Next Step Connections

Program Reviews

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Liam
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My experience and support was perfect

I feel like I was able to get enough support to allow me to grow and smoothly move into an international country. I was able to learn to become more independent and responsible in 8 weeks. Aaron was able to find the perfect company for my preference and had always given me support and guidance when travelling. I thank him a lot for his help and it makes me want to do the process all over again! I’m still shocked by how much I learnt during my time in Bangkok, I’m surprised at how much I’m capable of growing. I’m very drived after the experience to continue to work and I’m excited for my future endeavours

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Future Travellers, just be open to trying to new things and saying yes to everything. As my workmate said “push yourself out your comfort zone, you would have already grown ”. Also be prepared to learn a lot even things you didn’t know you needed to understand. But overall the all work together!
Pros
  • Kind Environment
  • Everyone willing to help and challenge me
  • Independence
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Katie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Life Changing Experience

My time as an intern in Thailand with NextStep was one of the more life changing experiences I’ve had. NextStep did a fantastic job helping me with placement and making sure I was having an enriching experience while I was there. NextStep provided me with an advisor that taught me about cultural history and norms that was crucial in gaining a broader understanding and appreciation for Thai culture. I can’t recommend doing an international internship enough because not only did I learn professional skills, I learned a lot about myself and my worldviews.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
I would recommend for future travelers to accept and embrace uncomfortable moments. Living, working, and traveling abroad will inevitably place you in situations that are new and probably uncomfortable. Being willing to embrace these situations will leave you as a more resilient and well rounded person.
Pros
  • Gain extensive first hand experience in an international setting
  • Learn about a new culture and try new foods.
  • Gain professional skills needed for entry level career postions
Cons
  • Far from home
  • Various uncomfortable situations but many led to enriching and fulfilling memories
  • Difficult to learn a new language
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Pol
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Absolutely life-changing experience

I have been thinking about what to write for a while now and I still don't know where to start. Me living in Thailand for almost five months on my own?? You tell me that in 2018 and I wouldn't have believed you!

But yet here I am, back home after having interned in Bangkok for 20 weeks from October 1 to February 14. In this day and age where having a degree does not separate you from your peers and jobs available for recent graduates are scarce and usually underpaid I knew I had to find a way to somehow make my CV stand out from the rest. I'm not going to lie. The thought of leaving my comfort zone was scary. I've been lucky enough to travel to many places from a young age but I did so with my family or friends by my side. Honestly, I just didn't think I was ready, though I didn't tell anyone that.

However, I felt like that was something I needed to do. I wanted to do something out of the ordinary and I kept a positive attitude at all times. I was prepared to live the experience of a lifetime so I embraced the challenge. In the end, I must say, I did not feel like I was overcoming any sort of challenge whatsoever. P.I (aka Aaron) picked me up at the airport, helped me settle in, and gave me many tips about navigating through the city and Thai culture. I was even more excited to get started!!!

What I am most grateful for is definitely having had the opportunity to intern for a leading international PR & Comms agency, where I made tons of friends from all over the world and gave me the headstart to my career I was looking for. Spain has been in total lockdown for over a month due to the COVID-19 pandemic but I am starting a new job in finance next Monday!!! We as a country are preparing for an upcoming economic crisis and this 22-year old just got a full-time job in one of the most renowned Spanish companies. THANK YOU!!

I'm sure I'll still leave some things out but I want to stress how happy I was in Bangkok and how easy it was for me to feel welcomed into Thailand. I used every weekend to walk around the city and I ate street food daily. P.I and my coworkers even taught me some basic Thai sentences which made the locals comfortable around me. I think I can still order some Thai food as of late April lol!! Btw, in addition to Bangkok, I visited Phuket, Krabi, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (I visited to Petronas Twin Towers on Christmas Day!!!)

I will cherish all the memories I made in Thailand forever. My favorite with P.I is definitely going to the nationally-televised Muay-Thai fight. I still get goosebumps. That was epic!!!

Thailand, I will for sure be back at some point.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
Not being able to withdraw money with my credit card when I had no money left
I asked a coworker to do that for me. My family sent her the required amount onto her account. Thank you Pim!!
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Manitej
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Life Changing Experience !

My Business development & Marketing internship in Hong Kong has been a life-changing experience and I am very happy with the overall outcome. Next Step Connections (NSC) has made sure that my application process is smooth and I am matched with companies that best fit my profile and expectations. Interning in Hong Kong allowed me to network with people around the world and the local working culture has provided me an insight into the level of competition in Hong Kong. NSC’s staff member, Jacky Mo’s continuous help and support have made sure that I was safe and had the best time even when the city was facing tough situations with continuous protests. The chance to explore the diversity, festivals and local culture has been a significant part during my internship period.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
My friends wanted me to try snake soup before I leave Hong Kong, since you can't usually find it in most places around the world.
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Ryuma
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My journey from Japan

Thank you NEXSTEP for the incredible service and support you provided me throughout my program. The knowledge, networks, job skills and overall experience I gained have not only increased my confidence as I prepare to enter the workforce, but are actually paying off in the first couple of interviews.

I want to thank the people and professional friends I made in Thailand for hosting me and opening my eyes to the incredible businesses, startups, and networking opportunities available in Bangkok, which was super developed, entertaining and fun to live and work in.

I also appreciated how close it was to several other of the most amazing countries I have visited including Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Indonesia.

If you have the chance I recommend studying and doing a professional internship abroad with NEXSTEP in Bangkok, Thailand. This has been the most memorable experience of my life. I am sad that it will soon come to an end. All I can say is Bangkok, you’re the best, thanks for the journey of a lifetime. I’ll be back again soon.

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Michael
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Bing Helper of My Life

I got my first internship, which brought me the most significant job opportunity, out of Jacky Mo's enthusiastic attitude of his work. Jacky's professional and positive guidance lead me to an exceeding choice out of a long list of firms which he built up for me individually. Before encountered Jacky and his team, With no experience of finding such an essential turning point of my life, I was frustrated and didn't know what to do, thank God there're such a group of people concentrating on helping graduate students like me.
I got my first internship, which brought me the most significant job opportunity, out of Jacky Mo's enthusiastic attitude of his work. Jacky's professional and positive guidance lead me to an exceeding choice out of a long list of firms which he built up for me individually. Before encountered Jacky and his team, With no experience of finding such an essential turning point of my life, I was frustrated and didn't know what to do, thank God there're such a group of people concentrating on helping graduate students like me.

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Houcem
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

life-changing experience as intern in Hong Kong

As I was desperately looking for international internships opportunities in different platforms, something different about NSC captured my attention. Their programs were well detailed and explained, the process of internship selection was smooth and their follow-up was on point.

From the day that I arrived in Hong Kong, They insured that I'm enjoying every moment of this experience! They guided me through my stay there and allowed my ease of integration through many diverse community events.

If you want to embrace a professional enjoyable experience as per your preferences in Hong Kong. NSC is the way to go!
I would definitely recommend NSC to my friends, to come and enjoy this unique experience that I had over here. Not only gaining valuable experience internationally but also get to know amazing people in NSC community.

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Fernando
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

I was provided with the opportunity of a lifetime.

I came to Hong Kong under this program not knowing what to expect and I couldn't have been more impressed. They will take care of everything you need and you'll make friends along the way, for them it's not just business but a personal responsibility to make sure that you are enjoying your experience. Professionally, they found me an internship in a company of my favorite sector, they were supportive along my entire internship even after having a couple of bumps during this period. The final result has been me getting hired in the company, working on the sector I wanted and making great friends. If you are thinking about enlisting in this program, I couldn't recommend it enough. Hong Kong is an incredible place that will surprise you in many ways, make sure you are ready to enjoy it to the fullest. You'll be in the best hands!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Make sure you go open minded and ready to learn, get ready to enjoy and discover an incredible place. You'll be taken care of so make sure so discover all the hidden gems that Hong Kong offers.
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Tracey
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great experience

This internship was such an amazing experience - I learned a lot about myself and grew mentally as well. My time in Thailand helped me recapture a sense of adventure that being stuck in Austin, TX shut me out of. I learned a lot about a culture that I had never expected to know so much about and it made me realize how much in the world is going on and I don’t even realize it. I would highly recommend this program to anyone who feels like their stuck and is itching to try something new and break out of their shell. On this trip I met so many cool people, kind Thai souls that let me into part of their lives, my company’s employees that pushed me to do more, and the students on the program with me, they are truly friends that turned into family! But to be honest the best thing I experienced on this trip was the food - it changed my entire perspective on food in general and my tastebuds are happier so.

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Jak
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

You wont regret ir

Greatest experience of my college career, you wont regret it. This was my first time overseas and not gonna lie I was pretty scared when my plane landed at the airport. Id seen photos and videos about Thailand but I had no idea what it was like. However,​ the Nexstep staff really made Thailand feel like home. After just ome week they gave me the confidence to explore Bangkok alone unaided. One month later I successfully explored Myanmar unaided and made more than 1 dozen friends there. Many fantastic programs at the Mahidol University. I've been a part of the environmental departments UN beach cleanups on the island of Koh Sak. There is a professor at the University who runs them regularly. Many cool scientific projects for those willing to bug professors. Salaya campus is also a really good center point for those wanting to travel around Thailand on the weekends. Overall best experience of my college career and if I could do it again I would