Internship Testimonials

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!

Gertjan Tijms did his master’s thesis internship at TBWA\TEQUILA in Malaysia from Sept 2010 till Feb 2011.  He wrote the thesis for his study MSc Business Adminstration. The Malaysian Dutch Business Council (partner of Career Office) helped him to get the internship.  

Gertjan ‘Inspire your client’s client’

Why did you choose for an internship abroad?

I’m a MScBa Strategy and Innovation student from the Netherlands. After I have been working in several countries and industries in the West I was curious to explore the Asian business culture and mentality.

Almost everyone in the Netherlands knows the Heineken commercial of the ‘walk-in fridge’, but only a few people know who made this inspiring commercial. In June 2010 I came in contact with TBWA\TEQUILA in Malaysia via the Malaysian Dutch Business Council (MDBC). TBWA\TEQUILA is an international advertising agency with many well known international and local clients, including Heineken. The idea of writing my MBA thesis to get in touch with the Asian business culture and mentality was made up in advance.

What did you do during your internship?

My research focused on organizational structure and creativity. I have analyzed how TBWA\TEQUILA is able to be repeatedly successful in innovation, the creation of creative advertising campaigns. Through my research I was involved in all levels of the organization. An interesting environment for writing a thesis, partly due to the employees of TBWA\TEQUILA who made working in Malaysia to a great experience.

 What did your learn from the internship?

It is an interesting experience to enter such a creative company for the first time and to see how it is to work in the advertising and communication industry. I have enjoyed my life in Kuala Lumpur. It is a city with character where you see, meet and experience many cultural differences. Once you are open for this, it gives you an interesting insight on a continent which is developing.

For more information about an internship in Kuala Lumpur you can always contact me via Gertjantijms@gmail.com or careeroffice.feb@rug.nl

Pieter did his internship at Bralima S.A.R.L., part of Heineken International. The company was located in Kinshasa, the Democatic Republic of the Congo. He did the internship after his bachelor Business Adminstration from August 2010 till January 2011.

Why did you do an internship?
After I finished by Bachelor Business Administration, I decided to do an internship abroad in order to gain valuable working experience. I chose an internship at Heineken’s Bralima brewery in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. My job was to support and prepare the implementation of a Navision ERP-system; first in the Kinshasa-brewery, followed by the other five breweries in the country. This was a unique opportunity to operate within one of the most appealing companies of the world in one of the most dynamic and turbulent countries of Africa.

How did your prepare yourself for an internship in DR Congo?
When I arrived in Kinshasa, the project was postponed for two months, so I was immediately confronted with the fact you have to be very flexible in a country as the DR Congo. You always have to prepare yourself for the worst case scenario, by having a pro-active and flexible approach to foresee possible problems and to think of solutions.

What did you do during your internship?
Because of the postponement, we had more time for the preparation of the implementation. I mapped the whole physical work flow of the brewery with two other interns, where I was responsible for the purchasing and warehouses parts of the brewery. I had to interview all the relevant persons, make schematics of the current procedures and analyse the procedures for possible improvements. Although I had at first some problems communicating with the Congolese people, because they only speak French or a local language called Lingala, my French improved rapidly and luckily the Congolese are very helpful and understanding when you speak French.

After the mapping was done, I coordinated the cleaning of the different databases by the IT department and the creation of the final document of the preparation and analysis phases. This document will act as input for the next stages of the implementation. Unfortunately I could only experience the first parts of the project, but nevertheless it has been a very valuable experience.

What did you learn from your internship abroad?
I strongly recommend doing an internship in a foreign country, especially in Africa. You will learn to cope with other cultures, to operate in a pro-active and independent way but also to experience the life of an expat for a while. Furthermore, I learned a lot about the DR Congo, it’s history and the friendly Congolese people. Currently I am looking for another internship, because I really enjoyed my internship in the DR Congo.

Emma Bruggink wrote her masters’ thesis in Malaysia at ING Insurance from March 2010 – September 2010. This was part of her study-programme MSc Human Resource Management

Why did you choose to do an internship?

During the final phase of my Msc Human Resource Management I looked for opportunities to write my thesis abroad.  In my opinion, working in a country different from your own is an experience that will benefit you both professionally and personally. Having had completed a pervious internship for KPMG in Australia I wanted to set myself a new challenge by going somewhere that had a culture very different from my own. I got in touch with the Malaysian Dutch Business Council, an organization which has a well known Student Internship Programme and is partner of the Career Office of our Faculty. With their assistance I managed to get a very interesting internship for 6 months with ING Malaysia.

What did you do at ING?

The team at ING welcomed me as a full member of their HR team and made me feel right at home. During these 6 months I gained much practical experience in various fields of human resource management next to that I was assigned my own projects. For example I was asked to design an organizational wide competency programme. Most importantly management was very enthusiastic about the subject of my thesis namely employee engagement and they were more than willing to make contributions.. The guidance I received from my direct supervisor was excellent and she provided me with the time I needed to work on my thesis.

Do you have suggestions for other students who want to do an internship abroad?

It is very important when combining an internship abroad with writing your thesis to have a clear agreement on the time you spend working and the time you can spend on your research. I would also like to remind students that going abroad for your internship is no easy picnic. You will encounter set-backs, frustrations and being the tallest person in the office is just plain annoying. However doing your internship abroad is going to be the most fascinating and educational experience you will ever have. Good luck!