An Internship in the U.K. with SONY
By Tarek Sultani

As a former expatriate in the U.K., I was not shocked by the bustling activity in Piccadilly Circus on a Monday morning. Something entirely different was shocking me in London today; I had just walked into the headquarters of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. From the highly comfortable waiting area to the 20-foot tall illuminated picture of Lara Croft, this place was magnificent. As someone who had regularly held video game joypads since the tender age of six, this internship with Sony’s Playstation division promised to be something that would be my inner child’s dream come true.

Working
This office proved to be an ideal workplace: casual dress code, flexible start times, PS2s in every department, and most importantly, it was located in the very heart of London. I was working in the Business Development department, which was actively bringing the Europe PS2 service online. People worked very hard, but the culture enhanced the relaxing nature of the job.
Most of my work involved research, but I also performed statistical work in conjunction with the marketing department. I had been assigned to research two important projects and at the end of my tenure was asked to create Power Point presentations delineating my research. They asked me to include my own analytical recommendations, which made me feel like a valued member of the team. My manager liked the presentation and decided to show it to the Vice President of the division. Luckily, he felt it was thorough and well presented, which made me proud of what I had accomplished there.

Taking Advantage of London
It’s amazing how when you live somewhere you take it for granted. In 17 years of living in London, I had neither gone into Buckingham Palace nor witnessed the changing of the guard from it’s outside. I had never seen Tower Bridge and had only briefly visited Big Ben. These are things that had never appealed to me while growing up, but upon return to the land of my childhood, I had an overwhelming desire to do it all. With Big Ben and Trafalgar Square only walking distance away, I could easily view their splendor during lunch. On weekends I could fill the gaps of my experience. Whether it was a trip out to Windsor Castle or a dinner cruise on the Thames, I was greatly enriched by this outstanding trip.

Perks of the Job
Everybody worked diligently, but breaks were also encouraged. On the bottom floor of the office there was an enormous break room that featured a pool table, numerous sofas, and PS2 booths to play the latest games.
Although I did not receive a salary, the company did take me out to lunch a few times at nice restaurants in the area. The President sent me a gift of a brand new PS2 and many limited edition games. The managers would also reward me sporadically with additional games for my collection. The company reimbursed me for all my travel expenses.
Since I was working over the winter, the company was planning for its Christmas Party. They shocked me greatly when they invited me to attend the party. The party was extremely lavish. Hosted in one of London’s most up and coming nightclubs, the party featured many great events. The crowning touch was the Egyptian style slaves who granted one of your wishes. I opted for a massage and it felt phenomenal. The food was superb and I left that evening feeling very impressed by the whole affair.
On my last day I expected the usual exit interview and a quick goodbye. While I received the customary exit interview, there was still more to come. To begin with, the Vice President told me that if I was looking for something to permanent in the future, not to hesitate to contact him. Secondly, he gave me a large amount of Sony merchandise ranging from leather bound portfolios, to clothing, to backpacks. Once again, they took me to lunch, and before the day was out, treated me to some fine champagne. The great treatment I received was something I was not ever going to forget.

Other Opportunities
Though I received my internship through personal connections, Sony was open to having other interns. During the last week of my internship, another intern had begun working there. She had contacted human resources and told them of the duration of her stay and of the hope that she could work for them. Although her experience was unpaid as well, she also received an equally wonderful and enriching work experience. Since she was an English major, she worked in their editorial department, where many of the game manuals and box covers are created.
There are other opportunities available. The Sony office has something for everyone whether your interests are graphic design, music, or marketing. People wishing to apply for a position or internship with Sony should send a Cover Letter and Resume to:

Human Resources Sony Computer Entertainment Europe30 Golden SquareLondon W1F 9LDOr send an email to hradmin@scee.net

Sony also does placements for graduating seniors, but are typically looking for people with computer programming experience. According to their recruitment web page: “Successful placements run from July of one year through August of the next year, and are from Computer Science courses with experience of C/C++/Assembler and generally some content related to the games industry. Available placements include programming positions to work on PlayStation 2, plus some technical web development” (www.scee.sony.co.uk/sceesite/recruitment.html). Many people who work there are not game enthusiasts like myself, but all of them found it a delightful place to work.

Tarek Sultani is currently employed as a Financial Program Analyst for ICF Consulting. Previously, he worked as a Mutual Fund Analyst at Statestreet Bank and graduated with Honors and Distinction from Cornell University.

International Internships

Cover Expenses, Gain Career Experience in an Internship Abroad
By William Nolting

Why do you want an international internship—to live and work abroad, or to gain specific career-related work experience? If the former, many other work abroad opportunities may be easier to get or less expensive. These include short-term paid work abroad programs, teaching English abroad, or volunteering abroad.
Where. Many internships related to international careers, especially ones with international organizations, are actually located here in the U.S.—especially in centers of international activity such as Washington DC or New York. But it is often possible to combine an international internship with an overseas location.
How. Tuition-based study abroad internships sponsored by universities provide credit towards your degree. Financial aid can usually be used to help meet expenses. Tuition costs range widely. Unpaid, non-academic internships account for the majority of internships, both in the U.S. and abroad. If living costs are high, these may be as expensive as tuition-charging internships but without the benefits of credit and financial aid. The main benefit of such internships will be professionally-related experience and better prospects for career positions.
Volunteer positions abroad sometimes provide room and board, which can make them less expensive than unpaid internships. The Peace Corps pays well, although this is a two-year commitment. Repayment of educational loans can often be deferred during volunteer work (check with your lender and the volunteer agency). Volunteer positions may be the best option for those interested in careers having to do with developing countries.
Paid internships are somewhat rare abroad and are available mainly in applied fields such as business and engineering.
When to Apply. For summer internships, it’s best to apply in the fall. Some programs, such as the U.S. State Department, have deadlines as early as November 1. IAESTE and others have deadlines in early December. Study abroad internships usually have application deadlines the semester before the term of the internship.


Types of Internships and International Organizations

1. Study Abroad Internships. Hundreds of overseas internships are sponsored by universities and for undergraduates are the most easily available option. Advantages include credit, applicability of financial aid, and a variety of subjects and locations. Disadvantages are cost and sometimes unpredictability of placement. Some of the best web sites for finding study abroad internships are the internship section of www.transitionsabroad.com, http://www.iiepassport.org/, http://www.goabroad.com/, and http://www.studyabroad.com/.

2. Internship Exchange/Work Permit Programs. A few reciprocal exchange programs offer paying internships in applied fields. If you find your own internship abroad, these organizations can also assist in obtaining a work permit. Best web sites for finding these programs are http://www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/work/internships/index.shtml and Univ. of Michigan’s International Center, www.umich.edu/~icenter/swt/.
AIESEC (100-plus countries), a student-run international organization with chapters on many campuses, offers business-related internships open to all majors. AIESEC members have preference in getting these internships. The BUNAC work abroad program the best way to get a work permit without a job offer. The programs are available for Britain, Ireland, France, Germany, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
IAESTE (80-plus countries) and the American-Scandinavian Foundation (Scandinavian countries) have placements in engineering and natural sciences, while AIPT offers hotel and culinary programs.
CDS (Germany) has several programs in business and technical fields for undergraduates, graduates, and professionals. These organizations accept applications directly from students.
The International Cooperative Education Program (ICEP) offers paid placements in a number of fields. Knowledge of a foreign language is required (e.g., German, French, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese, Chinese). Internships International, the Center for Interim Programs, and others offer low-cost placements in unpaid internships.

3. Internships Directly with International Organizations. Some organizations in international sectors offer internship programs with a centralized formal application process. Many do not have formal internships but often respond positively to applications from individuals who propose their own “internship.” In general, the larger and better-known the organization, the more competitive the application process for internships will be. Smaller and more locally-based organizations, often overlooked by applicants, may offer some of the best internship experiences.

A) Government. The U.S. State Department and other federal agencies overseas and in the U.S. offer internships (usually unpaid) for undergraduates and graduate students. Application is competitive. Apply by November 1 for summer, March 1 for fall, July 1 for winter. State and city governments have many internship possibilities, often overlooked by applicants, in their international trade offices. Internships with members of Congress who sit on international committees are also possible. A U.S. State Department Internship is a great way to see if a career in diplomacy is for you. Most are unpaid, but free housing may be provided. Eligibility: U.S. citizens who are undergraduates (junior or senior) or graduate students who will continue as students. Apply via the State Department’s web site, http://careers.state.gov/.You may also apply for career positions with the U.S. State Department from the same web site.
The U.S. Peace Corps is possibly the best (and best-paying) entry-level job for anyone interested in grassroots development work overseas. Unlike in a State Department job, you live and work with ordinary local people. Eligibility: U.S. citizens, generally for those with at least a bachelor’s degree; two-year commitment. Peace Corps pays all expenses plus over $6,000 (“resettlement allowance”) at the end of service. Full training and support is provided. Educational loans can be deferred and some partially canceled. Some tuition support is available for later graduate study. Contact: Peace Corps, P.O. Box 948, Washington DC 20526; 800-424-8580 ; http://www.peacecorps.gov/.
The Woodrow Wilson Foundation administers several scholarship/internship programs related to U.S. government agencies, for which women and minorities are especially encouraged to apply. Most of these scholarships fund several years of study and include summer institutes and internships. Applicants must apply as sophomores (for 3-year scholarships) or as seniors (for graduate school scholarships, for a shorter period of time).
For the most up-to-date information and applications, see the Woodrow Wilson web site, www.woodrow.org/public-policy. Other U.S. government departments that offer international internships and career positions include the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), http://www.usaid.gov/, the U.S. Commercial Service, http://www.export.gov/comm_svc/, and the U.S. Department of Commerce, http://www.commerce.gov/.

B) Public Multinationals (also known as “international organizations”). Multi-government giants like the United Nations, the European Community and the World Bank offer internships. They are often unpaid and highly competitive (paid positions are usually reserved for graduate students), and most positions for Americans are in the U.S. Most internships in the “Key Resources” list have information on internships with these organizations. Some organizations are designated as officially recognized international organizations. Work permits for these employers are easier to get. The U.S. State Department’s web site, http://www.careers.state.gov/, has links to the job sites of many major international organizations.

C) Private Enterprise. Organized international internship programs are sponsored by Proctor & Gamble, Coca-Cola, and others. These are sometimes restricted to students in MBA programs. Many undergraduates, however, have arranged overseas internships with U.S. or host-country companies, especially by using BUNAC program. Most internships with private industry pay enough to cover basic living expenses, though usually not the cost of transatlantic airfare. Try web sites such as Monster.com, or try Google searches for specific companies—using search terms such as “company name + internship.” In fact, Google works amazingly well for most types of organizations, assuming you have specific ones in mind.

D) Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), typically nonprofit, include humanitarian or human-rights watchdogs like Amnesty International, health care providers like CARE, research institutes like the Bermuda Biological Station, and organizations supporting international educational exchange such as the Institute of International Education. NGOs typically welcome interns in their U.S.-based offices and sometimes by direct application to overseas offices. Internships with NGOs are often unpaid. Two excellent web sites for exploring internship and job opportunities with NGOs are Idealist.org, http://www.idealist.org/ (some 47,000 organizations in 165 countries).

E) Educational Organizations. Teachers are needed worldwide. Positions fall into two categories: Teaching English as a foreign language, for which no other credential than a bachelor’s degree is usually needed, and teaching K-12 in overseas schools taught in English, for which teaching certification is usually required. Most teaching positions require a commitment of at least one academic year. Teaching at the university level nearly always requires an advanced degree. See also the web sites of Univ. of Michigan’s International Center, www.umich.edu/~icenter/swt/, and Dave’s ESL Café, http://www.eslcafe.com/.

F) Private Volontary Organizations (PVOs) offer many overseas placements and are one of the only possibilities for work in developing countries. Positions are typically designated as "volunteer" or service positions, rather than internships. These range from secular organizations, such as Amigos de las Americas or WorldTeach, to religious-sponsored groups. While some religious groups insist on affiliation, others, such as the Brethren or the American Friend Service Committee, do not. Short-term placements (of less than one year) will often charge fees, or at best provide room and board. A few long-term placements provide for all the expenses of the volunteer, most notably the Peace Corps (a U.S. government program which funds positions with host-country voluntary organizations). Again "volunteer" positions offer the possible benefit of deferring educational loan repayments during the volunteer assignment. See the web site of the International Volunteer Programs Association, http://www.volunteerinternational.org/, the volunteer section of www.transitionsabroad.com, http://www.internabroad.com/, and especially the great new book, How to Live Your Dream or Volunteering Overseas (authors Collins, DeZerega, and Heckscher).