The village that makes an internship extraordinary

06 Jul The village that makes an internship extraordinary

International internships are incredible. Living halfway across the world and experiencing a whole new culture all while securing work experience that will undoubtedly catapult your future career? It’s win after win after win. But honestly, despite all that, an internship abroad is nothing without community. Yup. We said what we said.

Humans are wired for connection. And when you’re miles away from home, your support system and safe spaces, having a community could be the very thing that keeps you together.

Take it from @Brooke Bass, a student from Michigan State University who flew to Madrid last summer for an 8-week Public Relations internship. When talking about her experience, Brooke repeatedly pointed out how the colleagues she worked with and the friends she met made all the difference in her adventure.

Brooke in a weekend trip to Malaga, Spain

“My time abroad has been nothing short of extraordinary. I have met so many amazing people and been to places I never thought I would get to go,” she expressed, thanking everyone who made her trip more memorable.

Who’s everyone? We’re glad you asked. Come meet the people who leveled up Brooke’s global internship experience!

The people who set up an opportunity of a lifetime

It takes a village to bring an internship abroad to life. In Brooke’s case, that village was Absolute Internship.

“I would like to thank @Manuela Gori Reta and Absolute Internship for aiding me in the application process and giving me the tools to set myself up for success,” she wrote in a LinkedIn post.

With fellow students in the global internship program

Structured international internship programs help ease the entire process for students. These programs typically include finding trusted global companies that truly align with your career goals, handling logistics like lodging and travel documents, and ensuring a smooth transition as you adjust to a new city.

An internship abroad is life-changing, but the preparation needed can get overwhelming. Any and all support that you can get can make all the difference.

The people who provided valuable work experience

No student wants an internship where they end up just making coffee or working the photocopier machine. At brand and reputation building agency @MARCO, Brooke got to apply her classroom learnings to the real world and make an actual difference.

Using industry tools both new and familiar, she conducted research on media coverage and industry trends, with her findings being used not just in internal reports but in actual client briefs. She further contributed to campaigns by organizing data, improving efficiency, and refining strategy, skills she was able to hone.

“I excel at keeping projects on track,” her LinkedIn bio reads.

MARCO has clients all around the world, taking Brooke’s global experience to another level. In a LinkedIn post, she credited her supervisors for the “incredible internship experience” she was provided. She gave a shout out to the agency’s UK Lead, @Rita Azevedo, Senior Communications Consultant, @Óscar Valero, and Head of Internal Comms and Stakeholder Relations, @Carlos Alberto García Martín.

“I have gained incredible personal and professional growth throughout this once in a lifetime opportunity. I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to expand my knowledge on marketing and public relations while working with a talented group of professionals,” she said.

The people who made work even more fun

Apart from her supervisors, Brooke worked with fellow MARCO interns, @Sofia Henry and @Joe Yohe both of whom were also part of the program by Absolute Internship. This means she had friends who shared and understood her experiences, both in and out of the office. Knowing you’re not alone, especially during those first few weeks, can really brighten an international intern’s days abroad.

“The highlight of my internship was getting to work with other interns in an office setting. It was amazing being able to work on meaningful work while also building personal and professional relationships,” she shared.

Summer interns at MARCO, from left to right: Sofia, Joe, and Brooke

Brooke also took on the challenge of being an Absolute Creator, where she advocated for international education by documenting her time abroad. She posted about her experience on her social media pages and shared photos and videos with Absolute Internship, hoping to inspire other students to take on similar opportunities.

While her internship with MARCO focused more on the corporate side of marketing, working with the team at Absolute Internship allowed her to dabble in the creative side of it.

Sofia and Brooke in Mykonos, Greece

“It has been extremely fulfilling to dive into the more creative side of the marketing world, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to have experienced the creative and corporate angles to digital marketing and PR,” she remarked.

The people who kept everything together

The most transformative global internship programs won’t simply find you a host company then leave the rest to you. Rather, they’re well-rounded experiences with room for both professional and personal growth. This means that on top of a fantastic internship, the program will also include opportunities to foster cultural awareness, network-building, and soft skills. That’s how you make the most of an internship abroad after all.

Learning opportunities were available to Brooke throughout her time in Madrid, from networking events that connected her with fellow international interns to activities that immersed in the local culture. She also had access to 24-hour onsite support, in case she had questions or concerns.

Visiting the gorgeous city of Valencia, Spain

“There are so many moments where the Absolute Internship staff made my experience memorable. Every single trip and activity that we did was great,” her feedback stated. “I loved catching up with the staff whenever I saw them. They were always there for me for any question or problem I had.”

The people who brought life outside the office

Outside her internship and the program’s activities, Brooke explored Madrid, the rest of Spain, and other European countries with her newfound friends.

In Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands

“My experience has been wonderful. I’ve met so many new amazing people and had opportunities that never would be presented to me otherwise,” she reflected.

Between the guidance of her internship supervisors, the support of her abroad program, and the company of her new friends, Brooke’s transformative journey was significantly shaped by the people surrounding her.

At Absolute Internship, we believe that community can make or break a student’s internship abroad experience, which is why we’re committed to providing structured programs that make you feel safe, supported, and most importantly, not alone.

Apply for an international internship with us! Send us a message to get started.