A startup internship abroad is a great way to gain global experience and skills that will help you in your future career, whether that’s at a future startup, larger company, or anything in-between. Learn how YOU can intern for a startup abroad, the best cities for tech startups, what makes interning at a startup a unique experience, and explore some program recommendations to help you get started!
Interning for a startup can jumpstart your career!
Can you intern at a startup?
Yes, you can intern at a startup, both domestic and abroad! Although these are typically smaller operations than what you may find at international corporations, new businesses are always looking for people willing to learn about their mission and help them grow.
Interning at a startup would be immensely beneficial to students and professionals who want to work in entrepreneurship long term. Make a list of some of your favorite startups, and reach out with your resume to see if they’re actively looking for new hires. And if you have no clue where to start, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered below.
How to intern for a startup abroad?
There are several ways you can work for a startup abroad. Depending on your level of comfort with the local market, you might decide to pursue an internship independently. That would mean coordinating logistics on your own, such as finding potential startups to apply to, sourcing your own short-term housing, and purchasing health insurance.
You can first try looking for internships abroad that welcome international applicants, and who will be helpful in assisting you with logistics. They’ll ideally be familiar with working with international applicants. , LinkedIn, and job boards local to your destination are great resources for finding internships at startups.
Finding the right opportunity for you doesn’t have to be difficult.
If you are traveling independently, make sure you are also considering countries where you can get the appropriate visa to intern abroad. Some locations may allow you to travel on a standard tourist visa, but other locations will require a work visa. (You may also consider a , which is popular in places like Australia and Ireland; this visa type allows you to work within the country for a year or longer.)
Also check with your home university’s career center and/or study abroad office to see if they have approved programs for international internships. They might suggest some placements that students from your school have had previous success with.
How to apply for a startup internship abroad
If you want to intern for a startup abroad, the application process will vary depending on the internship; at a minimum, you can expect to submit a resume and, if successful, participate in an interview with the potential program or company.
or previous roles with startups, make sure you feature that on your resume. When applying internationally, make sure you also do some research on the acceptable resume style and format for that location. For example, in some countries, it’s normal to include a photo of yourself on your resume/CV.
What to expect during your interview at a startup abroad
In general, you can expect interviewing with a startup to be similar in many ways to a larger company, with a few differences.
Many startups, especially early-stage startups, will not have an HR representative or recruiter handling the interview process. Chances are you will skip the screening call and right away be speaking with the hiring manager in a first interview.
When preparing for interviews, make sure you practice answers to common interview questions: “Can you tell me about yourself?” and “What are you looking for in your next role?” are questions you should always have good answers for.
You should also be prepared to show why you are passionate about this role and company. This is especially important for startup interviews since every role is exceptionally important at a young, growing organization.
Make sure you’ve done some research ahead of time about the startup and ideally, the person who is interviewing you. While startups might be more casual and the interview process might reflect that, don’t forget to follow up after your interview with a thank you. It’s another way to show not just your professionalism, but also your attention to detail and interest in the job.
Why intern for a startup abroad?
It’s good to know how this experience will benefit you and your career!
Interning at a startup isn’t limited to just people looking to work in the startup space. It can be a valuable internship experience no matter what career path you pursue.
1. Work with a small team
Interning with a startup means working with a small team with big opportunities. You often will find you are working directly with decision-makers on the team, or even the CEO or Founder(s) at many companies. Having a smaller team means that your voice and opinions will be heard!
2. Try out multiple roles
Interns will often wear many hats, which can be a great way to test-drive multiple roles during your placement. Take the opportunity to expose yourself to a new area outside your major or previous studies. All these experiences give you great talking points when interviewing for future internships and jobs.
3. Gain valuable skills
Another great thing to remember is that startups are often behind many career trends. This can mean building tomorrow’s trending job skills in your startup role today. In other words, a role that currently only exists at startups right now might be an industry-standard position in a couple of years, putting you lightyears ahead of the industry.
4. It's fun!
Yes, you are interning at a startup to work and gain experience, but it can be a lot of fun too. When you work for a startup, you can find yourself among an ambitious team looking to make their mark on the world. Often, early-stage startups might work out of a coworking space or startup accelerator hub that hosts multiple companies, offering free networking and learning events for members. You’ll love the energetic atmosphere!
Can you work for a startup abroad after your internship?
Turn your internship into a job offer!
Yes, you can work for a startup abroad after your internship! You may find that when you intern for a startup abroad, it leads to a job offer at that company. It’s not uncommon for a startup to invest in a recent or soon-to-be graduate. Keeping interns on the team can prove valuable, especially if things are going well for the company.
Working for a startup can be unstable. It’s possible that the startup you’re interning with raised a new round of funding before the end of your internship, therefore expanding its operations. Vice versa, they may run out of money, which means they’ll be unable to offer you a long-term role.
Either way, you can use the experience as an opportunity to network and make new connections that might help you in the future. If you want to continue living and working abroad and your visa allows for it, see if you can use the momentum from your internship to land a full-time job in your new city abroad.
During your internship, take time to network not just with your colleagues, but also check out local startup meetups and industry events. Often startup hubs and accelerators in those major startup cities will host free or affordable events. This is a great way to meet other startup employees and find your next job.
4 best Cities for tech startups
You will find startup internship opportunities in major cities all over the world, including startup hubs like Berlin, London, and Beijing. Check out to help you find your next destination. You could also research locations featured on , which ranks cities based on how suitable they are for remote workers.
Here are some of the best cities for tech startups, as determined by GoAbroad.
1.
When you think of US startup cities, San Francisco and New York City are probably some of the first to come to mind—but don't overlook Austin. Consider one of the most important factors, the affordable cost of living. It makes Austin an amazing startup city for an intern. Plus, .
2.
. This is another city known for attracting entrepreneurs and startup employees due to its affordable cost of living, amazing diversity, and great work/life balance. Berlin previously took the top spot on for best startup cities and it's not hard to see why.
3.
London continues to rank as a tech powerhouse and a great place to break into the startup scene. VC investment into Britain is the third highest in the world, after the United States and China, and hit a record high of $15 billion in 2020 . , making it a great pick for your internship abroad if you’re looking to network with other international students.
4.
. Australia's Working Holiday Visa allows you to stay for a year and work full-time for a company for up to six months. Sydney's startup ecosystem is growing fast, anchored by business software leader Atlassian, and local unicorns Canva and Zip Co.
3 internship programs at startups abroad
1.
- Why? Sage Corps specializes in startup internships, sending students to work with global startups for 8-week summer internships or 10-day project-based micro internships. They also have part-time remote internships during the semester or summer. As part of every program, interns spend 50+ hours completing hard skill training modules through the Sage Corps Skills Academy to prepare them for their startup internship.
2.
- Why? Absolute Internship is experienced in providing meaningful internships to students from around the world. During this program, you’ll get to immerse in one of the biggest start-up capitals in the world, all while gaining valuable skills for a future career in real estate, marketing, business, and more. One-of-a-kind day trips and excursions will balance your hard work with some much-needed fun.
3.
- Why? In this virtual internship program, you can gain business experience from the comfort of your home. Intern Abroad HQ will take care to match you with unique business internships in either India or Spain. You’ll also have access to professional coaching so that you can apply your experience to your long-term goals.
Ready for an internship that will launch your career?
Know your goals and interests, and go from there.
Interning for a startup abroad is a great way to combine travel and meaningful professional experience to help build your resume. Only a small percentage of university students get the opportunity to study abroad, but an even smaller group gain professional work experience abroad. With remote work on the rise and flexible work conditions being a top priority for employees, consider working for a startup abroad as an exciting way to kickstart your career!
This article was written by Hannah DeMilta at Sage Corps. offers flexible internships abroad with startups around the world. Interns can expect to learn valuable skills, accelerate their careers, and gain a competitive edge in the global economy.
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