There are numerous books on internship programs, some of which have been included in the bibliography. This article covers nine fields, which correspond to through 10: international business, international consulting, international finance and banking, international journalism, international law, translating and interpreting, nonprofit organizations, U.S. Government, and United Nations and other international organizations.
To locate the names of companies in your field, you might check the general reference books listed in the bibliography. It is easy enough to call a company and ask if it takes interns. Once you have determined this, apply for an internship as you would a permanent job.
Some internship programs are highly competitive and have early application dates. The best time to begin your search for a summer internship is in the fall. You can use your winter or spring break to go on interviews. Internships during the fall and spring semesters or winter break are generally less difficult to get, but you should still approach the company a few months in advance.
Companies that do not have formal internship programs or application procedures may not know until spring whether they need interns or how many they can use.
When you have selected a few programs, call the intern coordinator at the company and discuss the best time to apply or visit. Do not be bashful about calling. Intern coordinators' jobs are to find the best people, so they will be interested in telling you about their program. As with any job search, try to hold back your resume until you meet the interviewer. This may not be possible if you are away at school, however; so if you must send it, also make an effort to get an appointment for an interview.
Any such connections might be worth brief mention in a cover letter or phone conversation.
International Business
Allied Signal, Inc.
Morris Township, NJ
Allied Signal is an advanced technology company. Its primary businesses are aerospace/electronics, automotive and engineered materials. The company has approximately 144,000 employees working in hundreds of plants, research laboratories, sales offices and other facilities in the U.S. and abroad.
Allied hires four interns each summer, who assist staff members in financial data analysis at the Morristown, NJ, office. They are paid an hourly wage. Successful interns are often hired after graduation as full time employees.
The most important qualification is a background in finance. Most interns are business students. Resumes and cover letters are accepted through mid April preceding the summer of employment.
The American Scandinavian Foundation (ASF)
New York, NY
ASF is a nonprofit organization that promotes international understanding through educational and cultural exchanges between the U.S. and Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. ASF's programs include fellowships and grants for American and Scandinavian students, trainee placement, publishing of a journal and cultural activities.
ASF arranges short term and long term training opportunities in the five Scandinavian countries. The programs are designed to provide American students with cross cultural contacts and practical work experience. Opportunities exist primarily in the fields of engineering, computer science, banking, agriculture, horticulture, forestry and business. Short term positions are available during the summer for two to three month periods. Over 100 positions are available each summer.
Long term positions last from 6 to 18 months and provide trainees with in depth work experience in a Scandinavian firm. In addition to the fields mentioned above, there are long term opportunities in petroleum engineering (in Norway only), furniture making, culinary arts and fish processing or technology (the latter in Iceland only).
Interns receive a stipend to cover living expenses during the period of training but are expected to cover airfare costs. ASF cooperates with the host organization to provide housing, for which interns pay $100 to $125 per month. Once an assignment is confirmed, ASF also arranges for a work permit to be issued to the intern.
Short term applicants must have at least three years of undergraduate studies with a major in the field in which training is sought. Applicants for international business and banking internships should be business or finance majors with a minimum GPA of 3.25. These applicants should also have at least one semester of work experience in the corporate world. Knowledge of English is sufficient in most cases, but interns are encouraged to gain a basic proficiency in the language of their chosen country by the time the internship begins.
Long term program applicants should be Americans between the ages of 21 and 35 who have completed their formal education and have one or two years experience in a professional field. Working knowledge of the country's language might be required.
To apply, send a resume to ASF along with a cover letter specifying the field and country in which you wish to train. List appropriate skills and dates of availability. A nonrefundable application fee of $35 is required at the time an application is submitted. The deadline for applying for the short term program is December 15. There is no deadline for the long term program, but the placement process requires a minimum of four months.
The Carl Duisberg Society (CDS)
New York, NY
CDS is a private, nonprofit organization that serves companies with global interests by organizing and sponsoring a variety of work training and educational exchange programs. Most of the programs are between the U.S. and West Germany, although a few include people from developing nations. CDS's goal is to expand individuals' experience by teaching them new skills and developing their ability to adapt to new cultures.
CDS sponsors a paid internship program in Cologne or Radolfzell, West Germany, for American graduate and undergraduate students. Interns spend one month in an intensive German language course and stay with German families through a "bed and breakfast" arrangement. Interns work with a German company for five months. Positions are available in marketing, management, banking, accounting, biomedicine, chemical engineering, computer technology, agriculture and construction. Interns are generally paid by the company; if not, they will receive a stipend through CDS.
Interns must be undergraduate or graduate students with practical work experience and majors in business or technical fields. Knowledge of the German language is required. Programs start in March and September, but applications must be submitted to CDS six months in advance.
