Name: Britt

University: NHTV University, Breda

Course: International Tourism Management

Heading to: New Zealand

For how long: 6 months

Starting: Jan/ Feb 2011

Programme: New Zealand Tourism Internship

What are you most looking forward to in New Zealand?

I like traveling a lot and since this is going to be my first internship, I want to make it an unforgettable experience. I think an internship in New Zealand could be the solution for that.

The first thing I am looking forward to, are the people and the surroundings. I want to learn more about New Zealand; the inhabitants, their culture, the environment and the history about the great Maori of course! I also like to meet new people and get involved, because for six months New Zealand will be my new home.

What do you hope to achieve/ learn on your internship?

I hope that the internship will exist of varied work, so that I have the possibility to learn more about the tourism branch and the way things work. Furthermore I hope that I can show, but also improve the skills I have already learned. I realize I can not compare school with working for an internship, because everything is need to be done faster and it might be more hectic and serious. Though I want to achieve, that I can adapt myself, so I will fit in the working tourism branch.

What do you think this internship/ placement will add to your CV?

I guess when people see the internship to New Zealand on my CV, they will get the impact I already have had a great experience before. I guess the employers all want to ask something about it. Curious, because it means that I am independent and willing to travel abroad, even it is far away from home.

Why are you travelling to New Zealand for your internship?

Actually I have always wanted to go far away to countries like New Zealand and Australia. Though I thought the chance I would see these countries, would be so small. Now that I get the opportunity, I want to grab this chance, because I think I have to wait a long time before I will get an opportunity like this again!

This also answers the last question about how jealous my friends are going to be; Since some of them also would love to travel far away, seeing more of the world, I know they will be jealous when I tell them I am going to New Zealand! Though they also would be very happy for me!

If you’re interested in a Tourism Internship in Auckland, Wellington, Rotorua, Christchurch or Queenstown, in New Zealand, check out the Tourism Internships page for more information.

Previous Tourism Internship Posts

Eline’s Tourism Internship in New Zealand

Helen’s Tourism Internship

Stephen’s Graduate Tourism Internship in NZ

Polina’s Hospitality & Tourism Internship Update

My Hospitality & Tourism Internship in New Zealand

Tourism Internship Update – Kyle in Queenstown

Elis’s Tourism Internship – Rotorua, New Zealand

Name: Helen

University: Bournemouth University

Course: BA (Hons) in Tourism Management

Heading to: New Zealand

For how long: 6 months

Starting: Feb/ March 2011

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Programme: New Zealand Tourism Internship

What are you most looking forward to in New Zealand?

I am mostly looking forward to living and working in a completely new country and meeting new people. I am excited to explore this beautiful country!

What do you hope to achieve/ learn on your internship?

I am keen to learn new skills and improve my existing skills as I gain experience on the job

What do you think this internship/ placement will add to your CV?

I think it will make me stand out as employers are always interested in people that have worked abroad. It will show that I am independent and have guts!

Why are you travelling to New Zealand for your internship?

New Zealand has always been somewhere I’ve wanted to travel to and I always wanted to do my placement abroad so it seemed like the perfect place to do it!

How jealous do you think your friends are going to be?

I think they are already very jealous, they have already said they would like to come and visit me!

If you’re interested in a Tourism Internship in Auckland, Wellington, Rotorua, Christchurch or Queenstown, in New Zealand, check out the Tourism Internships page for more information.

Previous Tourism Internship Posts

Name: Eline

University: NHTV University, Breda

Course: International Tourism Management

Heading to: New Zealand

For how long: 6 months

Starting: Jan/ Feb 2011

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Programme: New Zealand Tourism Internship

My name is Eline and I am a student at the NHTV in Breda, the Netherlands. I am currently studying International Tourism Management and Consultancy. In January 2011 I will go on an internship for at least 25 weeks. I have always wanted to go to New Zealand, and when I found Intern Options I did not doubt for a second and signed up immediately!

I am really looking forward to the whole experience of being in New Zealand. I am excited about working in a new environment, but also traveling around the country, meeting new people and experience different cultures.

With the internship I hope to find out in which part of tourism I would like to work in the future. Besides that, I also hope to develop my skills and apply what I have learned at school in practice. Although I have already been teach in English over the last 2 years, I’m still hoping to develop my English language- skills

For my CV I think that, especially in tourism, it is really important to show that you have the experience of working far away from home for a long time. Besides that I will have experience in a company that is related to tourism, and I think that is a very important experience which would definitely improve the credibility of my CV.

New Zealand is a great country which has so many things to offer. Therefore, I am looking forward to see the unfamiliar animals, experience New Zealand’s culture and meeting the locals! I hope this experience is going to be something I will remember the rest of my life!

If you’re interested in a Tourism Internship in Auckland, Wellington, Rotorua, Christchurch or Queenstown, in New Zealand, check out the Tourism Internships page for more information.

Previous Tourism Internship Posts

Name:

University: Arizona State University (Graduate)

Course: Bachelor of Science, Tourism Development & Management

Heading to: New Zealand

For how long: 12 months

Starting: October 2010

Programme: New Zealand Tourism Internship programme

One of the main things that I am looking forward to in New Zealand is simply the change of lifestyle and the exciting opportunity to work abroad in a place that is twenty hours ahead of where I live. I keep hearing how wonderful the quality of life is, the natural beauty, and the friendliness of the kiwi culture that has me destined to achieve this particular type of lifestyle.

I plan to continually learn and gain valuable knowledge day in and day out of my internship to achieve the necessary tools for success in hotel management. There are many thoughts, expectations, and visions that I have when I land in New Zealand that will not be answered until I am actually there. To me, this is one of the most exciting parts of the Intern Options program as I feel it is the experience of it all that will make it worthwhile!

Having said that I have international experience working in New Zealand for a year will add tremendous value to my resume/CV. As with any thriving industry, the field of tourism is becoming more competitive and having gained work experience in a foreign country has me at an advantage over the competition and I could not be any more excited!

There are a variety of different reasons as to why I decided to choose New Zealand for my internship. First and foremost, it would be New Zealand’s potential for growth of tourism, especially since the Rugby World Cup will be held in Auckland in 2011. Another important reason why I chose New Zealand is its reputation for unmatched beauty of the landscape and diverse influence of cultures around the world.

Whenever I mention to a friend that I am moving to New Zealand, I notice a sense of jealousy and envy arise in their facial expressions. I feel that I am one of the lucky ones to have this incredible experience to live and work abroad in the youngest country on earth! I currently live in Phoenix, AZ and it will be nice to see a large body of water again as we are a land locked state.

If you’re interested in a Tourism Internship in Auckland, Wellington, Rotorua, Christchurch or Queenstown, in New Zealand, check out the Tourism Internships page for more information.

Jon has made the effort to give a brief summary of how my departing from the UK went. Thank you for that. Now I will try to tell you guys the whole story…

It all began about a year ago when my second academic year resumed in Bournemouth University. Our lecturers were preparing us for our placement year and giving us options to choose from. Many seemed tempting but nothing really caught my attention. I am doing a Tourism management course and what I wanted to do is work in an adventure tourism resort. When I ‘googled’ it, all that came up was New Zealand and that is how I decided, I am going there for my internship!!

As Jon described, it was one exciting preparation. I handed in my application at the beginning of 2009 but due to the economic crunch, I had to wait a very long time until I had a proposition. In fact, I received it 3 weeks before departure. It was a mission to get everything organised in such a short time. My Visa was ready in less than 24 hours.

I had to get a last minute flight and booked one with the Emirates Airline (London, Dubai, Sidney and Auckland). Being a Bulgarian citizen, I needed to have a transit Visa for Australia. I didn’t know that! I found out at the check in deck. There was no way I could get that visa from the airport so I missed that flight. I thought the whole world was falling into pieces.. However, this was just another obstacle. I booked another flight the next day stopping at Hong Kong where I didn’t require anything to transit. This was the longest flight ever!!! I never want to do it again. But I will!!

New Zealand is amazing! Since I first laid foot on the land it felt like a place from the tales.. “A land far, far away”

I got an offer in Rotorua at a tourism attraction as a Food & Beverage Attendant for 6 months. My requirement from university is to have 40 weeks of practical training which means that I need approximately another 3 months.

Tracy who is the Human Resources Manager at my work made the offer. She was of great help to me! Tracy met up with me the day after my arrival in Rotorua. She took me for a coffee in town and we discussed all my affairs. After that, Tracy helped me open a New Zealand bank account and arranged some sort of tax number I needed in order to get paid. She even helped me find a suitable accommodation, which was exactly what I was looking for: close to work and close to town with internet access. I am so grateful to Tracy since she was not obligated to do all that for me but she did and made me feel welcome from day one!

Not only Tracy but also everyone at work are very friendly and welcomed me with a smile. In fact, some of those colleagues are now close friends and we hang out together on our days off. I am so lucky to be a part of the team!!

Currently I am 3 month into my placement and I work mainly night shifts in the restaurant. A typical day for me starts about 3 PM and ends depending on how busy it is. The earliest time I have finished is about 10 PM and the latest 3 AM. Work is always fun, my colleagues are really nice and fun to work with and I always enjoy it.

I have applied for cross training and this week I start on a new position as a Customer Service Ambassador. I hope to get some shift at the Luge too. Tracy will try to keep me in the company until July if possible. She said that if there were no chance of me staying in Rotorua, she would try transferring me to Queenstown in South Island. That would be the best opportunity ever having the experience of both islands.

The restaurant I work in is on Ngongotaha Mountain (which is more of a hill) and I get to ride the gondola everyday. The restaurant has a magnificent view of the whole town and the Rotorua Lake and the sight reveals how once upon a time Rotorua was in fact a crater of a volcano!! The town by itself is amazing; it is a hot spot not only for thermal activity but also for tourism.

On my days off, I try to do some tourism related activities if I am not too busy with my course work. As I mentioned earlier I made great friends from work and they take me around the area as tour guides! There is still so much I want to do here, but right now is the busiest period of the year and I try to concentrate on performing my best at work.

I am so happy and so lucky to be here and I owe it all to Intern Options and especially Jon!! Thank you so much for making my dream come true!

I wish everyone best of luck and have an amazing experience in New Zealand as I am!

Best wishes and kind regards,

Polly

If you’re interested in a Tourism Internship in Queenstown, Auckland, Wellington, Rotorua in New Zealand, check out the Tourism Internships page for more information.

My Name is Elis. Since I was a teenager I have been dreaming of visiting New Zealand. After I went to England when I was 19 and started Tourism and Hospitality Management course at London South Bank University, this dream began to look more achievable.

When we were told by our course director that for our work placement we can go anywhere we want, I knew straight away where I wanted to go.

I was trying hard to find a job in NZ myself, by emailing my CV to hundreds and hundreds tourism companies based in New Zealand. Most of them didn’t reply back. If they did, they always replied with the same response:

“We are sorry but we can’t tell at the moment if we can employ you later on this year because of this hard economic climate we are in now”.

Therefore, in the middle of summer I finally decided to contact Intern Options because I still didn’t have my placement.

It took about two months till I got the so awaited email from Jon, saying I will be working for a tourism attraction in Rotorua from the beginning of November. I was so happy and couldn’t believe it till I actually got here.

Now I’ve been working in Rotorua for about two and half months already and I absolutely love it. NZ is even much better than I expected, I’m really stunned by its beauty. Rotorua is nice, relaxed town by the lake, not too busy or quiet either, just great.

I’m being very honest to say that this placement is the best workplace I’ve ever been a part of. All the staff the are very friendly and helpful and we always joke that we are more like family there. The job is awesome, quite challenging and busy at the moment, because of the summer period we are in at the moment, but that’s exactly how it should be. It took me a while to get used to night shifts but it’s all good now.

I’m flat sharing with Carl one of my colleagues from work and its great. We get on very well and if we are lucky and get the same days off we always go somewhere. We have just come back from the trip to very north of New Zealand, Cape Reinga. It was awesome.

This way I would love to thank you to Jon and all his team for being so helpful and giving me the chance to work in such a great place. Also many thanks to Carl who is making my stay here so nice and exciting.

If you’re interested in a Tourism Internship like Elis’s in Queenstown, Auckland, Wellington, Rotorua in New Zealand, check out the Tourism Internships page for more information.

After many long months of anxious waiting I received a phone call saying that a placement was found and that in just over a month I’d be in New Zealand.

The first few weeks of work were exciting as I was placed on the Luge (buggie) at the tourism attraction I work at (which is on top of a mountain overlooking Queenstown). The people and the nightlife here are incredible…there’s so much going on.

The work is great, although it can get repetitive at times especially now in the summer when we’re open for long hours…the work is entirely outdoors and you are constantly face-to-face with customers. However, the life here is second to none…there is always something to do activity-wise and am finding it difficult to do everything here before I leave in June, the options are limitless!

Finding your own accommodation here can be difficult if you arrive during the summer and winter months and if you are on your own. The Lakes Weekly Bulletin – the local magazine/paper is a great help as it advertises heaps of accommodation available as well as other things. But for me, I decided to stay in a hostel across the road from where i work. It’s very close to town, its got several long-term residents, you meet new people each and everyday and on top of that…..its loads of fun!! In a nutshell – it resembles the student dorms you get at uni.

I have since spoken to many of my friends about each of their placements as well as mine and the majority (not including those who went overseas) have said how jealous they were of me and wished they went abroad for their placement – particularly to New Zealand. The only downside…if any…is that its very easy to get homesick during the first few months if you are by yourself…so take the extra step to make friends and meet new people and you’ll come out on top.

Looking back at the past 6 months I can honestly say that I am glad I took the risk to work abroad in New Zealand for my placement year. Jon and Intern Options were very helpful back in November when I first took interest in this incredible opportunity, and throughout the months the advice they provided was really great, the information provided on insurance, flights and visas was also helpful and made the final steps of the placement planning easy and painless.

The only drawback – again if any – was the waiting process. It was not until May that I received the confirmation (which meant that looking for another placement in case this one fell through was necessary). But in the end patience sufficed, and am here now having the time of my life on the other side of the world. Thank you Jon and everyone at Intern Options for everything.

If you’re interested in a Tourism Internship like Kyle’s in Queenstown, Auckland, Wellington, Rotorua in New Zealand, you can check out the Tourism Internships page for more information.