Jonathan:
Jonathan is from Australia and studied at Griffith University in Queensland. Jonathan has recently completed a dual degree in International Business/Arts in Asian and International
Studies. He majored in Chinese and Business in Asia.
How did you find out about Next Step Connections:
I found Next Step online just thru general searching.
Was the internship process difficult in securing an internship with Next Step:
No it wasn't too difficult, I thought the process was pretty well done. If you
really want to do an internship thru Next Step you can.
What experiences do you feel prepared you for an internship with Next Step:
I interned with a company called SMH International. SMH is a marketing firm that
handles the marketing activities in the Chinese market for a number of big firms
specializing in food and beverages. There I was exposed to numerous facets of the
business and was involved in everything from research to proposal drafting.
Were you able to choose the type of internship you wanted at Next Step:
I didn't have a choice, but after being placed in my first internship and
deciding that it wasn't for me, I asked Next Step if I could change to an internship
with SMH and they were only too happy to help. They managed my changeover in a quick
and efficient manner. I cannot emphasise how impressed I was with their handling of
the situation.
What do you feel the experience at Next Step provided you with:
I feel it provided me with an excellent platform. I'll put it this way, I will be
starting next year with one of the world's top professional services firms and I
doubt I would have got the job without the experience I gained whilst interning in
China.
Do you feel your experience helped prepare you for your future career:
It did, overall it was a hugely important experience for my career. The standard
of internship provided by Next Step was excellent and certainly their assistance both
within and outside of work (interms of helping me to settle in Shanghai) was second
to none.
Would you recommend Next Step to a friend:
Absolutely!
Do you feel doing an internship abroad is a valuable experience to your career:
The experience you gain, even if the work is perhaps not as relevant to what you
want to do with your career, is invaluable. The way that employers are recruiting
people today means that you need as much experience and examples of how you work as
you can possibly get. It is even more impressive when you have done an internship
abroad. This not only shows that you have worked on your technical skills but also
shows a confidence, independence, eagerness and a willingness to put yourself out of
your comfort zone.
Not only that but you get the added bonus of going to a new place
with new people and cultures. As long as you get yourself sorted with the right
company, such as Next Step, then I feel that an international internship is an
invaluable experience for anybody.
Be sure to check out Samantha and Felix's internship experience with Next Step Connections as well.
Jerome Le Carrou, Director of Next Step Connections, talks more about the organization and its mission.
