Internship Testimonials

Marc Feth is an international student from Germany studying Economics and participating in the Honours College. He did his internship as a business consultant in Malindi, Kenya, Africa. He found it with the help of the mailing list of the Career Office. The internship was only one month, but offered him the chance to restructure a safari company, which was nearly bankrupt.

Marc: “In the end it is just a question of effort”

Why did you choose to do this internship?

I have been interested in the management and banking sector before and did internships in these areas. But this time I wanted to do something new. This internship in Africa as a consultant offered me a chance to stretch my potential and see if I would enjoy working in this field. Moreover this internship represented a precious opportunity to experience another and very different culture. I also thought that my academic skills might be more appreciated there than in a developed country, such as the Netherlands.

What did you learn from your internship?

My learning experience was incredible. The company missed everything a company can possibly miss. There was no business or marketing plan, the licenses were outdated, there were no financial statements, no business partners, no organizational structure, etc. Therefore I had to start by creating financial statements, go through all the documents, which were randomly spread around in the office. After that I made an action plan for the upcoming year, found business partners (mostly hotels), had business meetings with them and could finally put all my theoretical knowledge into practice.

What was your biggest blooper?

As a typical student I face a rather limited budget constraint and after the plane tickets and immunizations and other costs there was not much money left for the month in Kenya. However after my arrival it turned out that I had to pay an agency fee for the internship, which was not explicitly mentioned beforehand. I was able to pay it, but after that I was basically broke for the rest of the month. Luckily I lived with a local family and they showed me where I can buy things to local prices, which are incredible low in contrast to the tourist prices.

What tip do you have for students willing to do an internship?

It is easy! Just look for it and work towards it. If you send 10 mails you might only get 5 replies and end up with only one offer. But if you try hard enough you will always be rewarded at one point. In the end it is just a question of effort.

Jelte de Jong studied MSc Economics and wrote his master thesis about ‘Quality regulation’ at the Nederlandse Mededingingsautoriteit (NMa, Dutch competition authority). The duration of the internship at the NMA was four months.

Jelte: “ I think I  would have had a lot more trouble finishing my thesis at the university that I had at the NMa.”

What is your advise for students who want to do an internship?

If you want to do an internship the best advise is: take the initiative. There are enough places were you can do an internship or where you can write your thesis. However, the companies and organisations do not know nor will find you, so you have to contact them. I got my internship quite simple; During the course: “Markets and competition” the regulation expert of the NMa gave a guest lecture. Since it was an interesting lecture I talked to him after the lecture, and ended up writing my thesis at the NMa.

Is it easy to combine a internship with your master?

The best time to decide that you want to do an internship is at the beginning of the master. I think it is better to do a full time internship than a part time internship. Since it is possible to take courses in every block of the year you have to create room in your schedule for an internship yourself.

What are the advantages of doing an internship?

I think writing my thesis at the NMa instead of writing it at the university was a good decision. I saw and learned how economic theory is used in the “real” world. Furthermore it is a good chance to see the inside of an organisation and learn what you find important about a first job. I had a good time at the NMa and learned a lot. Finally I think I  would have had a lot more trouble finishing my thesis at the university that I had at the NMa.

Did the internship help you to find and get a job?

After finishing my master I applied for the financial-economic traineeship of the central government. During the application process it became clear that writing my thesis at an institution like the Dutch Competition Authority was certainly an advantage.

Ana– Maria Tonita is an international alumnus from Romania. She graduated in MSc Human Resource Management at the University of Groningen in 2010.  She did her internship at Arriva NL, at the department Integrale Veiligheid from February 2010 to  July 2010.  Internship Topic: Enhancing Safety Behaviors – How to Handle Violence & Aggression in Public Transport.

Why did you choose to do an internship?
At the end of my master program, I had the option to either write a theoretical thesis, based mostly on literature review, or to take a more practical approach by combining it with an internship. There was no doubt in mind to choose an internship – the RUG gives its students a very good research background, but for a practical experience, working in a company is more advisable (or so I believe). Moreover, I was not completely decided on what I wanted to do next – a PhD or maybe starting working. I figured this would be the perfect way to experience one of the sides of the coin.
When I received the internship offer from the career office of the RUG. I applied and I had an interview with my current boss. Unfortunately, Dutch was required for that particular position and actually a colleague of mine from the same master was hired for it? Due to the fact that the interview had gone well and there had been a good click with the company, we stayed in touch and two months later the project between Arriva NL & UK appeared – the work was going to be mostly in English. And there I was! So, if I were to sum it up…I just got lucky!

What did you like about doing an internship?
The experience was really nice in itself – I worked on my master thesis but also on a separate internal project that gave me the opportunity to work not only in Arriva NL but also in Arriva UK (Liverpool).
I was given a lot of freedom to have ideas and develop them, space to take responsibility and make decisions and an environment that helped me to develop. Plus, I also received the motivation and the financial possibility to follow Dutch lessons which accounts for me now being able to work mostly in Dutch (and which improved my quality of life standard in the Netherlands considerably ?)

What did you learn from your internship?
Well…as from every new and exciting experience, I guess you get to know yourself a bit better. The biggest challenge for me was the fact that I was the only foreigner in the company, speaking no Dutch whatsoever and not knowing much about Dutch work behavior. So that took some patience, getting over frustrations & coping with unexpected situations.

The pitfalls were mainly on the side of cultural differences.  Small things that can turn out to be important. An example: when asking someone from something in a work context – in my culture that‘s a bit more on the side of “if you have time please, I would appreciate it”. Dutch people (even your superiors) like it if you just say “I need that by that date, in that format”- it keeps things simple and clear. But until I learned that, it took a bit of time ?

I also sadly discovered how far away from each other theory and practice sometimes are.
Do you think that the internship prepared you for the labor market?
Definitely, especially since I stayed in the same company? It definitely gave me a better understanding of the industry and the company itself, which helped me take on my new responsibilities as an employee.

How did you manage in a foreign country when you didn’t speak the language?
I think the most difficult thing about not speaking Dutch was that it was really hard to find an internship where I could work in English, considering that I really wanted to stay in Groningen. Afterwards, it took a lot of patience (still takes) and efforts – I have been taking Dutch courses since I started working and it was quite heavy working and then studying at night. But I really think that if I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to work in a Dutch environment, my knowledge of the Dutch language would have stayed the same, meaning minimal. So I am really grateful for the opportunity!

What tip do you have for students willing to do an internship?
For international students especially: don’t give up until you find one! And don’t be discouraged by a lot of NO’s ? And talk to people about wanting an internship – I think that’s the best way to get one – at one point you will know someone who knows someone who knows someone etc…

Coen did his master’s thesis internship at Unilever in Malaysia from May 2011 till September 2011. He wrote the thesis for his study MSc Business Administration, specialization Business Development. The Malaysian Dutch Business Council (partner of Career Office) helped him to get the internship.

Coen: “be clear about the purpose of the internship up front”

How did you get the internship?

To finalize my studies, I choose to write my master thesis abroad. After I attended an information meeting of the Malaysian Dutch Business Council (MDBC) organized by the Career Office, I became enthusiastic about Malaysia. It is a beautiful country, has a interesting culture and not unimportantly for low-budget students, the life here is quite affordable. MDBC introduced me to Unilever in Malaysia. In the end, Unilever gave me the opportunity to write my thesis for their personal care products in the Malaysian market. It is a great experience to work for this appealing company and live in this dynamic and vibrant country for five months.

Why did you choose to combine your master’s thesis with an internship?

Especially because this period is the final phase of my life as a student, I’m very happy I faced the challenge and took the opportunity to conduct my research abroad. If you have the ambition to work for a commercial company after you graduate, I think it is more interesting to conduct your final research for a company than do an independent study. Especially, during the weekend journeys to beautiful Malaysian bounty islands, I often thought about the less appealing option of doing an independent research in the UB in Groningen.
Was it difficult to combine the thesis with the internship?

Within my department I was the only Western. My colleagues took me out for lunches and showed me their culture. To provide recommendations about how to improve on the in-store presentation of products, I studied numerous shops in Kuala Lumpur to observe shoppers and shelves. In the beginning, it was a bit hard to explain the purpose of my internship to my colleagues. They were used to practical interns who helped them with the daily activities. Although this can be very interesting, it is hardly impossible to combine this hands-on job with conducting a comprehensive research and writing your final thesis. Therefore, it is important to be clear about the purpose of the internship up front.

What do you recommend fellow students?

I just finished my internship last week. Before I will go travelling through Indonesia for 2 months together with my girlfriend, I would like to encourage all students to take the challenge and do an internship abroad. It will be a fascinating, educational and valuable experience!

MSc Small Business & Entrepreneurship student Tom Kelder wrote his master thesis at advertising agency BeyenMeyer from April till September 2011. This assignment offered a great possibility to explore what his education is worth in practice, which he is happy tell you all about…

Tom: “Challenge yourself to merge theory and practice..”

How dit get the internship at BeyenMeyer?

When starting the Master’s degree programme I already felt that concluding my studies by doing an internship would be an important bridge between university and the labour market. After finishing the first semester I started looking for interesting vacancies. Through the Career office I became acquainted with BeyenMeyer, an advertising company, situated in Amsterdam. BeyenMeyer has been instigated in 2005 and grew to a full-service office in the meantime. Moving away from the secure environment of Groningen was a new chance to develop myself. Also, experiencing the advertising and consultancy industry as an intern seemed an incredible opportunity.

Was it difficult to combine the thesis with an internship at BeyenMeyer?

During a 6-month period I have mostly been working on my thesis project, which aimed to add knowledge and credibility to BeyenMeyers position as an online consultant. Besides these tasks I got regularly involved with BeyenMeyers daily operations. Matching my research scope and focus between university and the organization appeared a difficult but challenging assignment. It took my quite some time to agree on the specific directions of my research for both sides. Once I managed to set the boundaries straight I became able to execute my project effectively. The most important benefits I perceived from writing my thesis during an internship were the supportive working environment and the fact that the practical consequences of your efforts are directly visible. I believe this made me exploit the very best of my abilities and resulted in an excellent assessment from university perspective.

Prospects

Today, BeyenMeyer and I are developing a white paper to inform current and potential clients about the project. Also, the possibilities for publishing a scientific article, based on my thesis, are being discussed in consultation with my University supervisors. All in all, my internship has been a priceless experience and has brought me some never-expected opportunities, like getting a job at BeyenMeyer. I would recommend every student to consider doing an internship. Challenge yourself to merge theory and practice, it makes you feel worthwhile and might open a new world!

Tom Kelder

Robin Nijkamp, a former BSc. International Business & Management student at the RUG, followed an internship at the innovative online payment service providing company AfterPay based in Heerenveen. From May until the end of August 2011 Robin experienced the challenging environment of a dynamic company in growth.

“AfterPay is not only a company that just hires interns, they also strongly commit to learn from them as well.”

What kind of company is AfterPay?
AfterPay is a company situated in the Financial Services and Payment industry. The company is focusing on the e-commerce and m-commerce branch where it offers post-payment solutions for internet retailers and online consumers.

AfterPay is the leading and innovating post-payment method in the Netherlands as more and more consumers buy their products online with giro payment. With a clear strategy  towards the future, strong working ethos amongst staff and a learning oriented environment, AfterPay creates lots of possibilities for interns to gain experience.

How did you find your internship?
Because of my drive to experience the practical side of all those theories and concepts we learn during our studies, I started looking out for an internship that offered me challenging work with developing possibilities. In my search for local internship offers on the internet, AfterPay stood out.  It is not only a company that just hires interns, they also strongly commit to learn from them as well.

What did you do during you internship at AfterPay?
My assignment during the internship was to start up a couple of researches outside of the regular commercial business activities. Amongst other things I had to create a ‘customer satisfaction survey’ to measure the satisfaction and more important to extract input from client companies for improvement in the AfterPay services. Moreover I had to do some market research for the Sales department as well. During my internship I also got the chance to learn and help improve the regular business activities.

What did you learned during your internship at AfterPay?
I think doing an internship before graduating gives you the chance to connect the theory you studied in to practice. On the general level I learned a lot about the e-commerce branch, how quickly this specific marketplace is growing and developing. I also experienced the dynamics of a competitive environment in which AfterPay is active.

Furthermore, I think it was perfect for me to do this internship at a company in growth which confronted me with the effort it takes to work in the real business world. On a more detailed level I feel I have gained the passion and dedication of a sales representative. At AfterPay it is clear and straightforward what is expected of you. Together with the short lines in a mid sized company and understanding attitude it is a company that does not only develop you on a business level but also on a personal level. I had a great time!

Firstly, let me introduce myself. My name is Dimitar and I did Bsc. IB&M at the RUG.   I am an international student from Bulgaria and as you can imagine I was not very familiar with the Dutch language, culture and working habits when I started university. Throughout my studies I have improved on many aspects and one of the most important experiences for me was my summer internship at Biobizz BV Groningen.

Dimitar Zhelyazkov

“ I would definitely recommend to anybody to do an internship even before they graduate, the least in order to see their studies from a different perspective and improve on their practical skills (e.g Excel skills).”

Could you tell more about Biobizz BV?
Biobizz BV is an innovative SME from Groningen which works in the field of ‘Biotechnology’ and produces high quality organic fertilizers and pesticides for agriculture and home gardening. The company exports its products to more then 40+ countries worldwide as you would assume it is very internationally oriented and so is the composition of its staff, interns and owners.                            

How did you find your internship?
I found this internship by networking with former interns from the company who suggested me to apply and give it try. As it is an international company with Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese employees the Dutch language was not a pre but it is still and advantage. Also, there are interns from many different countries.

What did you do during your time at Biobizz BV?
My assignment was connected with the creation of a financial analysis tool (with Excel) where I made simple analysis on the chronological sales of the company’s products by product line. After that I entered data in it using physical sources (Sales records) from the company. The analysis from it was used in the writing of a report which was used in the company’s negotiations with one its distributors. So, YES you can make an impact even just as a summer intern.

What did you learn from your internship?
My most important takeaways from this internship was that I learned what effort it takes to work in the real business world and the dedication it requires. An interesting side effect was that my grades started getting better as I cleared a lot of bad time wasting habits thanks to observing how people at the company worked. I would definitely recommend to anybody to do an internship even before they graduate, the least in order to see their studies from a different perspective and improve on their practical skills (e.g Excel skills).

I have an international background with a Communication/Marketing base and I think one of the most valuable things that put me a L’Oreal is that I’ve tried ‘this and that” before I applied. I’ve lived and studied in London, Auckland and Groningen, besides that I’ve had the good fortune to gain experience through work, project or internships in Sweden, China and most recently South Africa.

“Take a chance to represent one of the worlds largest Brands while learning from the very best.”

Currently I am an intern at L’Oreal Paris in Amsterdam. I follow a 6 month long internship as a Junior Product Manager for the L’Oreal Paris Men Expert brand. I’ve been at L’Oreal for about 2.5 months now and I can say that I’ve never been in such a high paced and active environment.

Why L’Oreal?
I was seeking for a challenge, wanted to work with interesting brands, learn from persons that know the trade and as an intern actually want to have input. L’Oreal offert me all that as an intern Junior Product Manager.

What are yours task as an intern?
As an intern at L’Oreal Paris Men Expert I monitor my products performance in the market, I get monthly updates to track our progress and I get a chance to influence the performance by arranging brand activations, product promotions and take part in media development. On a weekly basis I come in contact with suppliers, designers, account managers, logistics and controllers. To work at L’Oreal means that you need to be able to coordinate communication between all these actors while you keep a good overview of your own work. The expectations are high, but the rewards are just as great!

Ellis de Haan, Msc International Business and Management  did an internship @ TenCate Protective Fabrics. In 7 months time,  September  2010 – March 2011, she learned about practical situations.

Ellis de Haan “I needed to distinguish myself from other students”

Why an internship?
During my studies, there is one thing that I kept in mind: in order to get the job I want, I need to distinguish myself from other students. For me this meant: international study, speaking English fluently, spending 6 months abroad, being president of the academic consultancy organization UniPartners Groningen and graduating by means of an internship at an organization. I chose TenCate for the innovative character, international dimension and affinity with the products it makes and applied at TenCate Holding. Fortunately, I got a place to graduate upon within the market group TenCate Protective Fabrics on the marketing department with the purpose of developing a framework for customer satisfaction researches in an international context.

Is it possible to write your thesis and gain work experience at once?
Besides writing my thesis, I got the opportunity to gain experience in a professional setting, thereby putting theory into practice. Students can add value by looking critically and from another point of view when tackling day-to-day business and TenCate gave me the freedom to learn, grow and cooperate in the organization. A valuable experience for personal and professional means.

How did the internship prepare you for the labour market?
In the 7 months at TenCate Protective Fabrics, I conducted face-to-face interviews with A, B and C customers in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Sweden and phone interviews all over Europe and the Mid-East, write my thesis independently with support from everyone in the organization and work on day-to-day marketing activities. A perfect combination of theory and practice in an international environment. It was better than I hoped for and I would recommend an internship to each student to put theory into practice and experience how it’s like to be part of such an organization with the room to move, learn and grow. An internship will help you gain knowledge about practical situations and prepares you for application interviews and your first job!

Yazhen Wang is a chinese International Financial Management at the university of Groningen. She decided to combine her master thesis with an internship abroad. South Africa, Cape Town is where Yazhen Wang went from Oktober 2010 til February 2011 at Quatro Web Solutions.

Yazhen “I believe life is about experience”

Why did you choose to do an internship?
As a master student studying International Financial Management, I first started thinking about doing an internship abroad together with my thesis was simply because I thought it would be a more interesting thing to do than searching data on DataStream and running tests behind a computer all day long. Studying business, after all the textbooks we have read and exams we have taken, theories could mean nothing until they could be applied in real world.

I believe life is about experiencing. An internship in Africa is definitely a new experience that I want. South Africa is a young country with a turbulent history leading to a complicated society and a diverse culture. To see and think about how people work, live and deal with their problems there helps me understand the world, which is not only related to my study.

What tip do you have for students willing to do an internship?
For students who want to combine internships with theses, my first advice is to plan well before you start. Communications with both your supervisors from the university and in the company when initiating your project until you have a feasible plan approved by both sides are necessary.

Another advice is to be careful with time management. Performing tasks for the company and writing thesis at the same time means heavy work. And I assume you want to do some travelling or other fun stuff during your internship as well? You will find time your best friend and laziness your biggest enemy.

What did you learn from your internship?
During my four month in Cape Town, I was an accounting and financial intern in a web service proving company. There I could learn how to use accounting software and other tools to do book keeping, customer account managing, auditing and performance monitoring. The interviews I did to people and discussions I joint allowed me to discover problems of the company and help with solving them. It felt so good to be actually useful to people!