Internships in Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul is one of the most visited cities in the world for good reason. The city boasts countless museums, palaces, mosques, churches, and other monuments of historical significance. With Byzantine, Ottoman, and Genoese architecture at every turn, Instanbul is a delight for travelers and interns abroad.
As an intern in Istanbul, you can take advantage of all the wondrous sites and opportunities the city has to offer. Istanbul is not a conventional option for those wanting to intern abroad, which makes it all that much more attractive for you. You are sure to stand out as a unique candidate with some international work experience from Istanbul.
Marketing
As a marketing student, it’s important to have international skills and knowledge that make you stand out. Gain international work experience in Istanbul with one of the many marketing firms or major companies in Istanbul to make yourself stand out among a competitive crowd. Depending on your internship, you may have tasks such as conducting research, analyzing the market, creating graphics, writing unique material, and more!
Media
For those interested in journalism, television, newspapers, internet media, and radio, there are plenty of opportunities to work with media in Istanbul, covering topics such as food, entertainment, news, politics, and culture. Working in the media industry in Istanbul is an excellent way to learn about and immerse yourself in Turkish culture. You could be reporting, writing articles, helping out at broadcast channels, shooting videos, taking pictures, or hosting depending on your internship.
Politics
There are a variety of internships in Istanbul available for those interested in pursuing political careers. No matter what aspect of politics you are interested in, you will be able to find an internship that matches your interests. There are internships in diverse areas of politics such as democracy, security, political economy, human rights, social justice, freedom, law, and women’s issues. You could end up working at political parties, organizations, or even the local or national government.
When and Where to Look for an Internship
Most internships will be located in the business districts of Istanbul such as New Istanbul and Maslak. However, this is not true for all internships and you can find them all over the city depending on your interests. You may also find internships throughout the year since business is always happening in Istanbul!
Cost of Living in Istanbul
Your rent per month will depend on where you decide to live and the type of residence you decide to take up. For example, a one bedroom apartment in the city center of Istanbul will be about 20,000-35,000 Turkish lira or $600-$1,000 USD a month per month, whereas a one bedroom apartment in the suburbs will be significantly less.
Work and Labor Laws in Istanbul
Depending on the length of your internship, you may need to obtain an Education or Internship visa to intern in Turkey. Be sure to research the requirements for your nationality and specific program.
Etiquette
The culture in Istanbul is a unique mixture of traditional and business-like. For example, Turkish people are often quite proud of their heritage, country, and family. In business, the culture is based on consideration, politeness, respect, punctuality, and courtesy. Small talk is important in Istanbul before business begins; do not be alarmed if your co-workers seem to be asking very personal questions - although this is common in Turkey, as a foreigner you should hold back until a stronger relationship is in place.
Language
Turkish is the main language used in Istanbul. Business settings will often use English and Turkish in equal amounts and it is usually quite helpful to have at least a basic understanding of Turkish.
Networking
Since there are a decent amount of expats in Istanbul, there are plenty of networking opportunities and groups among expats. If you are looking to network in the business environment in Istanbul, you should speak about this with your co-workers as it may vary, depending on the industry you are working in.
