Wednesday, January 22 - "How Do I Get an Internship as an International Student?"

Happy Wednesday!

Here’s what’s on the job description for today:

1. New roles from a sustainability-focused growth fund.

2. Today’s Question: “I am finding it very difficult to get internship opportunities because I don’t have local experience or a local passport. Any tips or ideas?”

IN HIRING

CrossBoundary Group

• Based out of Nairobi, the company invests through a mission driven lens in underserved markets.

• While most of the jobs are based in Africa, there are roles for those who want to stay in places like the UK or USA.

• Here are a few of the most interesting roles available

  • Associate, Natural Capital (Johannesburg) - Click here for full details

  • MBA Associate 2025, Power & Infrastructure - Click here for full details

  • Senior Associate / Associate Principal, Power and Infrastructure - Click here for full details

Click here for the company’s career page

TODAY’S QUESTION

“I am finding it very difficult to get internship opportunities because I don’t have local experience or a local passport. Any tips or ideas?”

Recommendation: You can’t get local experience because you don’t have local experience - how frustrating! Here’s how I’d tackle this:

• First, have a goal in mind. Are you looking for an internship because you want the experience on your resume? Are you trying to change industries or roles and want to experience it before you make the full jump?

  • Given how much time you’re going to dedicate to finding an internship and then working there, often for a relatively low wage, it’s worth reflecting or journaling on this before jumping in.

• Second, internships are scarce at the moment and competition is fierce. That’s not shocking to any student.

  • It’s less likely that a spray and pray approach will work for internships. If you want an internship at a big firm, where visa sponsored full time offers can be made afterwards, a hyper targeted approach is more likely to be of use.

• Finally, I would recommend interning with a startup.

  • You’re more likely to get a role.

  • You can work in a field or area you have no experience in.

  • To find one, look within your school’s alumni or current students. There are often clubs, groups, or incubators for startups, and they’re a much easier way to get a part time or full time internship than entering the vast world of online applications.

Conclusion:

Internships can add a ton of value but it’s worth knowing what type of value you’re seeking and being thoughtful of which strategy achieves what you’re looking for.