Why is finding an internship so difficult as an international student?

(slightly) desparate international student sitting next to a phone waiting for a prospective employer to call.
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Finding an internship sounds simple on paper. You search for a position, send your CV, write a motivation letter, have an interview, and eventually receive an offer.
At least, that is how it is supposed to work (you think).

But as an international student, the process can feel completely different. You are not simply looking for an internship. You are trying to enter a job market that may not be designed with you in mind, while navigating language barriers, unfamiliar recruitment practices, visa or residence requirements, limited professional networks and the pressure of knowing that your internship may be one of your first real opportunities to build a career in a new country.

For many international students and recent graduates, finding an internship isn't just about being qualified. It is about learning how to make yourself visible in a market where you may initially feel like an outsider.

The frustrating reality of applying

One of the hardest parts is that you can do everything “right” and still get rejection after rejection. You can have a relevant degree, good grades, previous experience, a carefully written CV and a strong motivation letter, and still hear nothing back. Sometimes, you do not even get a rejection.

You simply apply and wait. Then another application. Then another. After a while, it becomes difficult not to take it personally. You start asking yourself questions:

• Is my CV not good enough?

• Is my degree not relevant enough?

• Is my lack of the local language (in my case, Dutch) holding me back?

• Are employers choosing local students over international students?

• Do I simply not have enough experience?

The problem is that there is rarely one clear answer.

In reality, international students often compete with candidates who already understand the local labour market, speak the local language, have professional connections, and know exactly what employers expect. That does not mean international students are less qualified. It means they often face additional barriers.

The language barrier is bigger than just speaking the local language

One of the most obvious challenges in countries such as the Netherlands is language. Many international students study entirely in English, particularly at university level. This can create the impression that being fluent in English is enough to enter the professional market. Sometimes it is. But not always. Most of the time, it is not enough.

You may find an internship advertised in English, only to discover that the job description mentions Dutch as “preferred”. Or you may find that the company’s internal communication is mainly in Dutch.

This can be particularly frustrating because you may have the skills required for the position, but lose out because you cannot participate comfortably in conversations outside the formal tasks of the internship. Learning the local language can therefore be incredibly valuable, even if you are applying for English-speaking positions. You do not necessarily need to become fluent overnight. Even showing that you are actively learning the language can show employers you are committed to integrating into the local workplace. Additional benefit: learning the language gives you access to opportunities that you might otherwise never find!

You are also competing without a network

Another major disadvantage for international students is something that is rarely mentioned in university brochures: you may not know anyone.

Local students may already have connections through family, friends, previous jobs, university societies or internships. As an international student, you might have arrived in the country only a year or two ago. Your professional network may consist primarily of other international students who are also looking for opportunities. This matters (a lot!) because not every opportunity is found through a traditional job advertisement.

Universities themselves recommend combining online job searches with networking, student organisations, alumni and professional connections. Some vacancies are never widely advertised. This means that finding an internship is not only about submitting applications. It is also about becoming part of the professional environment around you.

• Attend career events.

• Speak to alumni.

• Connect with people on LinkedIn.

• Ask lecturers about opportunities.

• Talk to people who already work in the sector you are interested in.

You don't have to ask someone directly for a job (you'll most likely get a negative reply). Sometimes simply asking about their career journey can lead to advice, a useful contact, or an opportunity you wouldn’t have discovered otherwise.

Your international background can actually be an advantage

It is easy to focus on what you lack as an international student.

• You may not speak the local language.

• You may not understand the recruitment culture.

• You may not have local experience.

But you also bring something that many employers value: an international perspective.
Moving to another country for your education already demonstrates adaptability.
You have had to build a life somewhere unfamiliar, navigate a different educational system, communicate with people from different backgrounds and probably become much more independent than you expected yourself at the start. These are professional skills.

The problem is that employers will not always automatically recognise them as such. Hence, you need to communicate them. You need to translate those experiences into skills employers recognise. Instead of simply writing “international student” on your CV, think about what your international experience has actually taught you.

• Perhaps you have worked in multicultural teams.

• Perhaps you have conducted research involving different countries.

• Perhaps you speak several languages.

• Perhaps you have volunteered in an international organisation.

• Perhaps you have learned to communicate effectively with people from completely different cultural backgrounds.

These are not just characteristics. These are transferable professional skills (if you can ‘sell’ them correctly to a prospective employer).

If you are studying abroad, understand the rules

For international students, there is also an additional layer that local students may not have to think about: immigration and work regulations.

The exact rules depend on your nationality, residence status, study programme and the type of internship you are undertaking.
For students from outside the EU/EEA, this can sometimes make employers hesitant because they are unsure what paperwork is required. However, the Netherlands (as many other EU countries) has an important distinction. If you are a non-EU student currently studying in the Netherlands and the internship is part of or relevant to your Dutch study programme, a separate work permit is generally not required. Instead, you must formally agree on the internship arrangements with your educational institution and the employer. Please check the Nederlandse Arbeidsinspectie.

This is worth understanding before you start applying, because you don't want to unnecessarily rule yourself out of opportunities simply because you assume your immigration status makes you ineligible.

At the same time, if you are looking for an internship after graduating, or outside the context of your Dutch study programme, different rules can apply. For example, the IND states that certain internships or work-experience arrangements lasting more than 90 days require a combined residence and work permit (GVVA). Please check the IND website.

In other words: know your status before you start your search.

Do not rely on assumptions. Check the official IND or UWV information relevant to your situation.

So, what can you actually do?

First, stop treating the internship search like a lottery. You need a strategy.

1. Start early; do not delay

Do not wait until the month before your internship needs to begin. Give yourself time to apply, receive rejections, improve your CV, attend interviews and explore alternatives. Finding the right opportunity can take much longer than expected.

2. Be honest about your skills

It can be tempting to present yourself as an expert in everything listed in a job description, especially when you really want the position. But honesty is important. Be clear about what you already know, what you have some experience with, and what you are still learning. You don’t need every skill before starting an internship; you are applying to learn and develop. Being honest about your abilities also helps you find an internship where your current skills are valued and where you can genuinely grow.

3. Make LinkedIn work for you

Follow organisations you would like to work for; connect with employees; follow recruiters; and look at the career paths of people who currently have the position you want; pay attention to how companies describe their internships and what skills they ask for.

Most importantly, don't be afraid to make professional connections before you need anything from them.

4. Use your university

Your university is more than the place where you attend lectures. Career services, lecturers, alumni networks, student associations, and career fairs can all support your internship search. Ask whether your programme has an internship database or partnerships with organisations. Ask recent graduates where they found their internships. And talk to people in your department.
Someone who has already completed an internship may know about an opportunity that hasn't reached the public job boards yet.

5. Be strategic about your language skills

If you do not speak Dutch, do not automatically assume you cannot work in the Netherlands. Instead, identify sectors and organisations where English is genuinely used professionally. At the same time, start learning Dutch.
Even basic Dutch can make everyday professional interactions easier and demonstrates your willingness to integrate into the country where you are building your career.

6. Apply beyond the obvious companies

It is tempting to focus only on large, international companies because they are more likely to advertise positions in English. But smaller organisations can offer excellent experience too. Look at NGOs, research institutes, consultancies, universities, start-ups, public organisations and smaller businesses.

Your first internship does not have to be with a famous company. It needs to give you experience that moves you towards the career you want.

And what if you keep getting rejected?

This is perhaps the most important thing to remember: Rejection does not necessarily mean you are not good enough. The internship market is competitive for everyone, and international students often have additional obstacles. A rejection can mean that another candidate had more directly relevant experience.

It can mean the company preferred someone who spoke the local language (in my case, that’s Dutch).
It can mean they already had an internal candidate.
It can mean the position received hundreds of applications.
It can mean almost anything.
Try not to turn every rejection into a judgement about your ability. Instead, look for patterns.
If you are getting interviews but no offers, work on your interview technique.
If you are rarely getting interviews, review your CV and applications.
If every position requires the local language, invest more time in learning it, or target roles where English is genuinely the working language.
If you are struggling to find opportunities altogether, expand your network.

The goal is not simply to apply more (that will most probably not do the trick). It is to understand where your search is getting stuck and change your approach.

You are not behind

Perhaps the hardest part of searching for an internship as an international student is watching everyone else seemingly move ahead. Someone announces their internship on LinkedIn. Another person gets a graduate job. Someone else already seems to have their entire career planned. Meanwhile, you are still sending applications. It can feel like you are falling behind.

You are not.

Building a career in another country takes time. You are learning how to navigate a new professional culture while simultaneously building your qualifications and your network. That is a lot to do at once. Your first internship may not come from your first application, or your tenth. It may come from a conversation you almost didn't have, a LinkedIn connection, a university event, a lecturer, an alumnus, or an organisation you initially overlooked.

The important thing is to keep adapting.

Being an international student can make the journey harder, but it can also make you more adaptable, independent and resilient. And those qualities do not disappear once you finally get the internship. They become part of the professional you are becoming.
So, if you are currently staring at another rejection email, remember this: you are not necessarily failing at finding an internship. You are learning how to find your place in a new professional world.

And sometimes, that takes longer than we expect.

Blogpost written by Angeliki Gkisdaki for Expertise in Labour Mobility

Image created by Jizelle Ys & Angeliki Gkisdaki for CareerProfessor.works.

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