What is your favorite travel memory?
I did a hospitality internship abroad in 2013 and made many international friends. In 2023 I visited one of them, ten years of long distance friendship! She visited me when I was living in Germany and the UK, and I visited her in her hometown in Lithuania. She now has a dome AirBnB in the Arctic circle. We stayed the night in the dome and watched the northern lights, it was magical.
How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?
I have learned a lot from the students I come across in my years working at The Intern Group. They all have different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives, and have given me a truly global view of life. They also made me appreciate much more the city I was living in, because every time we went somewhere I was watching it through their eyes as if it were the first time.
What is the best story you've heard from a return student?
One of my students was quite homesick when she just arrived on the program, to the point that she wanted to go back home on the third day. We had a conversation, she told me how she felt. I told her how I had felt the first time I was abroad, that I understood her and she was not alone. I asked her to give it two weeks, and that I would be there for her if she needed a hug. With time, she adjusted and made friends. By the end of her internship, she told me "Mel, this was the best experience of my life. And it was because you told me to give it a chance". She decided to look for a job abroad later, too.
If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?
I would go to London! London is a multicultural city that offers so much to everyone. Professionally, London is quite fast paced and business focused, a guarantee that you will learn lots of new skills! Personally, there is always something new to see or do, there is no time to be bored and many activities are free. The Intern Group assists with the visa and offers housing as well, so one of the main painpoints of living in London is already solved from the beginning. It's just getting there, being ready to learn and having a great time in one of the best cities of the world!
My second choice is definitely Melbourne. It's still on my bucket list!
What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?
The focus on people. The whole team understands that our customers and colleagues are real people behind the screen, and there is a framework of respect and kindness. We understand that for our students, this is not just an internship, it is a lifelong dream of working abroad in their chosen destination and building the career they desire. We work towards life changing experiences!
What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?
Knowing why you are doing what you are doing, having a purpose. At The Intern Group we have our "why" very clear, and it keeps us focused on what really matters. We know that a quality internship with proper guidance can be a turning point for a young professional, and we do our best to be the bridge between talent and opportunity.