment and risk of going ahead with an international hire.
Strategic recruitment of past interns has very high success rates in turning them into full-time employees. We see that companies prefer to hire former interns, which is because we know that these candidates have already adapted to our company culture, work well in international settings, and bring a lot of value to our projects.
Visa Pathways
Grasping visa issues is key to turning internships into long-term careers. In the IAESTE Internship Placement Program, we see that students of technical subjects are given the chance for paid internships abroad. We also see that the program provides pre-support for work visas and accommodations, as well as cultural excursions and networking opportunities.
In the U.S., CPT authorization is a term-by-term issue. Although a student may be with the same internship or short-term employment, this structure shows that international students have options, which in turn may lead to employer sponsorship for long-term employment.
The benefit of internships is that they usually fall into different visa categories, which have faster approval processes. As you prove yourself at a company and they see your value and investment in your growth, transitioning to full-time visas goes much smoothly.
Building the Internal Case
Being successful in making the transition from intern to full-time employee is a result of how you present yourself in the organization. We do see value in pre-departure briefings, help with your resume, post-internship job search support, and alumni networks, but the key to your success is how you use these resources.
Focus on projects that show tangible results and which also grow your networks beyond your immediate team. In the international setting, we see great value in interns who display cultural adaptability, problem-solving in diverse environments, and the ability to work productively across time zones and cultural boundaries.
Document your accomplishments in great detail during the course of your internship. At full-time positions that open up, you will want specific examples of what you brought to the organization’s success. That documentation will be very valuable in the sponsorship talks, which give employers a clear case for investing in your long-term career.
The Employer Sponsorship Strategy
International graduates will have to apply for a different type of work visa, which in most cases will require support from an employer. It is key to prepare how you will respond to the sponsorship question at the start of the process, but having a successful internship experience will transform this discussion.
Employers who have worked with you during your internship and seen firsthand your input are more likely to support your sponsorship than companies that are meeting you for the first time. The internship is a chance to prove your value add and at the same time gives organizations time to put sponsorship processes in place.
In some cases that lead to a green card for F-1 students, we see employer sponsorship. Should you secure employment while in study, your employer may put in an application for an EB-2 or EB-3 green card, which is very doable. Also out of that which begins with internships, we see the base on which these more permanent relationships are built.
Strategic Program Selection
Not all international intern programs provide the same career transition experience. Target organizations that have a history of hiring their interns, which also have international recruitment programs and proven records of visa sponsorship.
Organizations that run the Global Internship Program (GIP) put forth very motivated individuals into the mix, whom they in turn expose to IFC and the World Bank Group’s missions and work, thus integrating them into the largest player in the private sector development. These programs do what is to become a part of the talent pipeline for the organization rather than what is presented as short-term project support.
Research what sectors and businesses are large sponsors of international workers. Go to government websites that publish employer sponsorship lists and put forward these as your top choices for internships. At the same time, be aware that some may provide better short-term benefits but in the end, do not have the best long-term value.
The Network Effect
International internships also build on your immediate manager or department. These connections oftentimes are of greater value than the work experience itself, which puts forth access to inside information on opportunities, introductions to key players, and also in-the-works mentorship.
Maintain connections with colleagues, supervisors, and other interns post-program end. Many international career chances come via referrals and internal recommendations, which in turn do not include public job posts. Your internship network becomes a global professional resource that supports career growth throughout your international experience.
Conclusion
Go after international internships with a focus on long-term career growth instead of short-term experience. Look into companies’ full-time hiring trends, look at their past visa sponsorship, which is a good indicator, and put forth skills and achievements that make you a great fit for permanent recruitment.
Your overseas internship is not a degree in itself; it is a stepping stone to a global career, which at present domestic options do not equal in terms of experience and network.