Faces behind Yobbers: Tessa's recruitment internship in Valencia
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An internship abroad sounds like an adventure, but what does it actually feel like to pack your bags and head off on your own? Tessa (20) is from Dokkum, a small town in the north of the Netherlands, and studies Tourism Management at NHL Stenden. Since September, she has been doing her five-month recruitment internship at Yobbers in Valencia. She was ready for a change from tourism, but still wanted to help people take the step abroad. Here she shares what her first days in Spain were like, how she settled in and what her working days look like.
How does applying for an internship abroad work?
Applying for an internship abroad usually starts with a video call to get to know each other. Sometimes there is a practical part where you show how you would approach the work, and finally a conversation with the people you will be working with. Tessa spotted the internship on social media and applied through the website. She happened to be in Valencia already, so she could drop by the office for her first interview and get a feel for the place straight away. Shortly after her final interview, she got a call with the good news. 📞
How do you prepare for an internship abroad?
Moving is exciting, especially when you go alone. Tessa found a room in Valencia within a few weeks through one of the many organisations that offer housing. Our team helped her along the way too: many of us have moved to Valencia ourselves, so there was no shortage of tips. A Yobbers recruiter stayed in touch until her start date, and she even met other interns before her first day.
The least fun part of preparing? Packing. You would love to fit your whole life into a couple of suitcases, but not everything makes the cut. Tessa isn't the only one on our team to take a leap: recruiter Amelie also moved abroad and shares how it went for her.
What was the first day abroad like?
Tessa arrived at her flat at around 9pm. The first night took some getting used to: a different bed, a completely new place and nobody around you yet. But the next morning the sun was shining, and from then on things moved quickly.
She felt at home sooner than she expected. She bought a few nice things for her room and spent a lot of time out in the city. The streets that all looked the same at first now feel like her own neighbourhood.
The best thing about moving abroad is that you can make a place completely your own and discover a city all over again. - Tessa
What does a working day as a recruitment intern in Valencia look like?
Tessa’s day starts at around 9am. She checks which conversations are planned, reads up on the candidates and goes through chats and emails. For the rest of the day she switches between interviews and the admin that comes with them. She talks to new candidates, but also to people who have already started their job. A gap in the schedule? Then she calls people who have shown interest before. At lunch she heads up to the rooftop with colleagues to catch up and enjoy the Spanish sun. She wraps up her day once her calls are done and every open chat has been answered.
What do you learn during a recruitment internship?
As a recruitment intern, you screen applications, call candidates, run interviews and guide people up to their first working day. You start with a week and a half of onboarding, where you learn the systems, practise interview techniques and listen in on real calls. In an interview, you get to know someone: why do they want to move abroad, and what are they really looking for? Then you go through the options together, from a customer service job in Portugal to a sales role in Greece.
I was talking to a man who had been living abroad for a while. Later in the conversation we found out he's from Friesland too, so we carried on in Frisian. - Tessa
From Dokkum to Valencia: what is the biggest difference?
The biggest difference is how busy it is. Dokkum is a small town, while Valencia is a lively student city where there is always something going on. The pace is different too. In the Netherlands, sorting something out quickly is completely normal, but in Spain people take a more relaxed view. t took some getting used to, but by now the slower rhythm really suits her.
Tessa rarely gets homesick. Of course there are moments when she misses her family and friends, especially her sisters, who are also her best friends back home. They FaceTime regularly, and her sisters come over to visit too. ✨
How do you build a social life in Valencia?
Tessa lives in a house with international students. It's fun, but because everyone has a different timetable, making plans together isn't always easy. Luckily, Valencia offers plenty of ways to meet new people. She is part of a big WhatsApp group of girls who regularly organise things together. There are also lots of Dutch organisations that host meetups so newcomers can get to know each other.
What is life in Valencia like?
What Tessa loves most about Spanish culture? The climate. Since she arrived in September, it has been above 20 degrees almost every day. After work she likes to walk through the Turia park or have a drink at a wine bar. At the weekend she wanders past little bakeries, and in the evenings she is often up for a night out. Her Spanish isn't fluent yet, but she is working on it: she wants to go home with at least a few words of Spanish.
Valencia is a city many people dream about, and our page on working and living in Valencia shows why. Looking for ideas? This blog is full of free things to do in Valencia.
Tips for an internship abroad
Tessa's advice: find out beforehand what the work involves, write down your questions before your interview and don't expect to know everything in your first week. Her internship in one sentence? Helping people take their step abroad every day, while going through that same adventure herself.
Can you picture yourself calling candidates from Valencia? Have a look at the open internships on working at Yobbers. 🧡