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Internships in Spain
Tips and advice for your internship abroad
If you are studying at college or university
With courses of study that cannot be translated precisely, pay careful attention to the explanation you give of the course content in your application.
Include your majors in your application.
In the case of compulsory internships as part of your sandwich course, please give details of this in your registration/application, as well as any relevant requirements. If necessary, we can immediately provide you with confirmation guaranteeing your internship in a specific area of business. However, you will not receive your definitive placement in a company until you are in the country in question.
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If you have just taken your A levels or 18+
If possible, before you start your time abroad, try to get some work experience via an internship/minor job in your own country in order to get some insight into the world of work.
Familiarise yourself with the sectors you are interested in, so you can provide detailed expectations concerning your internship in your application, as well as going specifying the type of work involved. Make it clear exactly why you are interested in a particular area.
Before you begin your programme abroad, get some training in interviews and other work-related situations (telephoning, greetings, small talk, etc.). The language course
in Barcelona is to help you speak the language of the country, not to solve any worries, anxieties or expectations you may have concerning a work situation that is still new for you.
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If you are a trainee or have just finished your training
Sandwich training courses are appreciated and recognised almost worldwide, but they do not exist in the same format in Spain. Consequently, you must explain the content and advantages of this training very clearly in your application, both in terms of your training (educación) and also in terms of your work experience (experiencia).
Compared with many graduates, you have the advantage of practical work experience in addition to your theoretical training. Make these advantages clear in your application.
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If you are already employed
After working some years you have the advantage of good specialist knowledge but often practice is lacking in the foreign language in question. You often wonder why you need so many weeks of language classes in order to get the practice you need.
In spite of your work and life experience, in most firms you will only be able to carry out assistant work, which is not at the same level as your professional work in your home country.
In your application, concentrate on the professional aspects of your life that are relevant for your internship, but don't list every task you do, every certificate or further training you have taken.
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General tips
- If you would like to carry out an internship in your second, third or even fourth foreign language, we would advise you not to scrimp on your language course but make sure it lasts longer than the recommended minimum (2 weeks). A good knowledge of Spanish - having completed level B1 - is the most important prerequisite for a successful internship.
- When choosing your destination country, think about the intercultural differences that are important for you in a business environment: for example, if you
are very goal-oriented, perhaps Spain is too relaxed and you would be happier in Canada, the USA or Great Britain.
- Fundamentally, the longer an internship, the greater the insight into the business culture and world of work of your host country. As it costs nothing to extend an internship, you keep your expenses in check: you need only take the accommodation and living expenses into account.
- For guidance, have a look at our model CV and letter of application and remember to clarify your expectations as much as possible regarding your foreign internship in Barcelona - because your internship provider can only comply with your wishes if you make them known!
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