In the US: internship overseas

Tim Wieling is in his second year of training as an industrial business management assistant and completed an internship in the USA in the summer of 2024. In this interview, he explains how this came about and what he experienced there:

Tim, you spent the last four weeks in the US at our subsidiary 2G Energy Inc. How did that come about?

Besides my training as an industrial business management assistant, I am currently completing an additional qualification as a European Assistant. This qualification prepares me for an international professional life and could also be beneficial later when applying for a place at university in Germany. In order to be admitted to the final examination for the European Assistant, an internship abroad is required. 

You probably had to sort out a few things to be able to do the internship in the US? How did the application process for the internship abroad go?

So, I started by submitting a request to my vocational school to find out whether an internship outside the EU was possible with Erasmus+ funding. After receiving approval, I coordinated with my trainers at 2G and ultimately received approval from the 2G HR department. After that, I contacted the American subsidiary to see if they would be willing to take on an intern for a few weeks. Here, too, I didn't have to wait long for a positive response. So, I started planning my project, booked the flights, took care of accommodation and sorted out the financial details with my school and 2G. While I was planning my trip, I was in close contact with Krista Osborne, who heads the HR department in Florida. She gave me advice on many things and helped me to get answers to many open questions. Thanks again at this point.

When you finally went to the US, how did your internship go? Did you have a chance to work in different departments?

During my time there, I had the opportunity to get to know many departments and was able to gain a lot of new experiences. Among other things, I gained insights into marketing, sales and service. My tasks included, for example, creating marketing strategies, launching a hydrogen advertising campaign, creating offers for various systems, providing troubleshooting support and participating in a wide range of meetings.

Did you have any plans for your time outside of work? Did you get a chance to explore the US during your time off?

After work, I usually drove to the nearby beaches or explored the city. On rainy days, I visited the local museums or spent time in my apartment or on the covered balcony. On the weekends, I visited larger cities like Jacksonville, Orlando, Miami or Tampa and Clearwater, where I spent a whole weekend each. In the evenings, I tried out different restaurants and enjoyed a wide range of cuisines, from sushi and ramen to American BBQ and Mexican tacos. I also spent some time with colleagues from the US, who gave me a deeper appreciation of the country and its people. 

A trip to the USA like that isn't cheap. But you mentioned earlier that the school and 2G supported you financially?

Yes, the costs for this internship were covered for me by the Vocational College of Business and Administration with funding from Erasmus+ and 2G. Through the school, I was accepted for an Erasmus+ scholarship, which provided me with a fixed amount of financial assistance to cover part of the costs. Fortunately for me, 2G covered the rest of the costs, so I didn't have to pay for the flights and my accommodation on site. Without this support, the internship abroad would not have been possible for me, and it also gave me the opportunity to explore the country outside of work.

You come across as very enthused by your internship and your time in the US. How would you sum it up?

This internship allowed me to significantly improve my English skills, which will help me better understand international customers in the future. I also got to know another culture, expanding my intercultural awareness. The insight into the structures of the US location was particularly valuable, as we also work with international colleagues depending on the department. Overall, the internship offered me a unique opportunity to gain international work experience and expand my qualifications. This internship was a valuable and enriching experience that offered me not only professional but also personal insights and development opportunities. I am grateful for the support of 2G and look forward to incorporating what I have learned into my future work.