Doing an internship during your time in college or university is becoming increasingly more common. It used to be enough to make you standout from the crowds of graduates if you had just spent a few weeks at an office somewhere helping out. But, not anymore.
With more and more students doing more and more to make their resume more interesting, you need to think outside the box to put yourself ahead. The good news is: an internship abroad will do just that!
Interning abroad while you’re still a student will be seriously impressive to hiring managers later on. It not only shows that you are up for an adventure, it tells them that you have experienced different cultures, managed to overcome unusual challenges and that you can fit in with an international team (something that is a must in the business world these days).
Shanghai internship FAQs
1. Why intern in Shanghai?
The Shanghai skyline in its morning glory
So, the next logical question after you decide to intern abroad is: where should you go? You are probably hoping to go somewhere interesting, different, and modern, yet somewhere that has a solid culture or history. But honestly, you’re probably also looking for somewhere that your hard earned savings can get you a few more beers in the bar after work than you’d be able to afford back home too, right? More good news: Shanghai is the perfect place for all of these qualities!
A city with so many contrasts, so much energy, endless opportunities, and a mix of people from all over the world, there is truly no other place like Shanghai for your internship abroad.
To someone who has never been, Shanghai, and especially China as a whole, might bring up images of crowded metros, traffic jams, and smoggy skies. This is often the image of China we have from the media and movies. But, modern day Shanghai is actually cleaner, safer, more convenient, and far more pleasant than many European cities that are more common for internships abroad.
When you arrive and take a stroll through the leafy streets of the Former French Concession, enjoy a sunrise on the Bund, sip cocktails in a skybar, or enter an office in one of the many mega structures located in the Pudong Business District, you will see that the Shanghai of today has so much more to it than you ever expected.
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2. How to make the most of your internship experience in China
So, how do you make your Shanghai internship a great success you will never forget and always cherish? Here are my best tips for your Shanghai internship, just a little bit of advice for before, during, and after your experience:
Nanjing East Road, China
One of the most important things to consider is, of course, where you will intern and what you will be doing. There is no point of traveling all the way to Shanghai if you are not going to challenge yourself and have the internship of a lifetime! So...
3. How do you find your dream Shanghai internship?
If you are well connected, start by reaching out to your network. Don’t be afraid of asking directly if anyone knows about some opportunities for you. If someone is looking for an intern, they will appreciate your proactiveness. However, if you are like most students and don’t happen to have a network in China, you can start searching for an organization on GoAbroad that can arrange a placement for your Shanghai internship.
I went with Hutong School because I liked the fact that my internship also had Chinese classes, accommodation, and cultural activities included. This way, I knew I would meet people right away and quickly get some friends to spend time with.
4. How do you prepare to live and intern in Shanghai?
Before actually arriving in Shanghai for your internship, you might want to prepare a bit so can hit the ground running, which isn’t always easy for newcomers to China. Do some solid research on your host company, the industry you’ll be working in, and the competitors you’ll be up against. You will no doubt impress your supervisor with this background knowledge, but you’re sure to receive more challenging and fun tasks right off the bat.
READ: Tips to Impress Your Internship Supervisor
The ever-busy roads of Shanghai
5. What's a typical day like as an intern in Shanghai?
Although every day brings something new and exciting, the structure of each day will be generally consistent for the duration of your Shanghai internship.
I got off the plane and made the mistake of blinking. In the fraction of a second that my eyes were closed, two months tried to speed by me as if they had somewhere better to go than some semi-permanent slot in my brain. I grabbed onto the reins and attempted to reel them in, but was taken aback at how little control I actually had. I was scared at first, but I soon came to realize that with a little bit of guidance, “going with the flow” wasn’t so bad after all. In fact, it was the constant buzz of activity that made my experience interning abroad in Shanghai that much more enjoyable.
Here’s a peek at my day-by-day life as an intern in one of the greatest cities in the world:
8:00 AM - My alarm is set to a “Summer Morning” tune so that I feel refreshed when I wake up, but nowadays the sound just hurts my soul when it plays. Nevertheless, when my alarm rings, I drag myself out of bed and jump in the shower to start the day.
8:40 AM - Ideally, I’m all cleaned up at this point, and can make my way to work. When I first got to Shanghai, I took the metro every morning, but once I started getting more familiar with the streets, I started biking everywhere. Arguably one of my favorite things in Shanghai are bike-sharing apps, like Ofo, which let you electronically scan a barcode to unlock a bike, go wherever you need to go, and then drop it off wherever you want. Since Ofo faces some stiff competition, their rates are incredibly low; besides the (fully refundable) deposit, I haven’t actually been charged a dime. There are always a few Ofos right outside my door in the morning, so all I have to do is walk down the stairs and I’m ready to head to work.
Sunset view of Shanghai from the Bund
9:00 AM - At this point, I’m usually a sweaty mess (biking + very hot and humid weather = where’s my towel?). Before going into work, I stop by Family Mart to pick up water and some 肉包 (ròu bāo). Then I walk into the office a block away, and once I feel the cool embrace of the A/C, I’m ready to start the day.
12:30 PM - At around noon, my colleagues and I head out for lunch. Since they know the area well, they know where all the best spots are. There’s an incredible variety of food in Shanghai, so we’ll have dumplings one day, burgers the next, then Korean, Japanese, Indian, Italian, Mexican, and, of course, all kinds of Chinese food.
6:00 PM - I get off work at around 6 p.m., and the day of the week dictates what I do after. If it’s a Monday or Wednesday, I bike home and grab dinner with my roommates, then head to the gym right by our apartment. If it’s a Tuesday or Thursday, I go to the West Bund for an outdoor workout session hosted by FitFam Shanghai, where one of my coworkers is a session leader. Oftentimes on Thursdays, the other interns and I will head over to Perry’s Bar in the evening for a hangout and a few drinks. Perry’s is the go-to for college-aged expats and locals; there’s decent music, cheap alcohol, and good company, a winning combination.
WEEKENDS - If it’s a Friday, my internship provider always hosts some kind of event after work, ranging from dinners and room escapes to acrobatics shows and welcome parties. These usually end at around 10 p.m., but nightlife in Shanghai isn’t over until the sun rises. Most clubs are active into the wee hours of the morning. Oftentimes, our night begins at Perry’s, and then we hop around to various clubs until we find one to stay at, dancing the night away under disco lights and confetti.
Saturday and Sunday are reserved for exploring the city, checking off common touristy sites, and discovering new, fun places along the way. Bike-sharing is once again very useful, as its convenience allows for a very smooth way to travel around quickly, while still being able to appreciate small things along the way.Every day of your Shanghai internship will be chock-full of new experiences and adventures -- almost overwhelmingly so.
Even though life as an intern in Shanghai is busy, if you work hard, you can play hard as well. It’s not often you can have your cake and eat it too, but interning in Shanghai offers the best of both worlds!
Shanghai Skyline
6. What should I do after my internship in China?
Between work, play, and the occasional rest, your Shanghai internship experience will be nothing short of incredible.
I’m approaching the eighth and final week of my internship in Shanghai, and I don’t think I’m ready to leave just yet. It seems as if there are still so many things to do here, and that I barely had any time to do them. They say that times flies when you’re having fun, and my two months interning in Shanghai really did go by in the blink of an eye. Although there were still challenges to overcome, if I had the opportunity to do it again, I’d be on the next plane out of Chicago in a heartbeat, and you will feel the same way soon too.
Once you’re back home, try to stay a bit in touch with your old China life. Go to some Chinese restaurants in your area, watch Chinese movies, and don’t forget to check your WeChat. Keeping in touch with your friends is not only fun, it will probably lead to more travels in the future. Don’t let the people in Shanghai forget about you, send messages, stay in touch, check in with them to see what they are doing and pretty soon they will be your most important asset in getting back to China with a cool job opportunity. What’s more, with your newfound network, you’ll be ready to start looking for your dream job as soon as graduation approaches.
Say YES to Shanghai internships!
B E A U T I F U L !
You've read this article three times and now you're basically 100% ready to take on a Shanghai internship (note: you will still need a passport, plane tickets, visa, actual program, etc...). But for real, what are you waiting for!? Shanghai internships are ready to blow your—and your future employer's—mind!
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This article was contributed by Hutong School, an organization based in Shanghai that offers a variety of programs for students that are ready to experience Shanghai at its finest.
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