Faces behind Yobbers: Tessa's recruitment internship in Valencia
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An internship abroad sounds like a real adventure, but what does it actually look like day to day? Tessa (20) is from Dokkum in the north of the Netherlands, studies Tourism Management at NHL Stenden and started her five-month recruitment internship at Yobbers in Valencia in September. She wanted something different from tourism, while still helping people take the step abroad. In this blog you'll read what her application, her preparation and her working days look like.
How does applying for an internship abroad work?
Applying for an internship abroad usually starts with an introductory video call. After that, there's a practical part, so you can show how you would approach the work, followed by a final conversation with people from the team you'll 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 stop by the office for her first meeting and get a feel for the atmosphere right away. Shortly after the final conversation came the phone call with the good news. 📞
How do you prepare for an internship abroad?
Moving is exciting, especially when you go on your own. Tessa found a room within a few weeks through one of the many organisations that offer housing. The Yobbers team helped her along: all colleagues moved to Valencia themselves, so there were plenty of tips. There was contact right up to her start date, and she even met other interns before her first working day. Also read how recruiter Amelie experienced her own move abroad.
What does a working day as a recruitment intern in Valencia look like?
Tessa's day starts around 9:00. She checks which conversations are scheduled, reads up on them and goes through the chats and emails. The rest of the day alternates between interviews and the administration that comes with them. She talks to new candidates, but also to people who have already started their job. If her calendar has a gap, she calls people who showed interest in jobs earlier. 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 a reply.
What do you learn during a recruitment internship?
The basics: onboarding and your first tasks
As a recruitment intern you screen applications, call candidates, hold interviews and support people right up to their first working day. You start with a week and a half of onboarding, in which you get to know the systems, practise conversation techniques and listen in on real calls. After that you gradually take on more by yourself. Above all, you learn to hold conversations, connect with people and switch quickly between systems and situations, with a fixed daily structure to keep you on track.
The real work: conversations with candidates
Tessa talks to Dutch-speaking candidates, as she is recruiting within the dutch speaking market. In an interview you get to know someone: why do they want to go abroad, is it their first time and what are they actually looking for? Then you go through the options together, from a customer service job in Portugal to a sales role in Greece. Her first interviews with real candidates felt nerve-racking, but every conversation made it easier.
Recruitment is often linked to sales and convincing people, but here it's mainly about a personal approach, listening and asking questions. Sometimes the vacancy someone applied for isn't the best fit, and then we look at other projects together.
Contact with candidates is her favourite part of the job: hearing about their plans and how they find the work once they've moved. Our team also stays involved after the start.
I spoke to a man who had been living abroad for a while. Later in the conversation we found out that he's from Friesland too, so we ended up having the rest of the conversation in Frisian.
What is life in Valencia like?
Valencia is a city many people dream of. On our page about working and living in Valencia you can read why. After work Tessa likes to walk through Turia Park or have a drink at a cosy wine bar. At the weekend she explores little bakeries, and in the evening she's often up for a night out. Still deciding between cities? This blog helps you decide which Spanish city suits you best.
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? “Every day I help people take their step abroad, while I'm living exactly the same adventure myself.”
Can you picture yourself calling candidates from Valencia? Have a look at the open internships on working at Yobbers. 🧡