Unforgettable Experience

I completed my internship in Dublin with the Intern group early-mid 2017.
If you aspire to work in Europe, or in Ireland, in the future, I cannot fully explain how much this experience with the Intern Group will help you achieve your future aspirations.
In terms of finding internships, the Intern Group do a fantastic job in finding out what you really want and then placing you in exciting and forward thinking companies. Dublin is a European hub for business and if you are thinking of going into technology or finance in the future then there are no shortage of opportunities. Dublin is home to tech giants. Google and Facebook have their European HQ's there and both Microsoft and Amazon have significant status there too. On the finance side, the big 4 accountancy firms have offices and in the post-Brexit world, Dublin is looking like a suitable place for the big American banks to set up offices in the future.

The Intern Group will often set you up with a smaller-medium sized company but don't let that put you off. The working experience that I had was so much better because it was a smaller team. You learn far more than you would in a large company and it makes settling in a lot easier also. Of course this experience is not just about the internship but about exploring your surroundings and having fun!

My top five things to do in Dublin would be:

1) Go to the Guinness Storehouse. If you like beer, and Guinness, this will be a highlight of your trip. If not, go anyway, because the view is incredible. You do the Guinness experience, so that's exploring the history, seeing how it's made etc and then the highlight for me the FREE pint of Guinness in the sky bar which gives you an almost 360 degree view of the city. Also, its worth going for the mandatory Instagram photo outside of the Guinness gates.
2) Cliffs of Moher. This is another trip organised by the Intern Group and for me was a surreal experience. If it's a sunny day, go and experience it. It's unique and without giving too much away, its a breathtaking moment.
3) Relax and live like a local. The best way to settle into any city is to live like the locals. Compared to most European cities, Dublin is fairly relaxed. Unless you're working for a big bank, suits are rare. Business causal is more often than not good enough. Your bosses will be fairly relaxed too. If you need the afternoon off or will be late, as long as you mention it, it's not a problem. Dublin is friendly so striking up conversation with a random person in the street is commonplace. To truly fit in, order a pint of Guinness at every opportunity you can, you'll be welcomed with open arms.
4) Travel. This can be within Ireland itself either down south to Cork or up to Belfast in Northern Ireland. Or, travel abroad. Dublin is situated no more than three hours from major European cities and cheap flights to these destinations are very easy to come by. From what I can remember, Dublin has a lot of public holidays and long weekends so city breaks to places like Amsterdam, Paris and Berlin are all within reach.
5) Go to Coppers. It's a Dublin institution and a 'rite of passage' for everyone who visits Dublin. You have to live it to experience it.

The Dublin experience is one that will live with myself for a long time and if you get involved with everything then you'll have an amazing time. Personally, I would stay for no less than two months because that gives you enough time to be properly integrated with the business you'll be working for and it gives you ample opportunities for the social side of the experience.
Lastly, the internship does work. Four months after completing the internship, I am moving to London to start my first full-time job so the weight that the program carries is evident.