Tailor-made internships
Next Step Connections organize a wide range of tailor-made internship placements allowing you to specialize in your chosen field. We can cater for almost all internship fields. Below is a description of the fields we usually place participants in.
Art/Design
For art and design enthusiasts, China is inarguably where the focus is right now. Although relatively new to the art and design world, China is quick to catch up. New galleries are sprouting and museums are avidly organizing world class exhibitions to keep the local art lovers satisfied. The contemporary Chinese art continues to pique the interest of art buyers all over the world. Moreover, as a testament to this rapid growth, Shanghai annually hosts one of the most important events in the art world.
Not to be outdone by their fine arts counterparts, Chinese graphic designers are quick to earn their spots on the global market with their fresh perspectives and unique styles influenced by everything from hip-hop to calligraphy.
Next Step Connections organizes internships in graphic design studios, contemporary art galleries and modern art museums.
Caitlin (University of Birmingham, UK) was placed with one of Shanghai’s most reputable art centers. Among her many tasks, she worked on projects for the center and helped launch a foundation while working with the curator. She also played a role in the launch of a book the art center published and managed online sales.
Architecture/Construction/Planning:Want to work in the world's most exciting design playground?
As the world’s most exciting architectural playground, Shanghai continuously pushes architectural boundaries, from the brand new Financial Center to the pavilions being built for the upcoming Expo 2010. At the same time, classic art-deco buildings from the 1920s are being preserved to maintain Shanghai’s distinct style.
The speed in which gleaming new buildings are being constructed in this city may be mind–boggling to some, but for most, it is definitely an exhilarating process to be a part of. At Next Step Connections, we organize internships at architecture firms, construction and planning companies. You will work as an assistant project manager and work alongside qualified professionals on urban, landscape, residential or commercial projects.
Mohammad (METU-Turkey) worked for an urban architecture firm during his internship period in Shanghai. His challenging daily tasks involved designing zonal commercial façades, as well as working on regional architecture and planning projects.
Business: Wondering how to keep afloat in unfamiliar waters?
Foreigners and locals alike are taking advantage of China’s burgeoning economy, bringing into the table new business concepts and ideas. There is no arguing that China is the most important place when it comes to today’s business world. However, for those lacking the experience in the Chinese market, a deeper understanding about the customs and processes is required.
Next Step Connections organize internship placements in different areas such as business development, consulting, sales and marketing, human resources, sourcing, trading, export and supply chain management. You will be involved with the daily operations of the company and will find yourself attending important meetings, working on new projects and meeting clients. It is not uncommon to be given important responsibilities right from the beginning of your placement.
We also organize business placements for entrepreneur-minded individuals who are eager to learn the process of starting a company or launching new products. Interns will be placed with start-ups or with other local entrepreneurs to draft business plans, market research and learn about the critical procedures necessary to start a company in China.
Travis (Quinnipiac University) is an aspiring entrepreneur and made the most of his internship in Shanghai by learning about the ins and outs of a newly launched language program. He worked on everything from human resources to marketing and e-commerce.
Finance: Counting the Renminbi Yuan? Focus on Asia Pacific.
As the fastest growing economy in the world, there is no better place but China to hone your skills in finance. The World Bank raised its growth forecast in China for 2009 from 6.5% to 7.2% amid signs that the market is doing better than expected. The Chinese economy is expected to weather the financial storm in perfect shape.
We organize various finance internship opportunities in Shanghai with mid-size local and international companies involved in Accounting, Private Equity, Growth Capital, Venture Capital, finance research and analysis, portfolio management, asset management or financial consulting.
Luca (ESCP Europe Business School) had the exciting experience of interning for one of Shanghai’s top investment companies. His many tasks included leading the execution of port-industrial zone projects as well as research, analysis and target identification for several industries in China.
Engineering, IT and Technology: get scientific and stretch your skills in a hi-tech metropolis
The technology sector is one of China’s flourishing and most exciting industries, with The Ministry of Science and Technology investing 11 billion yuan (US$1.32 billion) to stimulate the country's high technology and agricultural development.
In addition, China is also positioning itself as the leader in environmentally friendly technology. They will soon announce plans to match the European Union’s ambitious target by raising the proportion of renewable in the country’s energy mix to a certain percentage by 2020.
Learn how to design and implement structures, machines, devices, systems, and processes. We offer internships as analysts, developers, electronic or computer science programmers and web designers in a wide range of companies: automotive engineering, mobile phones, semi-conductors, online gaming, wireless telecommunication, video and imaging, security, automation control, medical, transportation, aviation, aerospace and environment monitoring.
We also offer research placements in the biotechnology and clean-technology sectors, as well as placement under the guidance of the former Thompson Multimedia vice-President Asia.
Peadar (University of Bristol) worked on facial recognition product design during his placement in Shanghai. He was responsible for project planning and specs with a focus on user-interface design. Additionally, he was also exposed to researches and website design, among other things.
Fashion industry: Got an Eye for Style? Make a fashionable impression in the Paris of the Far East
Got an Eye for Style? Make a fashionable impression in the Paris of the Far East
Annually hosting the world class Shanghai International Fashion Culture Festival, as well as other industry-related expos, Shanghai is known as China’s most fashionable metropolis for good reason. It often hosts international level fashion shows such as the recent showing of the Chanel’s Métiers d'Arts collection.
We offer professional internships in the marketing, merchandising or public relations departments of international fashion and cosmetics brands. In glamorous Shanghai, you will be working in one of the world's most rapidly developing fashion markets. Alternatively, work as a brand coordinator for famous Asian luxury brands or leading fashion Medias.
We also offer a placement at the leading beauty and cosmetic group in the world.
Hospitality: Work in Shanghai's most diverse and rapidly expanding sector at a world class establishment.
Strong economic growth as well as an increase in the number of low-cost airlines and the relaxation of travel regulations results in an increase in travel across China.
We offer a wide range of internship placements from internationally acclaimed fine dining restaurants and five-star hotels to new hip cafes and boutique hotels.
Shanghai’s hospitality industry is expected to grow as it prepares to host the World Expo 2010, the numbers of tourists are expected to rise. Here at Next Step Connections, we offer you the chance to work in Shanghai's most diverse and rapidly expanding sector at a world class establishment. We offer a wide range of internship placements from internationally acclaimed fine dining restaurants and five-star hotels to new hip cafes and boutique hotels.
Abiodun (University of West Georgia) worked for Shanghai’s busiest restaurateur. Her duties involved website-building to location scouting, and even bartending and busing tables, to make sure she understands what it takes to manage a successful eatery. She played a part in the day-to-day operation of some of Shanghai’s most famous restaurants.
Intern help launching a new micro-brewery restaurant (Summer 2009).
Journalism and Public Relations Dream of being published in China?
Build your international portfolio by working as a contributing editor, photographer or writer for a range of Shanghai-based publications such as the leading business magazine, a daily English-language newspaper, a popular online webzine, city and lifestyle magazines, a financial news agency or law publications. In today’s international context, a journalism experience in China will definitely make a difference when competing for a future position.
We also offer public relations internships where you will be working on managing the flow of information between an organization and its publics. Common activities include attending conferences, working with the press, and employee communication. You will meet clients, write press releases and ultimately learn how to convey the right message to the right audience.
We also have a joint program with the leading business magazine in Shanghai: The Shanghai Business Review Apply for the Shanghai Business Review Internship Program
Samantha (Central Michigan University) was enrolled in the SBR program. Her 2-month stint saw her getting involved in several high-profile events, proofread articles and writing a number of clips, as well as a feature story.
Read more about Samantha’s experience here
Law: Getting to grips with China'sl legal system?
Anna (Pompeu Fabra University) quickly familiarized herself with the Chinese tax law during her internship with a law firm in Shanghai. She was also involved in important meetings, as well as presentations and reports.
Marketing/Advertising/Event management: Planning, Coordinating, and Innovating.
Shanghai’s social calendar is filled with world class events. We organize internship placements in marketing, advertisement and Event Management as assistants or project managers, dealing with both international and local brands.
A placement in this sector is not only challenging, but should be regarded as an excellent opportunity to learn about strategy, branding techniques, evolving media and account coordinating.
We offer a placement at a leading advertisement agency, with international clients such as Audi, Vodafone, Levi Strauss and British Airways
In addition to creating story boards for advertisements, Rayyan (Lim Kok Wing University) was responsible for the visualizations and concept developments for two parties for famous vodka brands during her placement in Shanghai with one of Asia’s premier agencies.
Medicine and healthcare: Make a difference to the local community whilst gaining hands-on experience.
We organize medical internship placements in local hospitals, international medical centers and clinics. During your internship you will broaden both your understanding of Western medicine and aspects of ancestral Chinese medicine. We offer work in a range of different clinical departments including Dermatology, Surgery, Neurology, Orthopedics, Pathology, and Pediatrics. Highlight: We offer a placement at the official 2008 Beijing Olympics hospital.
Pharmaceuticals: Innovation in the world's most exciting laboratory.
As one of the leading industries in China, the pharmaceutical sector covers everything from Chinese medicines to pharmaceutical machinery. It has an annual average growth rate of 16.72% over the last few decades. As of 2007, China is the world's ninth drug market, and in 2008 it will become the eighth largest market. Although still a small scale industry, this market is expected to continuously increase in value.
We organize internships with international pharmaceutical organizations where you will learn about the production, marketing and distribution of drugs in a developing country. We also offer placements at an international A4 healthcare advertising company. As an alternative, you will also be able to work as a lab assistant in a research center of a well-known local hospital.
Evelyn (UCLA) was placed with the famous Shanghai Pasteur research institute which specializes in health and medicine on emerging infectious diseases. She was given the rare chance to run her own experiments, including transforming E. coli cells , as well as characterizing and producing transcription factors. She managed to learned a great deal about the experience, which also allowed her a sneak peek into her life as a graduate student.
