In the highly competitive job market, an internship gives you the rare advantage of getting one foot in the door. As multinationals continue to establish headquarters in new territories outside North America and Europe, emerging economies like Malaysia are becoming top employment and internship destinations.
Having your internship in Malaysia can be a rare opportunity to experience professional life abroad. It takes you out of your comfort zone, helping you realize the depths of mental strength and technical ability you never knew you had. You will also have access to world-class professional tools in state-of-the-art work environments.
In this article, we will discuss why Malaysia is a great destination for internships and reveal helpful tips to help you make the most of your internship so you can kickstart your career in no time.
1. Global Multinational Hotspot
There’s no better place to have your internship than within the walls of top global enterprises. Fortunately, Malaysia is home to some of the world’s largest multinationals. Many major organisations have regional headquarters in Malaysia, maintaining similar high operational standards as their counterparts overseas. From tech giants to finance trailblazers, there’s no shortage of top companies for a fulfilling internship Malaysia.
2. Low Living Costs
Compared to the United States and most parts of Europe, the cost of living in Malaysia is relatively cheap. From internet subscription to commuting fees, everyday expenses in this country are affordable, including in the major cities. For example, rent in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur is over 86% less than in other megacities like New York and London.
Affordable living is the dream of every intern whose priority centers on maximizing savings and stipends. Your total monthly expenses get even cheaper when you share housing with other interns or students and eat home-cooked meals.
3. Familiar Language
Settling into a new environment and foreign culture is challenging regardless of your age, life experience, or background. One of the major challenges in a new country is the language barrier. From team bonding exercises to buying groceries at the store, interactions take place in local dialects.
Rest assured, English is one of the widely spoken languages among learned individuals, especially in major cities. So, you won’t have a hard time assimilating into the culture or performing your duties as an intern.
4. Strategic Location
Malaysia’s location at the center of Southeast Asia makes it a major international trading hotspot. Thanks to this geographical advantage, many multinationals start their expansion into Asia from this country.
So far, it has led to the growth of countless industries, including fintech, renewable energy, and artificial intelligence. Thus, major global summits and exhibitions take place in Malaysia, bringing about opportunities for networking and professional development for interns.
How to Make Most of Your Internship in Malaysia?
Your internship year can be the start of a fulfilling career, and here are a few practical tips to maximize this opportunity.
1. Immerse Yourself in the Culture
Southeast Asia is one of the most culturally diverse regions, and Malaysia is at the heart. To thrive in this land of opportunities, you must immerse yourself in the local way of life. In time, you will realize how much impact local knowledge and familiarity can have on your career.
First, learn the basics of the local dialect. Malaysia is a multilingual country with influences across Europe, North America, and other parts of Asia. Its official language is Malay, spoken by the larger population and locals.
However, English remains widely spoken, especially in corporate settings and in some academic institutions. Besides Malay and English, Tamil and Mandarin are two other common languages spoken by the Indian Malaysian and Malaysian Chinese population.
Lastly, adopt the local etiquette, especially those you can adopt into daily work scenarios. For instance, Malaysian culture values mutual respect both in professional and social settings. Therefore, it is common for professionals, customers, and vendors to bow or exchange gifts when meeting.
2. Document Your Progress
Internships in Malaysia are the highlights of many aspiring professionals’ early careers. Once you settle down, you’ll be enjoying the process before you realize it. However, time flies when you’re having fun. So, document your experiences and progress while you are living it.
Get a journal and inscribe fond memories of impactful interactions, successful project completions, and thrilling adventures. Also, take lots of pictures to keep the memories and experiences etched in your memory.
You may start a social media channel in your spare time to reach a wider audience of current and aspiring interns. Not only will this help you connect with many globally, but you will be helping others make informed decisions based on your firsthand experience.
3. Set Realistic Goals
Settling into a new country on a different continent will always come with challenges. For example, adjusting to the climate, language, and food can be frustrating at first.
Being realistic about your expectations and the likelihood of achieving all your goals can help erase unnecessary pressure. Without pressure, you will be in the best mental state to carry out your responsibilities as an intern. Learn to be patient, and slowly immerse yourself in your new reality. It only gets better with time.
Conclusion
Employers still think highly of internships, prioritizing candidates with previous work experience as interns in relevant fields. If you want to fast-track your career through an internship abroad, Malaysia has all you need to thrive.
Learning the basics of the common languages can help you settle in fast enough to familiarize yourself with the local transport routes and markets. Meanwhile, commuting through public trains and buses keeps your spending low while you observe the culture.
Immersing yourself in the culture can help you settle in quickly to focus on your program while enjoying all that the Southeast Asian nation has to offer. Register with a talent-matching platform and start your journey to a fulfilling career in Malaysia today.
