Get out of your comfort zone and get to know the German people!

 

“I’ve always wanted to travel and explore as much of the world as possible. This was a platform for me to be able to do this in a way that was sustainable - not just travelling for months and months, but in a way that can relate to my program and build work experience for my career.” – Jade Tan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After spending a previous summer in Dresden, Germany as an intern, Jade Tan, a new graduate of the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary applied for another summer term with the ASiiA program. Recommended by her German professor, the program stood out to Jade as a very flexible opportunity to travel while at the same time, gain international work experience. Taking an independent approach to the application process allowed Jade to discuss and arrange internship options and dates without being constrained to the limited options of other internship programs.

 

Jade’s first placement in Saxony was in the business development division of the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS. Jade was exposed to a professional and structured work environment, allowing her to build skills in market and media outlet research for developing technologies. From this experience sparked Jade’s interest in working with industry and technological development later in her career. Jade’s most recent placement was with Jugend- & Kulturprojekt e.V., an institution which aims to promote the cultural exchange among European countries and to contribute to the social integration of young people and adults. Jade highlights a weeklong workshop that involved many creative people from all over the EU, allowing her to learn new skills outside of her specific field of study.

 

Having already participated in the ASiiA program twice, Jade emphasizes the importance of gaining international work experience: “I get a lot of questions about my internship abroad on my job interviews – I highlight the fact that I have international experience and that it was not just a study-abroad term, but a competitive process where you had to apply and get in on your own merit.”

 

Jade’s tip to future ASiiA interns: “break out of your small group and get to know the German people – and if you can come with prior knowledge of the German language, even better!”