Asia Internship Program (AIP) Reviews

Doing an internship in Thailand was one of the best decisions I have made in a long time! AIP helps you out finding a company that suits your proffesional expectations, accomodation close to your office and supports you in the overall process of visa application and paperwork. Moving to Thailand and starting up a new life could sound like a difficult or even scary, but having the support of an experienced agency like AIP gives you so much security and makes things much easier.
All I can say is that I had a great time over there and that I would do it again. I learned a lot, met new people, got to know a completely new culture and travelled all around South East Asia during my 4 months of internship.
So if you are considering moving to Asia for an internhip with AIP, don't think of it twice. You won't regret!

I just finished the last day of my finance internship in Hong Kong and I don’t want to leave. I love the company that I was able to work with and met many great people.

Looking back 6 months ago I’m so happy that I chose AIP for my internship experience because they found the perfect placement for me. I learned a lot of valuable things from the company that I worked with and I’m sure it will benefit me in my future career.

Friends that I’ve met from various networking events, which AIP arranged, are having a going away party for me and I’m going to miss them. This was my very first internship that I’ve done and am so glad I chose to do it abroad. I gained so much from this experience and can’t wait to come back to Hong Kong.

I had requested to do a strategic management internship. Apparently, there is no such thing. During the interview with the AIP consultant, he just called it a "consulting internship." I suggest they change the title. In hindsight, why would any company give an intern any managerial role anyway?

After I paid my deposit, AIP soon found a company for me in Malaysia. In the job description, I saw roles for "market research," "partnership development," and support "in performing various projects." I asked what aspects of the job fell under consulting, and the reply was that the "consulting aspects of the internship would be represented through identification and evaluation of specific business opportunities and market trends, as well as in the partnership development aspect."

I had the interview with my potential boss, and I really got the impression that this was more a sales job--just send out e-mails to gain new clients. Furthermore, it was to be all online--I would not meet anybody to learn negotiation and consulting skills (let alone any "strategic management"). I expressed my concerns to my consultant, and he assured me I would "have more freedom and work on business development, strategic expansions and be more involved in terms of decision making." Well, that sounded good, and I was hoping to gain some business consulting experience; so, I took it.

It turned out that my first instincts were right. I was just sending e-mails all day: no market research, no partnership development, no performing various projects, no business development, no strategic expansions, and no decision making! Just sending e-mails! I only got to do something different after I spoke with my boss about it, but the crux of my job would still be sending e-mails. What’s worse, I looked on my company's website. It turns out that they were advertising for what I was doing, and my job role was not “Strategic Management Intern”; it was “Business Development Intern”!

My mistake was not contacting AIP after I began my internship. In the contract, it states that if you encounter any problems, AIP will talk to your company to try to resolve them, or find you a new company.

However, I really wish that AIP would have followed up with me. True, I failed to read the contract carefully, but, for these types of programs, a responsible agency will check in with you regularly to see if everything is going all right. If they had, perhaps I would have had a better experience. Moreover, it’s not always convenient (and cost-effective) for interns to simply switch companies, particularly if they are staying short-term.

Another thing, they came out with location offers in Taiwan and South Korea soon after they gave me my internship in Malaysia. I really wish they had told me about them when I was applying. I would happily have gone to either of those two countries since they are more aligned with my background.

As for what was included in my internship package, I was never informed of any networking events, and I did not receive any certification of achievement from my host company. Frankly, I never heard from AIP again after I paid them the money.

In summary, while my boss was very nice, I didn’t learn very much, and my responsibilities as listed on my initial offer turned out to be inaccurate. I admit that I should have taken a more proactive role in resolving the issue, but I am just surprised there was so much miscommunication between AIP and my company.

It was an life time experience to fix internship with AIP. I was impressed with quick responses and ready to help in any possible issues in real time. AIP did really best job to fix convenient internship. There are even many things out there events organized, social networks etc by AIP which won't leave you behind.
I would recommend AIP without thinking twice. It really works with quick, easy and convenient service.

I was looking for a special business related internship that would make use of my degree in International Trade Management. However it was extremely difficult to find. I didn't even hear back from the 20+ positions I applied for online. As I needed to do an internship for credit I was running out of time. I was lucky to come into contact with AIP (highly recommended by my friends) who managed to create me a Business Development role with an International Logistics company. The tasks were exactly what I discussed with my AIP point of Contact 'Marcel' and the company was super supportive with my role and development.

I had the opportunity to work as an executive intern at one of the growing hostel chains in South East Asia, Lubd. I worked under the Executive Officer who taught me all about financial analysis of a new project. I was given weekly and daily tasks that not only made me learn stuff but also challenged me professionally. The practical knowledge I gained through this program helped me secure an internship at a private equity firm in Chicago. AIP has the best people and staff and is ready to help you in every way possible. This for sure was a life changing experience for me. I would especially like to thank one of the AIP staff members(Mr.Ken) who went out of his way to help me feel at home.

Choosing to do an internship with AIP was one of the best things I could've done. They are highly professional but provide an equally fun and friendly service that makes you feel like a part of a family away from your family.
From the very start of the internship, before I had even left, they had sorted out all the paperwork and visa stuff so I could take a load off, and not have to worry about that stuff when I arrived. My accommodation had been arranged prior to my arrival, as had transport from when I landed. Even when I decided I wanted a change of scenery and wanted to move apartment, they sorted everything out for me and arranged a driver to help me move.
Any other issues I had with absolutely anything, whether it was my work, my accommodation or even something trivial, they were always on hand to offer their help. AIP also organise plenty of networking events to help individuals grow their professional and social network. As well as getting influential guest speakers at their events, they make a massive effort to also plan fun social events for all the interns.
Overall my internship with AIP was an amazing experience and has definitely helped me to grow professionally as well as building a better business and social network.

Over summer through AIP, I was given certain tasks meeting clients, writing articles to publish on company magazine and most importantly autonomy to perform my job. I finished the program with tangible experience and many friends to share the time in Bangkok.

After two months of having the opportunity of working at the Asia Internship Programme, I have learned not only various facets of the business realm but also a lot about myself. An internship is there to provide an individual with work experience and also for said individual to figure himself / herself out; Do they like the type of work they are doing? Will they pursue that in the future? How would one fight for a different career path if they realize that the area of business the internship was is not for them? These are all questions that I can now answer.

The meetings, strategies, and people that I had the chance to work with made me more accustomed to how to carry myself in different business situations. For example, in the networking events where I had to convince various heads of different companies to partner with us, through trial and error and repetition I am now able to approach and discuss opportunities with potential partners in a naturally convincing manner. I learned that sometimes I have to be more tough because people don't always see that I'm a firm person because of the way I act. Although this was not my task, it was something that I felt was a great experience and useful in any area of business for me in the future. In my role of marketing manager, I learned that this area isn't necessarily for me. The constraints for marketing were rather tight and the mentorship in this aspect was understandably lacking for a few weeks, as my mentor could not be present.
However, I did learn how to use new marketing tools such as mail chimp, and Google analytics that I'm certain will be useful in the future. Additionally, I had a lot of room to create my own marketing strategies, which is something I am definitely grateful for and glad I had a chance to utilize my creative side.
The marketing manager position made me realize because of the research I did during and outside of it, is that my goal is now to work in the consumer behaviour research side of marketing. And this is what I was searching for this summer, my aspirations and my goal so I can work towards something.

To sum up my entire internship experience, I would have to say that it was a wonderful one, and apart from the aforementioned epiphanies I had, here is a main reason why. I worked with an outstanding group of people. Everyone coming from different parts of the world and everyone being so different allowed me to learn different traits of how to behave in different scenarios. For example, my superiors Simon Osborne, Vincent Houzet and Sainzaya Chuluuntuya taught me something invaluable, the courage to "go and get it". By this I mean if there is something that you need from someone you're working with or an idea you want to make happen, you just have to speak your mind and don't stop until you get what you want. I even learned a lot from my fellow interns. Specifics include the ideas that came up when working to tighten up the Broadsight magazine and how to act or not act in the business meetings.

Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that I worked with at the Asia Internship Programme, and specifically Simon Osborne, Vincent Houzet and Sainzaya Chuluuntuya because the things that I learned at AIP over the 2 months is something I could not have learned elsewhere, and I will always be grateful to have been a part of the young company that is slowly but surely making its way to the top. I will always have AIP in my blood and if there is anything I could do to help, within reason, I will do so. The family of AIP will definitely be missed!

My internship with Asia Internship Programme provided me with valuable hands-on experience and better idea about what areas and skills I should give more importance and make further improvement. The internship included many responsibilities necessary to run the web marketing strategy of the AIP. Each day bought different circumstances, challenges and goals and I had the opportunity to design promotional material, improve the previous one and put my own standpoint on the track taken by the company in terms of design.
The Internship was a worthwhile experience and I feel that it has prepared me well for my professional career in the marketing field. I will take both the positive and negative aspects of the internship with me in applying and analysing future opportunities.