Choosing a career path can be one of the biggest challenges for university students. One of the best ways to explore personal interests while preparing for the professional world is through internships. For Tabina Maritza Wisnu, a 2022 International Undergraduate Program (IUP) Management student at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FEB UGM), internships even took her beyond national borders.
During her undergraduate studies, Tabina completed two internships: a Business Development Intern at Avventura Immersive in Singapore and a Consulting Intern at Parker Russell Indonesia. She shared that her primary motivation for pursuing internships was to explore potential career paths before graduation. In addition, the internship experience fulfilled one of the requirements of the LeadershipX course, which allows students to choose between undertaking an internship, building a business, or carrying out other projects as practical applications of the knowledge they have gained in the classroom.
One of Tabina’s most memorable experiences was her internship at Avventura Immersive in Singapore. She secured the opportunity through the NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC) Exchange Program, which required students to gain professional experience through internships and provided valuable international exposure.
As a Business Development Intern at Avventura Immersive, Tabina was responsible for conducting business opportunity research, establishing partnerships with various stakeholders, delivering presentations, and supporting content creation and marketing activities. She intentionally chose to intern at a start-up because she was eager to understand how start-ups operate and gain valuable insights to support her future entrepreneurial aspirations.
“Since it was a start-up, the scope of work was very broad and highly hands-on. It gave me a comprehensive understanding of how a business operates, which will certainly be valuable if I decide to build my own business in the future,” she shared during the Class to Career program titled Internship Journey Across Borders: Internship Experience at Avventura and Parker Russell.
After completing her internship in Singapore, Tabina continued her professional journey by joining Parker Russell Indonesia as a Consulting Intern. There, she joined an ongoing project team and was primarily involved in accounting tasks, including reviewing financial statements and balance sheets. The transition presented a new challenge, as the role differed significantly from her previous internship and required her to learn fundamental accounting concepts quickly.
“Working in consulting felt completely different from working in a start-up. The consulting environment demands longer working hours, including overtime,” she explained.
So, how can students prepare for internships? According to Tabina, one of the best starting points is to become actively involved in student organizations. Through organizational activities, students learn to take responsibility, collaborate with others, and develop essential skills that will prove valuable in the workplace.
“You can join more than one organization and take on different roles—for example, working in both marketing and finance. This allows you to explore various fields and discover what truly interests you,” she said.
She also emphasized the importance of preparing a strong Curriculum Vitae (CV) and building a professional LinkedIn profile to enhance career visibility. According to Tabina, a CV should showcase a student’s experiences throughout university, including participation in student organizations, committees, and competitions, as evidence of their competencies and potential.
In addition, interview preparation is equally essential. Tabina encouraged students to familiarize themselves with the recruitment process and selection stages of their target companies or institutions so they can perform confidently and effectively during internship interviews.
Although her two internships involved very different responsibilities, Tabina gained valuable lessons from both experiences. She believes that internships are a time for self-exploration—the more diverse the roles students experience, the better they can understand their own strengths and career aspirations. She encouraged fellow students not to hesitate to pursue internship opportunities, whether in Indonesia or abroad. In her view, university is the ideal time to embrace new opportunities, learn from diverse experiences, and discover the career path that best suits them.
Watch the full Class to Career episode titled Internship Journey Across Borders: Internship Experience at Avventura and Parker Russell at: http://ugm.id/MagangAvventura.
Reporter: Najwa Anggi Namira
Editor: Kurnia Ekaptiningrum
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