Quiz: what type of intern abroad are you?
Do you dream of doing an internship abroad, but you’re not sure yet if you’re really ready?
Good news: there isn’t just one perfect profile for living an international experience. Some students leave with a lot of confidence. Others are afraid they don’t speak the language well enough. Some want to meet new people. Others are mainly looking to become more independent, boost their CV or live a real human experience.
And that’s exactly what makes an international internship so interesting.
Going on an international mobility experience is not just about changing countries. It’s about discovering another culture, learning to work differently, stepping out of your routine and better understanding who you are.
It’s also a very valuable experience for your future. Going abroad can help you develop sought-after skills such as independence, adaptability, intercultural communication and self-confidence. The EAIE, a European network specializing in international education, notably highlights the link between experience abroad, professional skills and student employability. You can read their article in English on education abroad and employability.
So, what type of intern are you?
Answer these questions, write down the letter you choose most often, then discover your profile at the end of the quiz.
The quiz: discover your intern-abroad profile
1. When you imagine arriving in a new country, you mostly think…
- A. “I hope everything will be well organized, because I’m afraid of feeling lost.”
- B. “I can’t wait to discover the city, even though I know I’ll have to adapt.”
- C. “I want to meet as many people as possible and live a real adventure.”
- D. “Above all, I want this experience to help me with my professional future.”
2. Your language level isn’t perfect. How do you react?
- A. You feel very stressed at the thought of not understanding.
- B. You know you’ll make mistakes, but you’re ready to try.
- C. You plan to learn mainly by talking with others.
- D. You want to improve quickly so you feel more comfortable at work.
3. Your first day of internship arrives. Your manager gives you an instruction that you don’t fully understand.
- A. You don’t really dare to ask them to repeat.
- B. You calmly ask for an explanation or an example.
- C. You try to ask a friendly colleague afterwards.
- D. You take notes and clarify everything to avoid mistakes.
4. In shared accommodation, one flatmate never cleans the kitchen.
- A. You avoid conflict, but it weighs on you.
- B. You suggest a calm conversation to find a solution.
- C. You try to lighten the mood with humor before talking about it.
- D. You directly suggest a schedule or shared rules.
5. On weekends, in your host country, you prefer to…
- A. Rest, call your loved ones and slowly settle in.
- B. Visit a neighborhood, try a local café or discover a beach.
- C. Go out with other students, meet people and create memories.
- D. Prepare your week, update your CV or look for opportunities.
6. If you feel homesick on a Sunday evening, what do you do?
- A. You wonder if you really made the right choice.
- B. You accept that it’s normal and plan an activity to take your mind off things.
- C. You message someone to go out or talk a little.
- D. You take a step back and remind yourself why you left.
Feeling homesick during an internship abroad is normal. Changing country, language, rhythm and reference points takes a lot of energy. It can sometimes create a period of adaptation called “culture shock”. It is not a failure. It is a common stage in an international experience.
To better understand this phenomenon, you can read this English article from UKCISA on culture shock for international students.
7. For you, the most important thing about an internship abroad is…
- A. Feeling reassured, well supported and not feeling alone.
- B. Discovering a new culture and becoming more independent.
- C. Living a strong human experience and meeting people.
- D. Developing useful skills for your future career.
8. Your schedule changes at the last minute.
- A. You quickly feel unsettled, because you like knowing what to expect.
- B. You adapt, as long as things remain clear.
- C. You see it as part of the experience.
- D. You ask for details so you can stay organized and efficient.
9. You have to speak to a customer, but you’re afraid of making a mistake.
- A. You prefer to avoid it if possible.
- B. You use simple sentences and do your best.
- C. You smile, go for it and improvise.
- D. You prepare a few useful sentences in advance to feel more confident.
10. At the end of your internship abroad, you would mainly like to say to yourself…
- A. “I managed to overcome my fears.”
- B. “I grew and became more independent.”
- C. “I met amazing people.”
- D. “This experience will really matter for my future.”
Results: what type of intern are you?
Now count the letter you chose most often.
- Mostly A? You are the cautious intern.
- Mostly B? You are the explorer intern.
- Mostly C? You are the sociable intern.
- Mostly D? You are the ambitious intern.
If several letters are tied, that’s normal. Many students have a mixed profile. Read the profiles that match you the most.
Profile A: the cautious intern
You want to go abroad, but you also need reassurance.
You ask yourself a lot of questions:
- What if I don’t understand?
- What if I get lost?
- What if I feel lonely?
- What if I can’t adapt?
These questions are normal. They don’t mean you’re not ready. They simply show that you take your project seriously.
Your strength is that you are aware of the possible difficulties. You’re not leaving thinking that everything will be perfect. You know that an internship abroad requires organization, adaptation and courage.
Your challenge is not to let your fears make the decisions for you.
Our advice for you
Before leaving, prepare the essentials: your accommodation, your route to the internship location, a few useful phrases in the local language, important phone numbers and a short list of things to do during the first few days.
But don’t try to control everything. An international experience always includes some unexpected moments. And it’s often in those moments that you gain the most self-confidence.
Choose a destination and sector suited to your language level and personality. You can also prioritize an environment where the support is clear from the start.
Most importantly: remember that you don’t need to feel perfectly comfortable to leave. You’re leaving precisely to become more comfortable.
Profile B: the explorer intern
You see an internship abroad as a real adventure.
You want to discover a new city, a new culture, new landscapes and new habits. You don’t necessarily need everything to be perfect. You know that the unexpected is part of the journey.
Your strength is your open-mindedness. You are curious, adaptable and eager to learn differently than by staying in your routine.
You understand that international experience is not only lived at work. It also happens in public transport, at the supermarket, in a conversation with a flatmate, in a local café or during a walk after your internship day.
Your challenge is not to forget the professional dimension of your experience.
Our advice for you
Make the most of the destination, but keep a good balance. Your internship remains a professional experience. Be punctual, serious, involved and respectful of the company’s rules.
Set yourself a few simple goals: improve in the language, understand how your sector works, become more independent, discover at least one new place every week.
Don’t hesitate to keep a small travel journal. Write down what you learn, new words, cultural differences and small everyday victories. This will help you highlight your experience later.
The important thing is not to arrive abroad already mastering everything. Adaptation takes time. The key is to stay curious, dare to ask questions, create a routine and gradually find your bearings. To complement this advice, IFSA offers an English guide with simple tips to deal with culture shock while studying abroad.
With your profile, you can truly turn your international internship into a complete experience: professional, cultural and personal.
Profile C: the sociable intern
For you, going abroad is above all about meeting people.
You want to create memories, talk with people from other countries, share moments with your flatmates, colleagues or other students. You know that human relationships can turn a simple stay into an unforgettable experience.
Your strength is your ability to connect with others. Even if you don’t speak the language perfectly, you know that a smile, humor and kindness help a lot.
You can quickly build a social circle, integrate into a group and make your daily life more lively.
Your challenge is not to confuse a social experience with a permanent holiday.
Our advice for you
Keep reaching out to others, it’s a real strength. In an international environment, open and positive people often integrate faster.
But keep in mind that your professional attitude matters a lot. Your energy should also be visible during your internship: with customers, colleagues, managers and everyday tasks.
If you work in hospitality, catering, reception, tourism or animation, your interpersonal ease can become a real asset. These sectors value dynamic, smiling profiles who are able to communicate.
Also remember to step out of your social comfort zone. Don’t stay only with students who speak your language. Try to build connections with local or international people. That’s how you’ll progress the most.
An internship abroad is not just about learning a language. It’s also about learning to understand people who don’t always think like you, who don’t have the same habits and who don’t necessarily communicate in the same way. This human openness is one of the greatest benefits of international mobility.
Profile D: the ambitious intern
You see your internship abroad as an important step for your future.
You want to strengthen your CV, improve your language skills, develop concrete abilities and show that you are capable of working in an international environment.
Your strength is your motivation. You know why you’re leaving. You want this experience to have meaning and help you move forward in your path.
You can be very serious, organized and involved. You want to learn, do well and get the most out of your internship.
Your challenge is not to forget the human experience.
Our advice for you
Before leaving, define your goals: improve your English or Spanish, discover a sector, become more comfortable with customers, develop your independence, learn to work in an international team.
During your internship, ask for feedback. Observe how the company works. Write down your tasks, your successes, the situations you handled and the skills you developed.
This will be very useful for your CV, future interviews or school application files.
But don’t forget to also live the experience outside of work. International experience is not limited to one professional line. It is also a human, cultural and personal adventure.
Recruiters value experiences abroad because they show more than a technical skill. They show your ability to adapt, communicate, evolve in an unfamiliar setting and gain maturity.
An international internship can therefore become a real professional asset. Provided you know how to explain it. After your return, remember to highlight what you truly learned: managing the unexpected, communicating in another language, customer relations, working in a multicultural team, independence and initiative.
So, ready to go on an internship abroad?
Whatever your profile, one thing is certain: an internship abroad can help you grow.
You don’t need to be perfect. You don’t need to be bilingual. You don’t need to be extremely confident from the start.
Above all, you need to be motivated, open-minded, curious and ready to learn.
International mobility is a unique experience. It allows you to discover a country, practice a language, live in a new environment and develop skills that you can’t always learn in class.
You might get lost once. You might struggle to find your words. You might feel a little homesick. But you will also succeed at things you didn’t think you could do.
And that’s exactly why this experience matters.
Prepare your internship abroad with Stud&Globe
With Stud&Globe, you can be supported in your internship abroad project. The team helps you find an experience adapted to your profile, your language level, your dates and your professional goals.
Whether you are cautious, exploratory, sociable or ambitious, there is an international experience that can suit you.
Your profile does not define your limits. It simply helps you better prepare your departure.
The real test begins when you dare to take the first step.
