AIDE Helps Students Find Rewarding Internships Around the World
The following excerpt from a recent press release illustrates the many benefits of global internships for today's college students and recent graduates:
In the current global economy, employers are not only seeking candidates who possess skills and knowledge in a specific sector; they are also in search of those who have strong resumes with qualities that differentiate them from others. Many university graduates would rather run back into the lecture halls than leap into this new world of monetary uncertainty. But some wise baccalaureates have turned to (volunteer) work programs abroad such as the Association of International Development and Exchange (AIDE).
AIDE was created to allow its 17-year-old international recruitment parent company, Alliance Abroad Group (AAG), to expand its reach of giving back to local and global communities, and to create socially responsible citizens. AIDE's programs help participants and communities develop the knowledge, skills and understanding required to build a more broadminded and just world.
Experience abroad sets graduates apart and grabs employers' attention and interest. Global interns demonstrate attractive attributes gained through work abroad such as: cross cultural competency, flexibility, problem solving skills, decision making and interpersonal communication. They return with new ideas, can assist in initiating new projects, serve as guides to educate others on what they learned from different cultures, and open the minds of others by pouring knowledge back into their communities and their new jobs.
"When I first started looking for a job after college, I saw my limitations," shared Erica Zelenak, a recent University of Texas graduate and an AIDE participant who joined the program to volunteer and learn fluent Spanish. "I am Latina, but I do not speak fluent Spanish. Someone applying for a job could have the same education, experiences and similar skills, but if they speak Spanish they are going to get hired instead of me. They can communicate with more people and can reach more people and that is attractive to an employer. I would much rather make someone feel more comfortable and welcome because I know their language than them having to make me feel comfortable."
Zelenak's story is just one example of how an internship in a foreign country - she was assigned to teach English in Chile - can benefit candidates when they apply for jobs in the United States.
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