Life working as a Digital Intern in London

From late night museums to lunch break FIFA - meet Johanne, who took a semester out of her degree to work as a Digital Intern in London.

Why did you decide to intern abroad in the UK?

I used to work in London as an au pair during my gap year after high school. Back then, I immediately fell in love with the city and British culture. I was very sad when I had to leave, and I knew I had to come back as soon as possible. So, when it became an opportunity to take a semester of my university degree abroad, I didn’t hesitate for a second before I started to look for internships in London.

What was your first week like?

The first week was full of new impressions and old re-visits. I was very excited to be at work and surrounded by some lovely co-workers, who helped me easily adapt to my new everyday life. My colleagues made me feel welcome and were curious to get to know me. Outside work, I was happy to be back in the busy streets of London and the iconic tube. I went and re-visited some of my favourite shops, cafés and overall, absorbed the vibrant atmosphere.

What did you learn from your internship abroad?

I learned a lot of things from my internship that I will take with me into the future. I have worked with content marketing, social media, and event marketing, to name a few. I have accumulated valuable knowledge in my field that will definitely be beneficial for my future career. Other than that, my workplace was very social during lunch breaks, when we liked to play FIFA! I had never played FIFA before, but have now become a FIFA pro (if I do say so myself). Overall, I have learned to adapt to new surroundings and not be afraid to jump into the unknown. This is where the real fun begins and where you will look back being very proud of yourself.

What was your favourite experience living in London? 

At my workplace, we would have a monthly social event and plan to do something altogether. One of the social events was a Mexican-themed party. We decorated the office with all sorts of arrangements, had a donkey pinata, and played games all night wearing our themed hats. We had Mexican food: tacos, nachos, quesadillas. It was a blast!

Did you do any travelling during your internship?

I seized the opportunity of there being so many amazing places within travelling distance of London. One of my housemates used to go to Cambridge University, so he took me and the other housemates to Cambridge one weekend as our private guide. Cambridge is a very beautiful and charming town with a lot of history and anecdotes, so I would definitely recommend going. I also took the train to Brighton one weekend as it’s very easy from London. I went shopping in their many cool vintage shops, took in the fresh air from the beach, and walked down their famous pier. Also worth a visit!

What did you get up to after work and on weekends?

On a normal workday, I would either go for a stroll around the city or home to recharge. Many shops and museums are open till late, so it was possible to get the absolute most out of the day by walking around the city. However, some days I went home to relax as it’s also important to take a break every now and then! Then on the weekend, I would often plan to go discover a certain area of London, whether it was Notting Hill, Peckham, Hackney, or somewhere else. London is full of different areas, each with their special architecture and atmosphere. So, getting out and experiencing beyond the touristy parts of central London is a must! This is where the locals hang, so you’ll find so many hidden London gems.

Need to do a semester abroad as part of your degree, want to spend your uni summer holidays getting ahead, or just graduated and looking to put your career on the map? Check out JENZA Intern UK