Saying yes to an internship abroad, and then some

03 Jun Saying yes to an internship abroad, and then some

@Eva St. Marie, a business major at @San Diego State University, did not expect her summer internship in Barcelona to lead her to the incredible things that followed. One minute, she’s applying her classroom learning to a Spanish company, and the next, she’s working as an intern at the company that sent her to Barcelona in the first place!

“I can’t help but reflect on how full circle this moment feels. Not long ago, I was a student applying for my first international internship through [Absolute Internship]. Fast forward to today, I’m now part of the team helping create the kind of experiences that once impacted me,” she wrote in a LinkedIn post.

“This experience has changed me as a person. I believe I’ve grown a lot.”

You might be wondering how this unfolded. Let’s start from the beginning.

A business development and marketing internship in Barcelona

Eva’s internship with @Heaven Massage Barcelona gave her hands-on experience in her field of study. As a business major, this exposure to relevant real-world tasks is invaluable. She assisted with corporate outreach and sales strategy development, helping the company expand its client database. She was also tasked with analyzing competitors and coming up with promos to increase profitability.

With any business, marketing is crucial, and Eva had the opportunity to dabble in the field and contribute to the company’s campaigns. This included performing competitor analysis and creating content to improve Heaven Massage’s online presence. Offline presence is just as important, of course, and Eva got to assist with event planning as well.

With fellow students in the internship abroad program

“This experience taught me so much about international business, digital marketing, client communication, and how small businesses adapt and grow in a global setting. I’m incredibly thankful for everything I’ve learned and the amazing people I’ve met,” she shared.

A bonus opportunity as an intern abroad

Eva’s international internship was coursed through Absolute Internship, and along with being an international intern, she accepted the role as Absolute Creator.

Absolute Creators are tasked with documenting their individual journeys in hopes of inspiring their peers to go on their own internships abroad. That said, Eva took photos and videos of her time in Barcelona and beyond, created content, and posted on her social media pages throughout the program.

Weekend trip to Morocco

Being an Absolute Creator sounds fun (and honestly, it is) but it’s not just a simple side gig. Sharing photos, videos, and stories across LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok with goals of spreading awareness, encouraging engagement, and getting people to take action is social media marketing. And with that comes experience and learnings—ones that Sofia can put on her resume and use in her future career.

The formula for a memorable international internship

An internship abroad is never just the internship itself. The full experience comes with self-discovery, a ton of learning, and new friends. In the eight weeks of her global program, Eva experienced the following:

• Working in a productive internship that applied her industry and soft skills to a real-world setting
• Taking her learnings in marketing further as an Absolute Creator
• Living alone in Barcelona, developing independence, adaptability, and problem-solving skills, among others
• Making connections with people at work and with fellow students in the internship program
• Traveling beyond Spain, to Croatia and Morocco, on her days off and immersing herself in new cultures

Cultural trip to Parc Güell

“Interning abroad is life-changing. It pushes you out of your comfort zone, builds your confidence, and connects you with opportunities you never imagined. The experience was truly transformative,” she said. “I loved it so much that I decided to continue working with Absolute Internship after my program ended.”

An ambassador for international education

After her internship in Barcelona, Eva was invited to be an Absolute Internship Ambassador. Similar to being an Absolute Creator, the goal was to show students the transformative impact of international opportunities and encourage them to embark on their own internship abroad journeys. This is achieved by representing the program in relevant events, such as university career fairs.

Eva didn’t hesitate to say yes, and soon, she was at @University of California, Irvine, speaking with students about international internships and sharing her own experience.

“If you’re even thinking about going abroad, I can’t recommend this experience enough.”

“It was rewarding to support students by answering their questions and addressing any concerns they had. I enjoyed putting several of my skills to use, including sales, communication, public speaking, relationship-building, active listening, and problem-solving, while helping students explore their global career paths,” she reflected.

Being an Ambassador is a great learning experience. It’s a fantastic way to practice and improve soft skills that are useful no matter the company, country, or industry. Naturally, it is also an impressive addition to one’s resume.

Care for another internship?

At this point, Eva has worked with Absolute Internship twice. She knows and trusts the organization, and the organization knows and trusts her back. And so when a remote internship role that aligned well with her skills became available, it was pretty much kismet.

Today, Eva creates daily content for the company’s LinkedIn and Instagram pages. She also tracks performance and then adjusts her content strategy based on her analysis. With this internship, she is able to put her social media marketing skills into practice and gain further experience in the field. 

“It’s been an incredible hands-on experience blending creativity with strategy and learning what it really takes to build a global brand,” she reflected. “[I’m] grateful for the opportunity, the growth, and the team that makes it all happen.”

What’s next for Eva?

Well, we haven’t exactly gotten there yet, but with her enthusiasm, skills, and eagerness to learn, we’re sure more incredible opportunities await Eva!

Eva’s story is just one of many examples of how a transformative internship abroad can open the door to even more life-changing opportunities. Say yes to an international internship today. Send us a message to get started.