Global Internships
Global internships are increasingly a focus of international education, and there are a number of providers that facilitate the internship experience, clearinghouses that list internships in various fields, and organizations that provide scholarships for global internships. Certain countries also offer working holiday programs.
As is the case for study abroad, living and working in another country helps students develop a number of skills that employers say are vital in the workplace (World Economic Forum "Future of Jobs Report" 2025):
- Analytical thinking
- Resilience, flexibility, and agility
- Leadership and social influence
- Creative thinking
- Motivation and self-awareness
- Technological literacy
- Empathy and active listening
- Curiosity and life-long learning
- Talent management
- Service orientation and customer service
- Seek internships and jobs with companies that have a global reach or non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
- Seek internships and jobs with companies and nonprofits that work with diverse local populations
- Seek internships and jobs with companies and nonprofits that work on global issues, whether climate change, health and wellness, or poverty
- Build on the intercultural skills you already have, perhaps as a result of speaking more than one language, being a child of immigrant parents, or living as a minoritized person in the U.S., and seek out companies, nonprofits, and volunteer opportunities that will help you apply and refine those skills.