Next Step Connections - Intern in China - Shanghai

Although I had two separate interests in internship opportunities. The NSC was able to provide me with 2 well planned and worthwhile internship in which I was not just assting but taking on reponsibilities and events in the company. Although I ended up taking the events internship, their hospitality internship was with a well-known hotel that if chosen could have benefitted me greatly in my future endeavors.

As soon as I arrived, there was someone from Next Step waiting to pick me up. I felt welcome right away, and they already had everything set up for me. The next day someone from Next Step gave me a tour and showed me where the office was if I ever needed to stop in. I never had to, but I would have just to hang with the staff. They are young, fun, and helpful. It was a good environment and I felt comfortable talking to them about my time in Shanghai.
I also liked that they sent weekly emails to the interns, highlighting different activities to check out in the city. Sometimes they even planned their own outings for all the interns. The staff was on top of everything. They definitely helped in making sure I had a good time.

The next step connection internship program is unique in the sense it offers complete support from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave China. Not was I only able to gain exposure to a growing industry in China but also enjoy the various cultures, tours organized by Next Step and meet people with so many different diverse backgrounds. I enjoyed every bit of my time in Shanghai and came back with great lasting friendship with my fellow interns and chinese locals.

Doing an internship with NSC was a great learning experience. I have to say I got more than I bargained for in so many ways!

From the minute I landed in Shanghai I had a ready made network of friends-the very friendly NSC staff and other amazing interns from all over the world.

I was also provided me with an excellent internship in one of the best Events management companies in Shanghai.
NSC also organised networking and social events on a weekly basis, that gave me the opportunity to fully experience Shanghai and make the most of my stay there.
My experience in Shanghai gave me an edge over other graduates and helped my career tremendously. I left China not only with a great internship experience to talk about all year, but also with a great network of contacts and friendships that will last a lifetime.

My internship was a fantastic experience in the fields of both research, and clinical medicine. I had a lovely time enjoying the exciting city I had a chance to live in, and I had a great time visiting the Great Wall of China.

Essentially, it's as good as you make it. If your in the position I was in (summer before college) if your looking for meaningful job experience it's very hard to find - especially in a local company.
It worked for me because I was interested in a language experience which I definitely managed to get at the local company but i didn't get too much useful job experience from my job.
The social scene is fun, I mean, your in one of the biggest international cities in the world - but don't go looking for an authentic Chinese experience. It's different than what you might be used to but shanghai is not representative of china as a whole.

If your looking for a meaningful experience that might set you apart from other people this is definitely a good place to start. Perhaps on one recomendation would be to consider looking for your own housing. The provided for housing is great and convenient but it's outrageously expensive (it's an extended stay hotel after all). There are options that are essentially as good for 1/4 of the cost.

It's a short and interesting internship experience. Working with local people, traveling to different cities, and meeting with new friends provided me a special overseas working opportunity. The best thing of the internship is to gain more working knowledge and grow your social networks from your colleagues and friends.

When I arrived to Shanghai I did not know what to expect... Little did I know I would fall in love with this experience and could say it was the best summer I ever had.
Next Step Connections (NSC) were very helpful and the staffs were very very nice. The housing they provided was perfect nothing wrong and westernized with a great sense of safety and support. I had a room mate and we shared the kitchen and living room. This was a good room situation becauase you would have your own privacy but yet socialize with the room mate.
The food was great and the activities and arrangements that NSC provided was great. We would get a chance maybe once every other week with some sort of activity like going out somewhere or going out to eat together with everybody in the program and meeting new people who were in your same situation. This really helps you get out there and become more out going. Shanghai itself was filled with expats and student interns in the same situation as you, so you are not alone.
The internship that NSC provided me with was exceptional and gave me a lot of experience in my field of study which was internaional business. The NSC crew were very supportive and respectful with any problems I may have at work and in china in general.
I would say the program made me more outgoing and prepared for other worlds experience. Going to Shanghai and having the support of NSC was a great experience which I would never forget on doing.
The only thing I wish I would have brought from the USA was probably deodarant or some kind of detergent spray because the summer gets really hot and walking every where and taking the metro got a little hot and sweaty. In China they dont really sell these cosmetic needs or if they do it would be quite pricey.
Thanks NSC and all its staff for the great opportunity and support. I will definately be back to Shanghai when I have graduated.

My experience in Shanghai would not have been the same without the support from Next Step Connections. They provided great housing, organised social events, provided a great internship and were friendly and approachable.

My experience was totally unforgettable and I never expected to fall in love with Shanghai as much as I did. It is an endless source of food, culture and entertainment and the diversity of people you meet is truly enriching. I felt inspired by China in general and I was truly sad to leave. I will definately return one day.

Next Step is a wonderful company that really was able to give me the hands on internship that I needed to experience. I didn't want to sit behind a desk staring at a computer screen for 8 hours of the day or run coffee errands as my daily tasks. Next Step's staff really took you personal needs into account and was able to find companies they believed most suited to you. You were then able to choose on you own which one you wanted to work for. My only negative comment was that it was a very pricey process. The quality of service was wonderful but the price was a little steep. I would love to do it again but I'm not able to afford it. Overall the experience was amazing, the living situation was ideal and there is nothing to complain about!

I found my internship to be very helpful to me in my career. Through my internship, I was able to make the connections to land a full time job. I don't think that would have been possible without the networking events Next Step set up. Also through my internship, I was able to see what it was like to be an expat in Shanghai.

NSC gave me a safe and reliable way to both explore the culture of China and broaden my professional and academic horizons. While participating in this program, I was able to sample Shanghai's social scene, bargain at markets, try local delicacies, and of course, gain invaluable experience going to work events and meetings. The NSC staff was always available and willing to accomodate our needs, which was especially comforting considering I was 7000 miles from home and didn't speak much of the language at first. This is definitely a program I would recommend to anyone interested in spending time in China.