The International Student's Guide to Winning Internship Applications

Landing an internship as an international student gives you working experience, strengthens your CV, and builds industry connections that could lead to post-graduation employment. Here's how to make your application unforgettable.

Turn Your Background Into an Advantage

The job market is competitive, but your international student status is actually a strength. As companies adopt global outlooks, your cultural knowledge and language skills become valuable differentiators.

Consider the soft skills you've developed: adaptability, perseverance, attention to detail. The visa process alone required extraordinary organisation and determination. Studying abroad demonstrates openness to new ideas and perspectives.

Don't be shy about highlighting these qualities. Employers wade through countless applications—they're eager to discover candidates with unique experiences and transferable skills.

Personalisation Is Non-Negotiable

Generic applications rarely succeed. Whilst you might create a basic template, customising each application significantly improves your success rate.

Study the internship description thoroughly. Research the company's values and mission. Clearly explain why you're suited for their specific organisation, not just the industry generally.

Many applicants use identical CVs everywhere. Spending extra time personalising yours instantly puts you ahead.

Showcase Relevant Competencies

Before writing, revisit the job description. What skills do they need? What are the daily tasks?

Draw from your international experiences to demonstrate critical thinking, collaboration, and communication. These examples don't require professional settings—they just need to translate into why you're right for the role.

Language barriers? Visa complications? How you solved these problems showcases valuable skills that most other applicants can't demonstrate.

Be Authentically You

Imagine reading hundreds of applications. It's repetitive and dull.

Make yours memorable by letting your personality shine through professionally. Give recruiters a sense of who you are so they can envision your fit within their company.

Always Get a Second Opinion

Everyone makes occasional errors. Complete your application well before the deadline and have someone review it.

University careers services often support recent graduates too. Careers advisers can review your materials and even help with interview preparation.

For the comprehensive internship application strategy, visit: How to Stand Out in Your Internship Application