Name: Lucy

University: University of Portsmouth

Course: Hospitality Management

Heading to: Australia, Whitsundays

For how long: 12 months

Starting: September 2010

Programme: Australia Hospitality Internships

What are you most looking forward to in Australia?

I am looking forward to the nice weather! Obviously the most important thing! Only joking, I am looking forward to living independently and working for such a distinguished Hotel, having to keep up the standards and work hard to fulfil the requirements of my job. Getting away for a year will be difficult but exciting, I am the type of person who likes those situations where you are alone and have to make it happen for yourself. I love meeting and making new friends, and i think i am a relatively easy person to get on with too. However i am not looking forwards to the HUGE spiders!

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

I really hope that I come out of this placement with a sense of achievement, knowing I did the best job I could. Also I want to learn the ins and outs of working in a top end hotel as I don’t know if this is the area of hospitality I want to build a career in. It will be nice to see exactly what is involved in running a hotel with such high expectations of the experience. I also want to learn more about different cultures, so being in another country and possibly living with people from other countries too will give me a chance to ask questions and learn about other parts of the world.

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

I hope that future employer will see the placement on my CV and appreciate the fact that I am working in a totally foreign country hundreds of miles from anyone i know and succeeding. I think if I can work in another country and have the determination to go alone, commit myself and see it through to the end then I should be seen as a valuable employee.

Why are you travelling to Australia for your internship

Since I began my course in Hospitality Management, I knew there was a compulsory placement year, and had my heart set on going to Australia. I have always wanted to travel the world, and Oz was one of my biggest ambitions because it is so far. I began looking for a placement about a year before I had my confirmation so I had looked at many, many different hotels and companies and I was ecstatic when I received my confirmation from Intern Options. I also had some family move out just over a year ago, so it would be nice to spend some time with them before I travel back to the UK.

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

My friends are already incredible jealous! I have a lot of friends who have already travelled around Australia so they know how amazing it is, and are extremely jealous, however I don’t think my boyfriend is too happy. He is envious and upset, but there is no way I am trading this opportunity for anything and he supports that. All my friends want to come in my suitcase though, but most of my girlfriends get a little out off when I remind them about the spiders and snakes!

Anything else you can think of…

I am so grateful to Jon at Intern Options, He came to my Uni to talk about the Hospitality programmes in New Zealand, and I had a chat to him about going to Aus. He said they didn’t offer anything at the time, but it has worked out in time for me to get on board and be one of the first on their Australian Hospitality programme! Like I said above I had been trying to find a placement in Australia for almost a year and working with Jon made it so much easier and ultimately made it possible! Thanks )

If you’re interested in working on an Australian tropical island for your university internship or as a graduate click through to the Australia Hospitality Internships programme for information and to apply.

Name: Amy

University: University of Leeds

Course: Geography

Heading to: Australia, Whitsundays

For how long: 6 months

Starting: November 2010

Programme: Australia Hospitality Internships

Amy has some very good F&B experience and has applied for a six month placement in the Whitsundays to start in November (just in time for summer).

What are you most looking forward to in Australia?

I am most looking forward to embracing another new culture, spending a decent amount of time on a tropical island paradise in a well respected working environment, and of course, the sun, sea and surf!

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

From this internship I am really hoping to receive some quality guidance from some professional people on the world of 5* resort hospitality. I have previously worked in some lovely places but never anywhere quite so amazing as the Whitsunday islands or anywhere quite so exclusive. I hope that I will come away from this internship a much more knowledgeable and experienced person!

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

By undertaking a 6 month internship in a 5* resort in Australia, my CV will be given a HUGE boost! The world of hospitality is tough to crack, and having experience internationally and in such a renowned place will be an incredible foot in the door for me.

Why are you travelling to Australia for your internship?

Australia looks amazing, and I wanted to get international work experience at the same time as seeing the world.

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

I know for a fact that they have all been incredibly jealous since I first showed them the internoptions website and talked about applying! Their opinion is, it is OK as long as they can come visit. My group of friends are all very active so all the exciting opportunity’s I will have like wakeboarding, surfing, windsurfing etc, are making them very envious!

Anything else you can think of?

I can’t WAIT!!!

If you’re interested in working on an Australian tropical island for your university internship or as a graduate click through to the Australia Hospitality Internships programme for information and to apply.

Name: Lauren

University: London South Bank University

Course: Tourism & Hospitality Management

Heading to: Australia, Whitsundays

For how long: 6-12 months

Starting: July 2010

Programme: Australia Hospitality Internships – Whitsundays

Lauren will be one of the first on our new Australian hospitality Internship programme. She will be arriving in the beautiful tropical islands of the Whitsundays. The average temperature is 27 degrees and the Great Barrier Reef is right on her door step (well past the white sandy beach and beautifully clear  turquoise water).

We asked Lauren to tell us why she applied for the Australian Whitsundays hospitality programme and what she hoped to learn on her internship:

What are you most looking forward to in Australia?

I am mostly looking forward to the all year round sunshine, living on a beautiful Island, with white sands and clear blue sea only a stroll away. Also, meeting lots of new people from all over the world and gaining more work experience.

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

I hope to learn what it is like to work for a large resort and how it is run, gain more confidence, experience working full time, learn about the Australian culture and know what is is like to work in such a large team of employees. Also, to gain more customer service skills.

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

I think this placement will show that i have independence, motivation and can work as part of a team. It will add that i am more aware of the working environment and once i have graduated it will also give me an advantage, over someone else who hasn’t had international work experience.

Why are you travelling to Australia for your internship?

I am travelling to Australia because it is a beautiful place, with sunshine all year round, the culture is supposed to be more relaxed, there are so many things to do. It’s an amazing opportunity to work the other side of the world and learn about new cultures.

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

The first things my friends say when i tell them about this placement is “i’m soooooo jealous,” and half of them want to squish in my suitcase! But i have told them all i will take lots of pictures of me having an amazing time, to make them even MORE envious

If you’re interested in working on an Australian tropical island for your university internship or as a graduate click through to the Australia Whitsundays Hospitality Internships programme for information and to apply.

In this edition you’ll hear from the experts on Australia and New Zealand internships. Find out below what’s being discussed this month.

Whitsundays Hospitality – If you’re a hospitality graduate and you want to work on a tropical island on the Great Barrier Reef, you need to read this!

Graduate Internships – We have already received a large number of graduate internship applications (PR/Media, Marketing, HR, Design etc). Check out the experience you can get on your CV.

Who are Intern Options? – Intern Options is a specialist UK-based internship company that focuses solely on work placements and internship opportunities in Australia and New Zealand. We are the only internship company in the UK to deal exclusively with Australia and New Zealand.

What’s on this month?

• Australian Hospitality Placements – Tropical Island
• Student and Graduate feedback on the Blog
• Graduate Internships – Apply Now
• Current Internship Vacancies
• How to apply for your Internship

www.InternOptions.com

Thanks for reading this edition of Intern News, we look forward to speaking to you about your internship in the coming months. We’d love to hear any feedback on the new site or questions on Australia or New Zealand through our Internship blog or our Facebook page Alternatively you can contact Intern Options by email or phone or make a time to drop by our London office. Cheers, Jon Carroll Intern Options www.InternOptions.com

Name:

University: Ivy Tech Community College (Graduate)

Course: Bachelors Degree Hotel Management

Heading to: New Zealand

For how long: 12 months

Starting: July 2010

Programme: New Zealand Hospitality Internship programme

What are you most looking forward to in New Zealand?

I am looking forward to working in a new environment, and meeting new people in the industry in New Zealand. I hope to make some connections and friends that I will continue to communicate with in the future for reference and to come back and visit with my family.

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

I hope to achieve a better learning on how the hospitality industry operates in New Zealand to help me in the future to understand different tourism systems around the world while pursing my career path in the hospitality industry.

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

I think most of it will add international experience and knowledge what it is like to work in a new location in the pacific. Also Leadership skills, experience and will show that I am willing to travel and work for the industry I am majoring in with my degree.

Why are you travelling to New Zealand for your internship?

To gain international experience in the hospitality industry in New Zealand. . I have traveled to the pacific in the past and every since I have had a desire to work in the area since I did not want to leave. I think traveling to New Zealand will help me open up all options and availability for my degree focuses so that I will be able to move up in a management position in the near future.

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

How Jealous my friend are going to be, well they have already started being Jealous.  Most of my friends I talk to try to give me 101 ways why I should not go. I do not see the point of staying in America. I already know how the industry operates here I need experience outside the US and I don’t think they seem to understand that.  So far it is encouraging a lot of people in my program they would like to pursue the same path as me. My program chair has asked if back in the states after the placement if I could come speak about my experiences abroad to other students in the hospitality program.

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

Name: Ellen

University: University of Central Lancashire

Course: International Tourism Management degree

Heading to: New Zealand

For how long: 12 months

Starting: Between June and August 2010

Programme: New Zealand Hospitality Internship programme

I am most looking forward to living in a different country and experiencing different culture and lifestyle. I think it will be a unique experience that not everyone gets the chance to do.

I hope to learn the skills of the hotel trade, and learn not to rely on other people. I think the placement will make my CV stand out from a lot of other candidates that may be applying for the same job. It will show that I have commitment as I will have left my country for a year, and it shows experience and not everyone will have this.

I chose New Zealand as I didn’t want to live near where I do now. I wanted to go to a different country and I was told New Zealand was a beautiful country so wanted to see for myself (also like the accent haha)
I have told my friends about going to New Zealand and they are all very jealous!

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

Name: Sadie

University: Portsmouth University, Highbury College

Course: Foundation degree Hospitality Management

Heading to: New Zealand

For how long: 6 months

Starting: May 2010

Programme: New Zealand Hospitality Internship programme

Sadie applied for a six month hospitality internship in New Zealand with her friend Gemma. We are currently talking to hotels in Christchurch about an internship for Sadie and Gemma, to start this May.

Amy another Portsmouth University student is currently in New Zealand on her 12 month hospitality placement. you can read Amy’s Hospitality Internship feedback on our blog.

Below are some quick comments from Sadie as she looks forward to her internship in New Zealand:

I am most looking forward to becoming independent and experiencing something completely different in New Zealand .I am hoping that from my internship it will open up more doors for me when I finish my degree.

I am travelling to New Zealand for my internship as it will be an amazing opportunity for me to develop new skills and work within a different culture.

I think my friends will be very envious as they dont have the opportunity to do something like this. It will be a huge step for me but it is something I am very excited and eager to do.

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