Internships are a great stepping stone for students and graduates looking to gain experience in the working world. Both students and graduates can expose themselves to a variety of career paths and learn useful, transferable skills in multiple areas through internships. Interning abroad takes things to a whole new level as interns can gain all of the benefits of the internship, whilst experiencing another country and culture! Interning abroad helps Develop your professional connections, make new friends and discover the best types of internships to see which industry aligns with your interests the most.
10 Best Internship Fields
We’ve compiled a list of the best types of internships abroad that cover the most important fields to consider if you really want your internship to boost your skill set (and give you an incredible experience abroad!).
1. Business & Management
Begin building your resume by learning all things business. Business is an essential part of every company or service across all industries, which means business is one of the best and most diverse internships fields. The business industry is always looking for interns to learn and develop skills while supporting essential projects. Business internships are particularly beneficial because they help interns to understand the inner workings of a business. Business interns can help create new ideas, gain practical experience, and learn skills from their mentors and team members that are highly sought after in the job market.
Skills to learn during a business internship abroad:
- Administrative tasks
- Customer service
- Management
- Public speaking
Check out our best business internships abroad
2. Healthcare & Medical
The healthcare industry isn’t just a rewarding industry to be part of, it’s an industry that is constantly evolving with new medical innovations and technological advancements. There is always something to learn in a highly sought-after career path like medicine. Healthcare internships encompass a range of professions, such as: dentists, doctors, and therapists. Internships in the medical field are almost always a compulsory part of the learning process, since observing healthcare professionals is a great way to experience the career first-hand, which is why it’s one of the best internship fields to consider. By applying your studies in real-life healthcare scenarios, you will build more confidence in your abilities and knowledge!
Skills to learn during a medical internship abroad:
- Bedside manner
- Communication
- Decision making & problem-solving
- Empathy
Check out our best clinical & medical internship programs abroad
3. Journalism & Media Communications
Got a passion for storytelling? Media jobs, such as PR managers, journalists, and editorial specialists, all require proven writing examples. That’s why this industry is one of the best types of internships to explore. Journalism and media internships give students the chance to create exemplary writing examples, and maybe even get published too! Media is a very dynamic field, so internships can be a useful way to explore all the possible avenues of media communications or reporting.
Skills to learn during a journalism internship abroad:
- Public speaking
- Effective communication
- Creative thinking
- Research skills
Check out our best journalism & media internships abroad
4. Politics & International Studies
Politics covers a varied range of roles that makes this internship field an especially exciting one. Political internships aren’t only the best internships for political science majors; they are also beneficial for many other majors as well as individuals looking to acquire essential political and personal skills that they can use in multiple areas of their life, as well as many international careers. Gaining first-hand experience in political processes in a foreign country will help interns foster a deeper understanding of how policies are shaped. There is always a need for young, open-minded individuals in the field of international studies, especially those who wish to help shape politics for more generations to come.
Skills to learn during a politics internship abroad:
- Verbal and written communication
- Diplomacy
- Leadership
- Professionalism
Check out our best politics & international studies internships abroad
5. Veterinary & Animal Science
If you have a passion for animals and want to make a difference, the animal science industry is one of the most exciting field areas for internships. Much like the healthcare industry, the veterinary and animal science industry requires newbies to complete a lot of observation and practical work experience before being able to work independently. Animal science internships give interns the chance to gain experience that will ultimately help them choose a speciality or even country, they want to work in!
Skills to learn during a veterinary internship abroad:
- Compassion
- Varied knowledge of species
- Communication
- Flexibility and adaptability
Check out our best veterinary internships abroad
6. Food Science & Nutrition
For anyone interested in health, food and nutrition, internships abroad are a great way to broaden your knowledge and gain insight from industry professionals. Nutrition is one of the best types of internships because of its diverse nature; having experience in one area of food science and nutrition opens up opportunities to specialize in certain areas of interest, or even to develop brand new healthy products!
Skills to learn during a food science or nutrition internship abroad:
- Varied nutritional and food knowledge
- Teamwork
- Interpersonal skills
- Communication
Check out our best food science, nutrition and dietetic internship programs abroad
7. Psychology & Therapy
Internships in psychology, or any type of therapy, are some of the best types of internships because they are fulfilling as well as very useful because they help interns see how psychology as a study is brought to life. Psychology internships are a fundamental way for aspiring therapists or psychologists to be exposed to therapy techniques and counselling methods. Interns are also able to learn important ways of interacting with patients seeking support and guidance.
Skills to learn during a psychology internship abroad:
- Empathy and active listening
- Patience
- Problem-solving
- Cultural understandings and self-awareness
Check out our best psychology and therapy internships abroad
8. Marketing
For those with a creative side and a love for innovation, the marketing industry is likely a perfect fit! With so many avenues under the umbrella term “marketing”, interns are always needed across a range of positions and companies! Being an intern in the marketing industry is definitely one of the best types of internships, as it gives you the opportunity to work on exciting, diverse projects in an international setting.
Skills to learn during a marketing internship abroad:
- Creative thinking and writing
- Leadership
- Communication skills
- Research and data analysis
Check out our best marketing internships abroad
9. Sports
Sports and fitness are amongst the best industries for internships due to the opportunities for practical experience. Combining a passion for sports or specific athletic skills with an internship can pave the way for a fulfilling career in various sports-related fields, such as sports marketing, teaching, or event management. An internship in sports exposes interns to the diverse facets of the industry beyond the physical sport itself, providing invaluable insights into the dynamic world of sports.
Skills to learn during a sports internship abroad:
- Leadership
- Organizational skills
- Confident communication
- Observation skills
Check out our best sports internships abroad
10. Remote Internships
Along with the increase in remote work in recent years, remote internships are now one of the most popular types of internships, and it’s because they are beneficial in many more ways than one! On top of being able to work from home or anywhere in the world, and often being flexible with your time, remote internships help to improve self-discipline and save interns money they would otherwise have to spend on travel, commuting, or preparing the perfect business casual wardrobe. Being able to collaborate and community virtually, and effectively manage work time with personal time at home, will show significant strengths to future employers.
Skills to learn during a remote internship:
- Time management
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Project management
- Self-motivation
Check out our best remote internships abroad
Our Top Trending Field For Internships Abroad
Sustainability
In today’s climate, both literally and figuratively, sustainability internships are crucial and offer highly transferable skills to nearly any industry. The eco-friendly values and sustainability insights interns will gain are sought after by employers, who are driven to make a positive impact on their businesses’ sustainability now more than ever. Sustainability principles apply to diverse industries, like business, technology, healthcare, and agriculture, because each industry needs to look at how they can improve their sustainability initiatives; this means sustainability internships abroad are beneficial for all future career paths. Sustainability interns will be able to contribute to creating more circular and environmentally friendly practices in various sectors both during and after their program ends.
Skills to learn during a sustainability internship abroad:
- Critical thinking
- Teamwork
- Business knowledge
- Leadership
How to pick the right internship field for me?
You might be asking yourself, “What type of internship is right for me?” We get it, choosing the right internship field can be crucial to setting the foundation for your future career. Being able to explore a few different internships is also massively beneficial to your personal and professional development. Here are five tips to help you find the perfect internship field that aligns with your goals:
Identify Your Passions
Identify Your PassionsDetermine what interests you; reflect on your past experiences and consider what you are excited to explore on a deeper level.
Consider Your Skills & Strengths
By taking an inventory of your skills and strengths, you can look for internship fields that allow you to use, leverage, and develop these skills even more!
Ask for Advice
Talk to professionals in the fields you are considering, or if you can, speak with school career counsellors. They will all be able to provide you with professional insights and tips for your internship and help you understand the realities of working in the specific field you’re considering.
Consider Your Long-Term Goals
Think about your career goals and what you would like for your career in the long term, and then choose what internship fields align with those goals. By choosing the type of internship that can put you on the right path toward your career, you’ll truly be one step closer to achieving your goals.
Be Open to Explore
Don’t shy away from exploring new fields or industries that don’t seem familiar to you. It’s okay to explore different paths during an internship abroad to find out what truly inspires you!
By following these steps, researching different industries, and exploring what types of internships there are available, you can confidently choose an internship field that will kick-start your career and help you explore the world of work.
In case you didn’t know, Kaya has won awards for their project matching and personalized service, so if you’re looking for some more advice, just reach out to our Kaya advisors and we can help you every step of the way!
Choose an internship field & start boosting your career!
It doesn’t matter what age you are, if you’re studying or working, have no qualifications, or you’re onto your second degree, all types of internships are designed to help you understand how jobs in a specific industry work and build on relevant skills that employers are actively seeking.
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.” – Steve Jobs
Reach out to our Kaya advisors if you have any questions or need help being matched with the perfect internship field for you, request a call back now!
This blog was written by Kayleigh Irvine
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