International Internship. Remotely? by Paula Morales

As a finance and international business major, I believe traveling and learning about new cultures is very important in today’s world as it broadens your horizons and gives you a better understanding of those around you. However, given the current situation in the world, with a global pandemic going on, traveling is not feasible. Nevertheless, I was not going to let this stop me. As such, I turned to the best alternative: global remote internships. You still get to learn about a new cultures and gain job experience, all from the comfort of your home and without the financial burdens that come with traveling. In addition, I believe virtual internships to be the future. In fact, I think most jobs are going to transition to virtual jobs, in which you do not have to leave the house. This can be seen with the increasing amount of companies who now conduct their job interviews online as opposed to the traditional meeting. It can also be seen by the fact that many people are working from home and doing a good job during this pandemic. Moreover, the remote internship with TEAN, The Education Abroad Network, this past summer prepared me for such a reality, as the experience made me more adaptable to new environments and increased my self-efficacy. Through the program, I along with three other team members were placed with Aspect Studios, a landscape architecture firm based in Australia. As a team we were tasked with completing a market entry report which was very exciting. So not only did I get to learn about the landscape architecture industry, but I also was able to develop my service orientation, innovative, collaborative, cultural, and networking skills.

Furthermore, I would not have been aware of such opportunity if it were not for the office of study abroad. In addition, I would not have been able to complete this internship if it were not for the CIBER stipend awarded to me by the Center for International Business Education and Research at FIU. While I know that the current times can be challenging, I urge everyone to make the best of every situation and take advantage of every opportunity presented to you.