July 11, 2024, by Jackie Thompson

Sun, sea, and internships: Interning in Valencia

By Steven Dhariwal, chemical engineering with a placement year student

As a former intern at ProtoQSAR in Valencia, Spain, I am here to share my experience from last summer. If you’re interested in hearing about the highlights of my experience and the valuable lessons I learned, keep reading.

To start off, I was an Intern for ProtoQSAR, and my focus was on market research while exploring the chemical engineering industry. My journey began with meeting the welcoming team at Euroace and my fellow interns for the summer. Their warm hospitality made me feel right at home in the vibrant city.

Embracing the country and people

My time in Valencia will be unforgettable from the beautiful scenery to the friendly locals I had the opportunity to meet. However, it was more than just the beautiful country that made my internship experience what it was. Exploring vibrant markets, indulging in Spanish cuisines, and forming life-long connections with fellow interns made my time in Valencia a truly exceptional experience.

Overcoming challenges

As with any new environment I had to overcome a few challenges. Adjusting to the Spanish work culture and communication was particularly hard for me since this differed from what I was usually used to. I overcame many of these adversities by making an active effort in Spanish lessons and engaging in conversations wherever possible! Making this conscious effort allowed me to gain a better understanding of cultural norms and business etiquette in Spain.

Developing cultural competency

Throughout my internship I developed a plethora of skills from communication to professionalism, however, the most important skill I developed was cultural competency. At ProtoQSAR there was a strong emphasis on multiculturalism, with a diverse workforce that encouraged the exchange of ideas and perspectives. The ability to have knowledge, awareness and a positive attitude towards different cultures has helped me to develop an appreciation of a dynamic workplace on a global scale.

Defining the skills you want to develop

If I could give any recommendations or advice to incoming interns, I would strongly advise you to make a list of skills you wish to grow or enhance by the end of the internship. While I did not do this, I would have found it quite useful because it is common to lose motivation and the end goal starts to become hazy. Concentrating on two or three abilities that you wish to actively develop throughout your time working abroad allows you to make the most of your internship.

Enhancing my future prospects

This internship will be extremely beneficial to my future chances and career progress. It perfectly aligns with my long-term objective of working in pharmaceutical research and development. My experience with market research, data analysis, and working with research teams has immediately transferred to the cosmetics and chemical industries. I am convinced that these experiences will help me find work in my desired sector.

If you’re interested in finding out more, check our webpage on internships abroad and talk to an adviser.

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