Work-Based Learning Programs: How Global Internships Foster Success

Global internships offer insightful opportunities for personal and professional growth. You’ll gain immeasurable industry experience by participating in a work-based learning program. Immerse yourself in your field of choice, build powerful networks, and develop a competitive edge in the global job market. For students seeking work-based learning programs, the biggest challenge is finding the right program that will help foster their success. 

Intrax Global Internships has over forty years of experience connecting students with work-based learning programs. Through the Exchange Visitor Program (EVP), we bring passionate, qualified students together with global internships. Our programs facilitate key career development and growth opportunities for you to foster your career success. 

In this article, we’ll cover:

• What work-based learning programs offer
• What are the benefits of work-based learning programs
• How to apply for a work-based learning program

Are you interested in pursuing a work-based learning program this year? Intrax Global Internships can help you understand which program is right for you.

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What Do Work-based Learning Programs Offer?

When it comes to fostering success in your career, work-based learning programs offer an immersive opportunity to dive into your industry.  Gain experience in a global job market, connect with new people in your field and understand your industry within a different cultural context. It’s a rewarding way to jumpstart your career. 

Industry Experience

With many of the top fields offering internships that expose you to business practices and strategies, work-based learning programs offer substantial career development opportunities. Jump into your respective field through global companies that are looking for highly enthusiastic interns. Whether you’re a business major or an entry-level marketer, there are plenty of ways that a global internship can prepare you for future success. 

Some of the key ways industry experience can foster success include:

1. Gaining experience working with a global team
2. Exposure to emerging markets and industries
3. Learning about global trends and innovations within your industry

Each industry provides different professional growth opportunities during your work-based learning program. There’s no shortage of ways you can take advantage of your industry experience to further your career development. 

Get familiar with international regulations and policies that are important in your industry. Learn about international marketing and sales techniques. Experience working with international clients and customers, or learn about working with global supply chains.  There are plenty of ways to understand the cultural differences in business etiquette through your work-based learning program. 

When it comes to landing an internship, be open-minded about what you can learn about your industry.

Cultural Diversity

In 2020, the U.S. alone reported over 51 million migrants living and working throughout the country. Global migration trends have significantly shifted since the pandemic, with many people seeking opportunities to travel and earn money outside of their home country.

Work and travel programs are great tools for exploring the world and gaining valuable cross-cultural industry experience. You’ll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in a new place, adapt to a new working environment, and get to know different cultural norms. Develop key language skills through your global internship as you meet new people and acquire new perspectives from your peers.

As business continues to depend on the global economy, gaining exposure to international business practices is crucial. Expanding your ability to communicate cross-culturally is essential to fostering your career success. Work and travel programs give you a unique opportunity to gain professional and cultural skills simultaneously. You’ll quickly become a competitive asset for international companies searching for talent.

Networking Opportunities

Utilizing your cross-cultural communication skills to build a network is a powerful way to take advantage of your work-based learning program experience. Expand your professional circle as you connect with peers who are well-established within your field. 

Networking offers you the opportunity to develop relationships with mentors and industry leaders. Broaden your circle and gain professional insight by building working relationships. In the global job market, your network should expose you to a diverse range of people whose skills inspire and educate you about your industry. 

Your work-based learning program allows you to be surrounded by professionals who have a wealth of knowledge and experience. Take advantage of the chance to learn from professionals in your field who can guide you. Networking is a skill to carry throughout your career, and learning how to connect with your peers during your global internship is a great way to turn networking into a habit. 

What Are the Benefits of Work-based Learning Programs?

Work and travel programs offer a myriad of benefits that help you foster success in your career. From strengthening communication skills to advancing your professional development, global internships allow you to put your best foot forward at the start of your career. Make a powerful impression in your field by being open-minded and maintaining a growth mindset. 

Three of the key benefits of work-based learning programs are:

• Experiencing milestones in your personal development
• Developing professional skills
• Earning money while you travel

Let’s look closer at the ways you can benefit from a global work-based learning program with Intrax Global Internships. 

Personal Development

Participating in a work-based learning program pushes you outside of your comfort zone. You’ll take enormous strides in your personal growth journey! Your global internship experience offers you the chance to develop independence and self-reliance in an unfamiliar environment. It’s an exciting time to get to know yourself on a deeper level and assess what you want out of your career. 

Some key markers of personal growth throughout your work-based learning program include:

• Increasing your confidence
• Developing a deeper understanding of the world
• Increasing your self-awareness
• Making new friends and connections
• Creating memorable experiences and stories to share

A work-based learning program requires you to be adaptable in order to experience true personal development. Changing your routine and surroundings is a bold way to shake up your life and further develop your character. 

As you grow more confident during your work-based learning program, you’ll begin to develop key professional skills. You may be more willing to ask for feedback from your managers, or to sign yourself up for more responsibility within your role. Your personal development journey informs how you can take strides in your professional development.

Develop Professional Skills

During your work-based learning program, you’ll be connecting and collaborating with peers in your field on a regular basis. You’ll be utilizing your skills to deepen your industry knowledge and grow within your professional capabilities. It’s an exciting time to pursue the things that have always intrigued you about your industry. From internships in hospitality to teaching, there are abundant learning opportunities that you can pursue globally.

Improve your problem-solving and critical-thinking skills by getting hands-on experience. Students who participated in an internship are reported to have increased skills in leadership, written communications, and information-gathering abilities. 

Gaining industry experience through a work-based learning program provides you with a competitive edge in the global job market. Building a well-rounded resume that shows your recent and relevant industry experience makes you an attractive candidate. When it comes to how to get an internship abroad, consider where your area of study can take you. You may be able to earn academic credits for your time participating in a global internship. 

Earn Money While You Travel

There are plenty of opportunities to earn money through a paid internship. It all comes down to what’s available in your field and the level of competition you’re willing to tackle. Explore internships in your field to discover all the opportunities available to you. Let’s look at some of the industries with the highest-paid interns:

1. Gaming
2. Investment banking
3. Consulting
4. Tech

For those working outside of these industries, there are still plenty of opportunities to earn money during your global internship. Startups offer paid internships that can allow you to grow professionally and help build a new business from the ground up. Interns get firsthand experience in the work it takes to succeed in highly competitive industries.

Many fields require students to participate in internships as part of their education. As an intern in medicine, you can build an experiential foundation for your future career with our research opportunities. For law students, internships offer a career pathway after graduation. You’ll build a relationship with a firm while still studying and getting paid for your time.

There are plenty of ways to get paid during your global internship experience. Work with Intrax Global Internships to find the right work-based learning program for you.

How to Apply for a Work-based Learning Program

In order to apply for a work-based learning program, it’s important to understand the different types of internships you’re eligible for. It’s also important to understand how the J-1 visa process works. We’ll go through how different types of internships operate, and what you need to do in order to apply for a J-1 visa. 

Types of Internships

Deciding on the right type of internship requires you to consider a lot of factors. You need to ask yourself what kind of experience you’re looking for, and the type of employer you’d like to work for. 

Work and travel programs offer a diverse range of opportunities. Having a specific idea of what you would like to achieve during your global internship can hone in on the right program. Do you want to gain paid work experience? Are you seeking a way to expand your research to complete your dissertation? Consider how your internship can work for you as you decide on the type of work-based learning program you want to pursue.

The types of internships we’ll focus on are:

1. Paid Internships
2. Work Research Internships
3. Unpaid Internships
4. Partially-Paid Internships

Paid Internships

The most common paid internships are work experience requisites for college and university students prior to graduation. This often occurs during the second or third year of your degree. The intention of a paid internship is to assist you in developing practical experience in your field before you graduate. It’s an excellent way to begin networking within your industry before completing your schooling. 

Some examples of majors that rely on paid internships include:

• Architecture
• Business
• Communications
• Engineering
• Law
• Medicine

From architects to advertisers, paid internships are a very common pathway for starting your career. As a graduate, you’ll be able to take advantage of the network you’ve developed during your work-based learning program to help advance your career. 

Work Research Internships

Students who are nearing the end of their degree often pursue a research internship to assist a company in completing a study. You’ll work to help identify ways a company can improve its product or service. Work research internships offer great insight into how your field works and how you can make an impact. 

The University of Maryland recommends students turn to faculty to identify several potential mentors who are doing research that matches their own intellectual interests and career goals. This can help to inform your own research and guide you to find the right type of research internship. Consider whether you’re looking to gain academic credit by partaking in a summer research program or get worldly perspectives while interning abroad. Either way, you’ll expand your industry knowledge in the process.

Work research programs also provide opportunities for students to expand their resource pool for theses and dissertations. STEM students in particular can find increasing work-based learning program opportunities through the Biden administration’s recent visa changes. 

Unpaid Internships

Most unpaid internships are offered through nonprofits and think tanks. While you may not earn a paycheck during this work-based learning program, there are still many benefits to participating in unpaid internships. You’ll gain exposure to your field and meet influential people within your industry during your experience. 

While unpaid internships are a common way to gain work experience, it’s important that you work with trustworthy organizations. Make sure you’re working with an organization that is compliant with your state’s laws before agreeing to an unpaid internship. 

Finding your next internship through Intrax Global Internships is a great way to connect with reputable organizations that provide legitimate internship opportunities.

Partially-Paid Internships

Unlike its paid and unpaid counterparts, partially-paid internships offer stipends for your time in a work-based learning program. You’ll be assigned a specific position for the duration of your internship and receive regular fixed payments. 

It’s important to note that partially-paid internships only cover the basic costs you’ll need to participate in your work-based learning program. Like most internships, partially-paid internships offer opportunities for career development and growth of your professional skill set. 

If you’re interested in pursuing a work-based learning program, deciding which type of internship suits your needs best is an important decision to make. Look at resources and tips on how to land a J-1 internship to make the most informed choice.

Secure a J-1 Visa

In order to start your work-based learning program journey, you need to secure a J-1 visa. But what is a J-1 visa? And how do you know if you qualify for one? Intrax Global Internships has a wealth of knowledge and experience working with J-1 visa holders. We can help you understand the process, secure your J-1 visa, and make sure you’re working with a trusted employer or institution.

A J-1 visa is a temporary, nonimmigrant visa for visitors who want to participate in the United States Exchange Visitor Program (EVP). The J-1 visa program was created so that foreign nationals could come to the U.S. to study, teach, intern, counsel, work, and research. Over 300,000 J-1 visa holders visit the United States every year. People who visit on a J-1 visa include au pairs, exchange students, interns, and teachers.

The most critical part of securing your visa is finding a sponsor. Your work-based learning program should provide you with sponsorship opportunities to commence your global internship. Intrax has been sponsoring highly driven foreign nationals for over 40 years, connecting students with exciting programs across the United States. Whether you’ve found your work-based learning program through us or not, we can help you secure a J-1 visa.

The steps in order to secure your J-1 visa can be complex without expert guidance. The application and interview preparation process alone can be overwhelming, especially if English is not your first language. Let’s break down what the Intrax Global Internships J-1 application process looks like:

1. Complete Our Online DS-2019 Application
2. Submit Required Documents
3. Pay Program Fees
4. Host Company Confirms Placement
5. Intrax Conducts Pre-Departure Orientation
6. Intrax Issues DS-2019
7. Interview at U.S. Embassy or Consulate
8. Obtain Your J-1 Visa

These eight steps cover the start-to-finish process of your J-1 visa application. Once all documentation is complete and approved, you’ll be all set to begin your work-based learning program. Learn more about the J-1 visa process by visiting our FAQ.

Work with Intrax

Applying for a work-based learning program doesn’t have to be daunting. Intrax has a long history of connecting driven interns with Fortune 500 companies and prestigious universities. It’s our mission to provide high-quality educational and work programs that connect interns and employers, inspire personal growth, and prepare individuals to succeed as global citizens.

Discover our available internships, or get to know our programs in more detail. We’d love to connect you with a work-based learning program that can help you foster your career success. Not sure where to start? Check out our 2023 Official Guide on how to get an internship.

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Begin Your Work-based Learning Program Journey Today

Start your work-based learning program journey today! Foster success as you work in a new environment and build your global network. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you start your next global internship. Or, request more information about our available internships.