What to Know About Interning in Another City

By Kaitlin Hurtado on May 6, 2022

For many college students, interning is the perfect opportunity to get their foot in the door in their desired field. It’s not a full-time commitment, but it is the chance to get experience directly related to your job aspirations, network with other professionals, and see if it is something you would actually want to pursue long-term. Depending on the field you are in and how competitive the market for internships and jobs is, you may find yourself having to intern in another city to get the right opportunity. For lucky students, their internship doesn’t have them straying too far from where they are currently based, but for many, they may have to relocate for the right internship.

Don’t let a required relocation deter you from pursuing an internship opportunity that can help you accelerate your career. While it can be daunting, interning in another city can be a great experience that brings you more than just another line on your resume. Keep reading for what to know about interning in another city.

Photo: Pexels

Make friends, inside and outside of the professional network

If you are moving to another city for your internship, take the opportunity to meet new people. Of course, you are going to want to network with the people you are going to be working with on a daily basis, from your fellow interns to full-time employees who can offer valuable insight and expertise on what you should be learning during your internship.

Depending on where you are interning, it may be a city with a fairly large college student population, giving you the chance to make new friends outside of work. During your time away, you aren’t going to be solely focusing on work, so meet new people that you can spend your downtime with.

Your budget will likely change

Everyone’s financial situation is different, and interning in another city may make a larger impact on your current budget than you would think. Unfortunately, not all internships come with pay, or the pay may be lower than your pay at your current part-time job(s) you have during the academic year. Additionally, you may also not be able to land a part-time job during your internship due to timing and your stay being a temporary one.

The cost of living in your internship’s city may also be higher than the cost of living you are used to, from meals and transportation to rent. You may not get to bring your car with you to your new city, so you may have to account for spending more money on public transportation passes and Ubers rather than your typical gas allowance.

Prior to your move, research the area so you can get an idea of how much you are going to be spending so you have a realistic budget to plan for, especially if you are limited to what is in your current savings account.

A new type of independence 

If you are moving to a new city for your internship, the chances of you knowing absolutely no one are going to be high. If you didn’t stray too far from home for college, this internship may be your first taste of independence. Even if you did move out for college, there’s a certain freedom that comes with living in an entirely new place with unfamiliar faces.

With your new internship, you’re going to have the freedom to shape a brand new routine as you desire (with the internship accounted for, of course). Take the opportunity to try new experiences, from local spots to hobbies you have always wanted to try.

Seek housing as soon as possible

If you are interning in another city, you are likely going to be moving to that city for the entirety of your internship. Summer internships are common among college students as they do not have to put their studies on hold while they get field experience and they may even be in between leases so they would not be losing out on rent while they are away anyways.

With that being said, if you are moving to another city for your internship, you want to find housing as soon as possible. If you have friends or family that live in the city you are temporarily moving to, this may not be a difficult task. For most, they are starting out with a clean slate in a city they are likely completely unfamiliar with.

Start your search for internship housing as soon as you know you are going to have to relocate so you aren’t scrambling last minute to find housing accommodations. The earlier you start, the more options you can work with and the less stress you will encounter.

While having to relocate for an internship may seem like more work upfront, it can be a great opportunity to experience a new city and your desired job in a short period of time. You never know if the internship opportunity will show you that a new city is somewhere you can see yourself living long-term. Good luck!

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