02 May How to Avoid Unconscious Bias During Your Internship Abroad
In a world where discrimination and inequality still persist, choosing to intern abroad can be a massive step toward your growth—both professionally and personally. An international internship teaches you to be more culturally competent. This then leads you to a more meaningful career later on, and helps you become a better and more empathic person overall.
Learning to recognize and unlearn your unconscious biases while you’re still a student can only do you good. As a future leader, it is important to learn how to become someone who uplifts and includes everyone, regardless of their background, gender, abilities, or beliefs.
But first, what is unconscious bias and why does it matter?
Unconscious bias refers to the automatic judgments and stereotypes that we form about people without realizing it. For example, Engineering is an industry dominated by men, so you might assume that international engineering internships would have more male students participating.
These biases are influenced by many things, like our upbringing, the people we surround ourselves with, and the media we consume. Everyone has biases, and having them doesn’t mean you’re a bad person. However, it’s important to be aware of your biases so you can actively work to counter them. This, then, is what makes you a good person.
To help you understand it better, here are four of the most common types of unconscious bias you might encounter:
What are the most common types of unconscious bias?
Affinity bias
Affinity bias happens when you naturally gravitate toward people who are similar to you. This could be because they share your background, values, or interests. While it’s human nature to feel more comfortable around people you relate to, this can unintentionally exclude others.
Confirmation bias
This bias is when you focus on and look for information that supports what you already know and believe in, and ignore anything that contradicts them. Consequently, confirmation bias can limit your understanding of people and situations.
Gender bias
Gender bias refers to preferring one gender over another. Earlier, we mentioned how Engineering internships tend to attract more male students. On the other hand, female students are often expected to lean toward internships in Marketing, with 60% of its workforce being women. This can lead to unfair advantages and even shame for those who don’t want to conform.
Halo effect
The halo effect is when you let one good or bad thing about a person affect your entire impression of them. In the office, an example of this is if you assume a teammate is smart and organized—without proof—just because they’re good at public speaking. This can affect your ability to think critically and lead to unfair decisions.
These are just four of the many different types of unconscious biases. Now that you know some of the most common ones, let’s talk about how you can recognize yours and avoid them during your internship abroad.
How can you identify your own unconscious biases?
The first big step is to just pay attention. Observe your automatic reactions and assumptions. Ask yourself why you feel a certain way about someone or something. Are your feelings based on facts, or are they shaped by stereotypes?
There might be a bit of shame when you realize your biases. That’s totally okay. We all grow up in environments that shape how we see the world. Again, it doesn’t make you a bad person. What matters is that you’re choosing to work towards being better. It takes honesty, humility, and practice—and you’re already on the right track by being self-aware.
What can I do to avoid unconscious bias during my internship abroad?
During your international internship program, you will be exposed to new cultures, norms, and work practices. You’ll encounter people with beliefs and values different from yours. When you pay attention to your thoughts, you may start noticing times when your unconscious biases surface. This is your chance to reflect on and challenge your assumptions.
Here are seven practical ways to work on it:
Educate yourself
Before and during your internship, take time to read about the unfamiliar culture you’re entering. Learn about social customs, gender roles, and community values. This reduces the risk of you making unfair assumptions.
Challenge your first impressions
When meeting someone new, resist the urge to form quick judgments. Give your teammates the space to show their skills, capability, and character over time.
Diversify your circles
Make a conscious effort to interact with different groups during your internship. Whether you’re teaming up with others for a project or having lunch with colleagues, mix it up. As a bonus, connecting with more people means you leave your internship with a wider and more diverse professional network!
Practice active listening
Focus on truly understanding what others are saying instead of planning your response while they speak. This not only helps you become more empathic and makes you a better communicator—and friend, frankly—but it also reduces bias-based misunderstandings.
Hold yourself accountable
Keep track of moments when you catch yourself making biased assumptions. Reflect on them and identify patterns so you can work on changing your behavior.
Seek feedback
Ask your teammates and supervisors for constructive feedback about your communication and collaboration style. Being open to criticism helps you grow and unlearn biases that you may not have even noticed on your own. We’re sure they’ll appreciate your initiative!
Join inclusive internship programs
Look for internship providers that support and empower marginalized communities, including women in STEM and business, as well as BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ students. These programs are designed to foster diversity and make you a more inclusive professional.
Start your internship journey abroad
An internship abroad gets you work experience, but it is also an excellent opportunity to grow into a more culturally aware, open-minded, and inclusive person. It’s your chance to recognize your unconscious biases, challenge them, and build habits that will make you a better teammate, leader, and friend in the future.
At Absolute Internship, we believe in the life-changing benefits of international education—including its ability to foster empathy, cultural awareness, and inclusivity. We’ll help you find an internship that suits your goals, regardless of your background, gender, or identity, and partner with companies that support your personal and professional growth.
Apply for an international internship with us today and experience new cultures, learn from diverse teams, and take meaningful steps toward becoming a globally competent, socially responsible professional.
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