International Internships in Dublin with The Intern Group

After accepting my position in the Dublin programme I didn't think much of it until Christmas crept around the corner. My programme began in the first week of 2018 and ended in March. I had never been to the northern hemisphere nor had I ever imagined living in Dublin for 8 weeks. At first, the prospect of working as a legal intern was exciting and enticing, I'd have the chance to not only learn from professionals in my field of interest but I will also get a taste of what I will hopefully be doing for the rest of my life after completing my law degree. This excitement was, however, shortlived as my nerves soon got the better of me. I had never travelled farther than the Pacific sunshine and warm beaches were the norm for me so life on the other side of the world in a city and country I knew little about was going to be a new challenge and adventure. After my 30-hour journey from New Zealand, I was warmly welcomed into the city of Dublin. My first steps out of the airport were memorable. I was prepared for the winter and assumed it would be like winter back home. We've had really cold winters with some freezing mornings and nights as cold as -11°C but stepping outside the airport the cold air hit me unexpectedly and taught me a harsh lesson. A wooly jumper will not suffice. Granted it was summer in New Zealand and I had just left behind 30°C weather but this was a different kind of cold, it was icy and it cut right through my skin. My first impression, Ireland is bloody cold.
The people, on the other hand, are friendly and warm but this too brought another challenge, communication. Not only did I have trouble understanding the locals they were also struggling to understand me. Nevertheless, after shouting what they were trying to say and speaking more slowly they always tried their best to help you out. The struggle of attempting to understand the accent and the vernacular made simple tasks unnecessarily difficult but I soon got into the groove of how the locals speak.
To ease us into life as a Dubliner the programme staff ensured we were well prepared sending us an abundance of information well before our arrival and were always available to answer our numerous questions. On my day of arrival, a programme staff met me at my accommodation which I really appreciated. She really made me feel welcomed making me feel less home-sick and anxious. Our first group meeting was that same night at the Porterhouse pub in central Dublin. It wasn't too difficult to find even while jetlagged. The place was lively and was a great choice to break the ice with the other interns and the staff. I didn't stay long as my eyes were threatening to close every few minutes but the ambiance was pleasant and it seemed like a real Irish pub. We have pubs in New Zealand but from those that I've visited, they weren't as lively or popular with the younger patrons. The programme team always kept us informed of what was happening around town and constantly updated us on popular events through the group facebook page where they posted events and places of interest like where to get the best falafel in Dublin. They also had other methods of keeping in contact with us and always made sure we were comfortable and happy.
At beginning of the programme we had orientation where we learned about the working culture in Ireland such as how to interact with colleagues and workplace etiquette. I learned that the workplace culture wasn't universal and learned from other interns what work life was like for them from their part of the world. After orientation, we went on a city tour which I found extremely helpful. It mostly taught me to look for the Spire (the pointy statue in the middle of O'Connell street) when I got lost and that Dublin's city centre wasn't as big as I thought it would be. It was only a 15-minute walk from where I was living or for when I was feeling lazy a 5-minute bus ride. As an aside, I'd recommend having a street map with you or the name of a street you're looking for written down. I struggled many times trying to pronounce place names so having something to point at when asking for directions would ease your struggle.
The programme staff organised many events for us and provided a monthly and weekly schedule of events. I found this helpful as it allowed me to plan out my own trips. Our first major group event was a bus tour to the Cliffs of Moher. It was relaxing and had some nice scenic views. I had gone out drinking the night before to better acquaint myself with my new flatmates so the early rise of the trip wasn't ideal though seeing the countryside of Ireland and appreciating the natural scenery was refreshing and calming and it also reminded me of home. What captivated me the most was the colour of the grass. It may not seem impressive but it was so green and lush and I knew then why Ireland was known as the Emerald Isle.
The programme staff also kept us busy during the week with smaller events peppered throughout the week ranging from dinners, to pub crawls, to seminars. As one of the older interns I preferred relaxing at home after work but during the weekend I made the most of my free time to explore. There are many historic jewels in the city all within walking distance of each other. You'd be spending most of your day walking so a good pair of shoes is highly recommended. Travel out of the city is just as simple with their Dart and Intercity Rail lines. I took the train one weekend to a small sea town called Howth which was only a 15-minute journey. The programme staff organised a trip there one weekend as the town is known for its Saturday markets. It's a quaint little town and could be easily explored in an hour. The salty air is refreshing and there are plenty of spots for pretty pictures. Or if you'd like to get a feel for the UK vibe without breaking the bank a 2-hour train ride to Belfast is an inexpensive way of seeing a bit of British culture. Travel around the country wasn't too difficult either. I'd recommend bus tours as a good way of seeing other parts of Ireland it's an easy alternative to organising a rental. Working during the week doesn't leave much time for exploring so I always planned a trip for the weekend though I was fortunate enough to have most Fridays off. The programme staff planned events for the weekend but as a bit of a loner and the only intern in her thirties, I preferred a more quiet way of exploring and bus tours was an ideal option for me. I went on a bus tour to Blarney Castle and during the trip, we stopped at Cork and other small towns in between. I found tours were also a nice way of learning about the history of Ireland. Living in Dublin also means cheap fares to other parts of Europe or the UK. For a cheaper alternative to taxis there are a number of buses that travelled to and from the airport though where I was living was only 20 minutes away so the taxi fare wasn't too expensive.

If you're into the nightlife then Dublin has you covered. The Temple Bar district is the liveliest part of the city and is rampant with tourists though if you prefer a more quiet scene there are plenty of other pubs around and probably a better way of getting to know the locals.
My internship was my favourite part of the programme. I learned a lot from my supervising lawyer. Seeing firsthand the amount of time and work that goes into a case was eye-opening. I knew going in that lawyers work a ridiculous amount of hours but witnessing the dedication and drive these professionals have really emphasised why I chose to pursue this career. I was fortunate enough to visit the Four Courts and sit in on a couple of High Court and Supreme Court cases. Like New Zealand Ireland follows the Common Law system so it was interesting to see how things run there.
Overall, my time in Dublin was enjoyable and a once in a lifetime experience. I learned a lot from my internship which has helped me strive for my goals after university. I also made many friends across the globe. I became good friends with my flatmates and even spent a weekend in London with one of them. But I don't think I would have enjoyed myself as much if I didn't have the support of the Intern team. Being a long way away from family was difficult enough but being in different time zones as well meant regular contact was scarce so having people there I knew I could rely on really helped. Lastly, had I not taken the opportunity to complete my programme in Dublin I wouldn't have ever thought to visit such a wonderful place as Ireland. The main lesson I learned is that being pushed out of your comfort zone can do you some good and I definitely achieved that with my time in Dublin.

I rate would this as well done, Great service and definitely to other interns who are securing or undertaking an internship in their future no matter the field they study at University. This intern group will always definitely provide you with something that will change their life forever. The intern group staff are great and friendly people to be around. They are friendly caring and kind and we will always make you feel apart the intern group network, no matter what.

I Interned overseas in Dublin for 2 months and honestly had the best time a girl could imagine. The company I interned with was really accommodating trusting and I learnt a lot. The events that the Intern Group put on allowed me to see all the "must see" sights, pubs and events that you should see in Dublin. One of the best things about interning abroad is the people I have met; I have created long-term (global) friendships and networks. If you are financially able to support an internship abroad I could not recommend the Dublin Intern Group enough.

This experience was great both professionally and personally. I learned so much about myself and how many things I can accomplish in work and outside work, things I thought I was never capable of doing because I was never this independent in my life. The best part of this journey was all the wonderful people I met, from coworkers to friends outside work. The working atmosphere in my company was amazing, so relaxed but yet very professional and productive. Everyone was super supportive and they guided and mentored me through this whole process. I think I learned a lot about the job itself which will definitely be very useful in my future career. The Intern Group Dublin was very supportive as well, from being there for me when I needed any kind of help to organizing social events which made everyone feel very included. All in all it was a great experience and would definitely recommend it to everyone!

This internship program helped me to learn a lot about my possible career path, while also allowing me to explore a different culture that I was always curious about. I was able to meet many different people that came from completely different backgrounds than me as well as people that had similar lives as mine. I think that overall this program really helped me grow as a student and expanded my knowledge of the working world.

I had an amazing experience overall with this program. I have been able to travel to London and Italy from Dublin, of course with my bosses consent. I have made lifetime friends. This has really been a highlight in my life. I’m happy I made the decision to go forward with it. It has become about way more then just professional development and has translated into personal development as well. I learned to cook and become completely independent, in addition to the other ways I have grown. My perspective on life has expanded as the world has become a bit smaller.

I had the most amazing experience interning and living in Dublin. The events and meet ups were excellent ways to learn more about everyone and their experiences, to get to know my program and event coordinators, and to experience the fun activities, both cultural and social, that Dublin had to offer. I was matched with an excellent internship that provided me with valuable work experience in my field of study and was provided with good housing accommodations. My housemates weren’t always the best at keeping things clean which made being there sometimes frustrating, but overall the experience I had was an excellent one.

Hi all! My name is Isabel, I recently graduated from my bachelors degree in Economics. I had the opportunity to do an 6 week internship in Dublin (starting in Nov 2017) and if I can describe in one sentence this experience I would say it is one of the most rewarding ones I have ever had.

First of all, Dublin is such a splendid city to live in. It is secure, open minded and very beautiful. When I live there I enjoyed so much the Pub Culture. People are always so nice and it gives you great chances to meet amazing people. I had the opportunity to meet lifetime friends (this definitely one of the best things of my internship!).

Second, the position I had in a successful Recruitment company was very enriching. As my previous experience was in Business Consulting, I was able to learn more from it! My coworkers were always so nice. I was able to observe their duties in a close way, which allowed me to perform better every day. Also, my boss' main goal was for me to take the best out of the period I was interning with them. We, as a team, always tried to achieve the goals we set at the beginning of the week. In this way, I could develop better my skills. I got an insight in how an international company works, got great contacts for future opportunities, expand my abilities in different areas of the company (such as recruitment, compliance, research, etc.) and increased my confidence when dealing with all kind of people.

Third, after the 6 week internship was over both the company and myself were very sad to stop working together. We kept in touch couple weeks after and then the great idea of working remotely emerged! Now, the company sent me a computer from Dublin to Mexico (where I am currently living) and we are still working together. Working remotely from such long distance is a very different experience but even more rewarding, as the company is always trying to look the best for both sides.

Finally, I couldn't be more happy for my decision of joining the Intern Group! Dublin team is lovely, always giving support to the interns and trying their best for us to get the real Irish experience. I highly recommend this program, I am sure every single one of you is going to grow in so many ways and this is going to develop greatly your true self for the future.

Thank you for reading this! I believe in your abilities to choose right!

I wish you all the best!

Isabel