How to find an internship in…Australia?

Sam He still had a few days to complete it Training in Australia To find. He has it TRUE Greater chance than most students, but it is still difficult.

It’s the first week of October. Sam Dearman (26) He is in the final year of his studies in mechanical engineering. Last year he was busy looking for an internship in Australia. “I added a lot of different people on LinkedIn and asked around my network. And of course I reached out to companies. Little did I know then that looking for an internship in Australia is so different than in the Netherlands.

Sam would have preferred to do an internship in Australia before starting his graduate project in the Netherlands

Sam planned to do an internship first in Australia and then do his graduate training in the Netherlands. “The study program preferred that you do a graduation internship in the Netherlands, so they would have a better view of you. I preferred to write my graduation report in Dutch. But after two months of searching to no avail, it turned out that the opposite was true. Sam first did an internship in the Netherlands, and now, At the end of 2023, Australia will be discussed.

There are enough internship opportunities and well-paying jobs for mechanical engineers in the Netherlands

There are a lot of internship opportunities for Sam in the Netherlands. Dutch companies often contact him to ask if he would like an internship and this is often accompanied by a request to come and work there after his studies. “The Netherlands has a huge shortage of mechanical engineers Engineers. Companies immediately submit a presentation containing a lot of information about the assignment. They also let you know instantly what you stand to gain.’

Now that Sam has completed his internship in the Netherlands, he wants to do his graduation training in Australia from November 20. He carefully listed the pros and cons. “In the Netherlands, it is easy to find an interesting assignment. The assignment may be less interesting in Australia, but on the other hand, living there is a great experience. There are more advantages. If I go to Australia, it will be easier to live there later. During my training There, I was able to experience life there. I also love surfing and the Australian nature is amazing.

Australian companies don’t need a photo of you and don’t care about stories about your personality

According to the coordinator of the external training office Heinrich Naumann The internship application process varies greatly. “The cultural differences in the world are huge. That’s why we also include students in the application process. We tell them about the culture of the country they want to go to, how people work there, what’s different and how they interact with each other. Bureau Buitenlandinternships, which has built a large network on For twenty years, it has only offered internships in Dutch- or English-speaking countries, because it is not an option to do an internship in a place where the language is not spoken.

While applying for jobs in Australian companies, Sam noticed the differences. “Internships aren’t necessarily part of your studies in Australia. You do internships because you want to gain experience. Preparing a CV is very different from what Sam is used to. “They don’t need to see a picture of you or read your stories. They want in Important points Read what you have done and what you have achieved. If they are interested then they may want to start a conversation with you. Then you may be eligible for an internship.

Added complication: It’s summer in Australia (and the time difference doesn’t make it any easier, of course).

“I’ve already tried everything,” Sam says. Most of the companies Sam contacted have not responded (yet). “I reached out to companies, made contacts through a training agency and placed connections.” An added complication: It’s summer in Australia, so not all businesses are operating at full capacity. “And the time difference makes finding an internship more difficult anyway.”

Heinrich Naumann also finds it difficult to find an internship in Australia. “It’s very remote and only a few students go there. We don’t have enough connections. Noman has a stronger foothold in countries like Bali and Curacao. Without our network, it would be very difficult to find an internship there,” he says.

Sam maintains his courage: “Success is not a guarantee, but it is important to persevere.”

Things were also tough for Sam’s acquaintances who found an internship in Australia. “Thanks to a lot of luck and good relationships, they were able to find something that worked well for them,” says Sam. According to Heinrich Naumann, the latter depends on the course the student follows. And how to introduce yourself. “There should be a click during the video call.”

“There is a lot to do in Australia in my field,” says Sam. “So, if I have more time, I can definitely find something suitable.” But at this point, in early October, time was running out. Sam has until October 20th. “I estimate the chance of finding something at twenty percent. But I think it’s good to face challenges. Success is not a guarantee, but it is important to persevere.

Did you succeed?

End of October. No, Sam’s not going to Australia yet. “I couldn’t find anything at the moment, not even anything I found interesting in Holland.” So a postponement, not an adjustment, Sam is now targeting February. “Now I know what to look for, and I hope February will be easier in terms of timing for businesses.”

Photo (excerpt): Nick Dunne