How to Intern in Berlin

So you want to intern in Berlin. Maybe you've been taking German all through college, and want to be able to practice it. And after all, Berlin is an exciting city for students. Maybe you just want to live in a foreign country - and trust me, there are many reasons for wanting to do that, and think the best way to convince your parents to let you is by interning as well. Or maybe, just maybe, you really want to do an internship.

Since we're all part of the internet generation, you've probably googled "internship in Berlin" or some such similar thing. (In fact, that may be how you came across this article.) You've no doubt discovered that there are many companies willing to help you intern abroad. And that's wonderful. Truly, it is. But you've probably also discovered that most of those companies want you to pay them. I know, incredible. They want you to pay them money (Stay Easy Career starts at 620 Euros, Cultural Embrace at a hefty $ 2455, though this is offset by the fact that the program comes with language courses and housing), so you can work at a job for which in all likelihood you're not paid anything.

Why do they do this? And how can these companies exist? Certainly the first question is easily answered: they want your money. The second question is more complicated, but it can be explained by the fact that the companies do help you find an internship, as well as sorting through the bureaucratic struggles of getting registered by the police (a necessity in Berlin at least) and finding an apartment. The point is - the one I want to stress, is that you can accomplish all this on your own.