Gaining work experience is a must for today’s college student. Find out why to intern in London.

Gaining work experience is a must for today’s college student. Whether you intern at home or abroad, you will be preparing yourself well for your future career and for what employers’ value. Sure you can find a great internship in your hometown or near campus, but why not consider being more adventurous and spend this summer working in London.

Interning abroad in London offers you ways to bolster your personal brand and resume in different ways than a domestic opportunity, giving you a competitive edge over other grads. Because London is an English-speaking destination, it offers a wealth of internship opportunities across a wide range of fields. Here are some other advantages of interning abroad:

Cultural Immersion

During your international internship you will have the rare chance to be immersed into the local cultural by living and working alongside Londoners. You will have the opportunity to learn about the history, people, and workplace differences. Not only will this help you better understand British culture, but it will also give you more awareness about your home country as well. This global awareness and understanding is especially valuable to employers with international clients or overseas operations. As the global economy continues to grow, so will the demand for global ready grads.

Soft Skill Development

Besides work experience, employers highly value graduates with strong soft skills. Soft skills are personal attributes that indicate how a person will interact with supervisors, coworkers and customers, making these skills essential to organizational success. Luckily, these are skills that can be developed both in and outside the internship abroad. Navigating a foreign city, learning to communicate across language barriers, and adapting to workplace culture will hone important skills that will benefit you in both your career and personal life.

Self-Discovery

One of the best outcomes from spending time interning abroad is the opportunity for personal development and awareness. Understanding your unique passions, interests, character, and natural abilities can help save valuable time and money as you begin your professional career. By stepping outside your comfort zone and into new surroundings, you will have the chance for self-reflection and the opportunity to unlock abilities that you never realized you had.

Challenge Yourself!

Interning abroad offers unique challenges and hurdles that will push you outside of comfort zone. This is a good thing! Often, it is during life’s challenges that we tend to grow and learn new things the most. This will help build your confidence and make future challenges less daunting as you set off on your career path.

The great news is that there are a few steps that you can take to making interning abroad a reality. Plan early! The earlier you apply, the less stressful the experience will be. Be sure to visit your study abroad office. They will be vital as you navigate the process and will make sure you complete any necessary paper work required by your home university. Your study abroad office can also recommend reliable organizations like API that will not only find you a high-quality internship experience, but also provide essential services like in-country support, housing, UK immigration visa assistance through BUNAC, orientation, and career development resources.

API offers high-quality, tailor-made international internships. The API deadline for summer internships in London is February 1 and March 1. You can start planning for your summer adventure in London with API today!

Blog written by Barbara West, Vice President of Internships and Partner Outreach at Academic Programs International (API).