Asia Internship Program (AIP)

As part of my University studies I was required to take part in a co-op module where we would intern or work abroad for 6 months. I wasn’t really excited about the prospect of interning at home in Ireland so I decided to look overseas and stumbled upon AIP’s website. I outlined my University requirements in my interview with them and paid a deposit to solidify my place in the program and made an updated CV. A few weeks after this I was sent information about a company and had an interview scheduled with them. The interview went ok, I stutter a little bit when I am feeling nervous and stumble over my words but it mustn't have been too bad because I was accepted and I sent off the documentation to my University for approval. Moving to Thailand must have been one of the most nerve-wracking things I’ve ever done, I was so anxious the night before not going crossed my mind but of course in the end my common sense prevailed and I boarded the plane. Thailand is unlike anywhere I’ve been before and I was a bit overwhelmed my first few weeks here but I loved it! The food, the people, my work, and best of all, the travel - my favorite spots being Chiang Mai and Koh Lanta! I’m so glad I took the plunge and did something a bit out of my comfort zone, I definitely recommend AIP.

AIP does a good job with their services. I really enjoyed my time with the company they connected me with. The internship provided me with what I was looking for, international work experience in an international company in Tokyo. I chose to go to Japan for two reasons; firstly, Japan is one of the world’s leading countries in IT. Secondly, the Japanese work culture is one that is unique. Incredibly disciplined and focused in nature, entwining myself with the same discipline, I believe, would only be of benefit to me and my own work ethics.

AIP’s best feature, in my opinion, was their 24/7 emergency availability. With AIP’s guidance, I was able to get to know a little bit of the culture before arriving which made transitioning a lot easier. Their guidebook and welcome pack were definitely useful for someone new to the country. It was also great knowing they were always contactable for any troubles I may have whilst abroad.

I wanted to look into interning abroad as I had been stuck in an entry level job that wasn’t really motivational for me. I had graduated a few months back and wanted to get out of the rut I had found myself stuck in. I did 4 month at a digital marketing internship in Singapore, the people in my host company were lovely and while 4 months is actually pretty short I was actually learning something for once!

SIngapore itself is a lovely city and there is so much to visit and see there. I think I got a really good insight into life there be it eating in food courts or hanging out in the Botanical Gardens - which are really stunning btw. My only travel regret is I did not manage my own finances properly and I could not travel to Japan which I would have loved to have done.

One of the nice things about the accommodation is that the interns are all living close by which made it easier to meet in our free time and make new friends. I met some really nice people through this program and that is one of the things that I really took away with me from this experience.

Overall I really loved the Singapore program and have zero regrets doing it, Singapore is a brilliant city and the host company was fantastic, I am so grateful I am in a position that allows such adventure.

I think it’s worth mentioning that being being open to everything thrown your way will make your time abroad so much more enjoyable. If other interns invite you to a pool party, go! If AIP organises a trip in the city, go! And just being easy going in general. Inevitably the language barrier will make life more difficult than it would at home, just deal! It’s normal. I tried to follow this and while I didn’t succeed all the time I never regretted it when I did! Overall an amazing experience with AIP!

Singapore is one of the most brilliant and developed countries that I have ever visited, I have previously done an internship in London I very much prefer the atmosphere of Singapore. One of the best things about Singapore for me is it’s global reputation in the financial industry which I’m really hoping makes my CV look more polished. Finance runs in the family dating back to both of my Grandparents (Farfar and Farmor), especially my granddad who worked as an accountant and my parents who actually met working in the same bank. I never saw myself in any other field other than finance since I was very young. The main financial hubs in Europe are London and Zürich, I have already completed an internship in London and wanted some experience outside of Europe on my CV. Asia’s two financial hubs are Hong Kong and Singapore, I was unable to go to Hong Kong as I was not eligible for a visa longer than 90 days but I was eligible for a longer visa in Singapore! In Singapore I was part of a father-and-son founded Financial SME, amazingly they both used to work in J.P. Morgan Chase and a few years ago they decided to start their own business that will reduce the cost and issues of international bank transactions, they were also such nice guys to work with! With PayPal and other payment Gateways being very accessible over the internet, and with cryptocurrency in its boom period but my internship host company had a completely new way of looking at these sectors! I really believe that I learned a lot during my internship and that the experience I received over the 5 months was invaluable. Of course with learning and valuable experience comes a heavy workload and stress which wasn’t the best at the time but I was glad for is as soon as the clock striked 5 and I could go home. I am very grateful to AIP for my time spent in Singapore, particularly the help with the housing and arrival and of course a big thank you to my employers that took such good care of me in their office.

Having the opportunity to intern at a digital marketing agency in Tokyo, Japan was one of the coolest experiences I've had. I did a 3 month internship over the summer and it couldn't have been possible without AIP. So I have never been outside of North America and at first the thought of going overseas was pretty intimidating. I've been to Mexico and the Dominican Republic with my family but going on the other side of the world by myself was a HUGE step for me. The reason I wanted to go to Japan is because I'm so interested in the culture. I absolutely love the food and always go for Sushi on the weekends with my sister. My parents wanted me to have a reason to go to Japan before they would help me pay and when I told them about AIP, they were surprisingly supportive. When I was interviewing with AIP, they were very helpful in giving me guidance. I wanted to do something with social media marketing and they suggested that I pursue an internship with a digital marketing agency. It was a really interesting experience because my supervisor would take me to client meetings and they would discuss what kind of marketing plan they needed for their particular services. It was very eye-opening to see what actually goes on behind the scenes for marketing plans and strategies. My main duties were to assist the creative teams with the content and also analyzing data. Outside of my internship I was able to travel to some other places like Mt. Fuji, Osaka, and Kyoto. I'm a crazy foodie so I was so excited to try all of the real Japanese food and not the westernized stuff. I totally fell in love with those cute ramen shops where you fill out the little menu and the server brings your ramen through a little window (you don't even get to see what they look like). That was pretty interesting and cool at the same time. My time in Japan went by so fast and I can't wait to go back and visit some other places.