5 Paid Internship Opportunites For International Students in Turkey

I am about to share with you 5 amazing paid internship opportunities that can help you kickstart your career. These opportunities are a great way to spend your summer because you get to improve your skills, widen your network, work with like minds, and even give you some extra cash. The internship application period for these internships is usually March – July except for one of them which opens in November and ends in December. I am sharing these opportunities now so you can prepare for them for the upcoming year. It takes time to prepare a strong application for these internships but if you start now, you can do it. 

The most difficult part is creating a CV and writing why you want to work for them so I’d also share some tips for that. Another good thing about these internships is the fact that you don’t need to have a 3.5 or 4.0 GPA to apply. For most of them, the minimum GPA you should have is 2.5. My GPA was less than 3 when I applied but thankfully, I got into 2 of them. And I got to the final interview of the 3rd one. The application process will evaluate you by making you go through tests and assessments so if your GPA is not competitive enough, that’s where you need to prove yourself beyond your GPA. I have applied for over 50 internships in Turkey so you can trust me.

The documents you need for all of these internships are:

• Detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Statement of Purpose (SoP) or Cover Letter
• A copy of Student Certificate – Proof of studentship
• A copy of Identification Card and/or Passport – Kimlik or Passport
• A copy of the Transcript and/or Diploma
• Digital Photo – 
• Proof of Language Proficiency – Some of them organize exams for this, and some may just evaluate you from your cover letter or during the interview.

That’s basically it. So let’s start

1. SESRIC Internship – SESRIC is an abbreviation for Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries. It’s an organization under the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Their primary aim is to improve the economic and social conditions of their member countries by providing data, research, and training. They have their headquarters in Ankara and every summer students who are accepted for the internship program go there to work for a minimum of 4 weeks.  The Internship at SESRIC is mainly aimed at Masters/PhD students but undergraduate students can also apply. The internship program is for students who are interested in International Relations, Data Analysis, Statistics, Research, Academic writing, and working in an international environment. Students must speak either Arabic, English, or French. In this internship, you’d be expected to work on analyzing data, carrying out research, translating documents, Designing and implementing training and cooperation projects and programs, etc.c To apply, visit the link – https://www.sesric.org/sesric_internship.php

2. Turkish Aerospace Sky Global Program – This is a 1-month internship program designed to provide students with hands-on experience in the aerospace industry. It is mainly for those in the field of Engineering. Undergraduates and Graduates studying in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer/Software Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering are eligible to apply. The internship period starts in August/September so you should apply in June/July. To apply, visit the link – https://kariyer.tusas.com/sky

3. P&G – P&G is a multinational company that makes a wide range of consumer goods such as diapers, toothpaste, detergents, and personal care products like shaving cream or deodorant. They have an internship program for students in various fields such as – Brand Management, Finance, IT, Sales & Supply Chain, HR, and Manufacturing. Their head office is in Istanbul and they have a manufacturing plant in Gebze. In the application, you will be expected to choose the top 3 areas you want to work in, and your preferred location.

The application process starts with an online application, then you will go through the Peak Performance Assessment, and interactive assessment where they’d evaluate you fit for the company. When I applied for this internship, I read through their website about the hiring process and I took some example tests online to prepare for this. These tests are not difficult, but if you don’t prepare for it, you may not find it easy. After passing the assessments, you’d be invited to the interview. behavioral-based and situational interviews.  In my case, after passing the first interview, I was invited to the final interview but unfortunately, I couldn’t pass the final one. In some roles, you may be invited for just one interview. So if you would like to apply for this, now is the perfect time to start because applications will start in a few months. To apply, visit the link – https://www.pgcareers.com/global/en/hiring-process OR https://www.instagram.com/pgcareersturkiye/

If you are finding this helpful, please share it with friends who would benefit from this. And if you’d like to see more, kindly subscribe.

4. Turkish Petroleum TPAO Long-term Internship: This internship is not a summer internship. It is a long-term internship that starts with the academic year (September/October) and ends in June-July (at the end of the academic year). This is why I call it a part-time job. It is open to undergraduate students who have completed year 3 and are moving to year 4, you can apply for this. But only those in these universities can apply. Because this is a petroleum company, only relevant departments can apply. This internship is great because you must work for a minimum of 1 day per week, and you get paid per month. But the more you work, the more you get paid, that’s why it is for those in year 4 only. To create a strong application, I’d suggest you create a CV that highlights the projects you have done relating to the field you are applying for. That was the strategy a friend advised me to use. And thankfully, during my interview, that was mainly what we spoke about. They saw that I had the knowledge and experience and I think that’s why they were ready to accept me. To apply, visit the link – https://www.bizbizekariyer.com/

5. Sabanci PURE Summer Research Internship: Sabancı PURE (Program for Undergraduate Research) Summer Internship is a program designed to provide undergraduate students with hands-on research experience under the guidance of Sabancı University faculty members. Undergraduate students from any university can apply. The application period for the PURE Summer program typically opens in April and closes in April. This Internship is not paid. However, students who are accepted are provided with free accommodation on the Sabancı University campus. So you only have to worry about Food. But I personally don’t think that would be an issue because food prices in the Dining Hall on campus in Turkish universities are very subsidized. So you’d be spending half of what you normally spend outside. I like this internship because anyone can apply. Engineering, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities, and so on. If you want to work on a project that cuts across 2 different fields such as business and technology or sciences and humanities they have such projects available. The first step for you is to check the open projects, check the requirements, prepare your documents, and then apply online.  To apply, visit the link – https://pure.sabanciuniv.edu/

To thank you for reading up to this point, I want to share 2 other internship opportunities. The remaining 2 options I’d share with you are not paid. But they are also great ways to learn, work in a great environment, build your connections, and gain experience. So let’s review them:

• SDE – stratejik dusunce enstitusu – In English it means. The institute of strategic thinking. The Institute of Strategic Thinking (SDE) is a prominent think tank based in Ankara, Turkey. It plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse and policymaking by conducting research, analysis, and policy recommendations on a wide range of domestic and international issues. Their Key Focus Areas are Foreign policy, Security studies, Economic policy, Energy policy, and Social and cultural issues. If these sound like areas you are interested in, you may want to apply for their internship. I couldn’t find the application dates but I saw that the link to apply is always open. So give it a shot. But if I were you, I’d try to link up with someone who works there and ask them questions. So try to use LinkedIn, Instagram, or Facebook to get to someone who works there or who did their internship there. To apply, visit the link – https://sdeakademi.org/basvuru_0-727

• ICYF Internships – ICYF stands for the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum. It’s an international, non-profit organization that aims to unite youth organizations from the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Its primary goal is to empower young people and contribute to their development.  ICYF focuses on areas such as education, culture, entrepreneurship, and volunteerism. ICYF offers internship opportunities in its office located in Istanbul. The program provides young individuals with the chance to gain practical experience in international relations, diplomacy, and youth development. The application period starts in Jan and ends latest in March. Let me say this too – They also organize free camps and workshops under 2 main themes (media and conflict resolution) and you can apply for them as well. I applied and went to Antalya last year. It was super fun Alhamdulillah. To apply, visit the link they will post on their website and Instagram when the application opens.

Tips for CV and Cover Letter:

CV Tips:

• Tailor your CV to the specific internship: First, understand what the recruiter of the company wants to see. Use that to highlight skills and experiences relevant to the job description. Many people don’t do this cos it is a lot of stress, but it is necessary I guess. You can do this for the top 5 companies you want to get into.
• Keep it concise and clear: Aim for a one-page CV, using clear and concise language.
• Quantify your achievements: Whenever possible, use numbers to demonstrate your impact (e.g., increased sales by 20%).
• Use keywords: Incorporate keywords from the job description to increase your chances of passing through applicant tracking systems.
• Highlight relevant coursework: Showcase courses related to the internship to demonstrate your knowledge base.
• Proofread carefully: Errors can make a negative impression.

Cover Letter Tips

• Align your values with the company’s mission: Show how your personal beliefs align with the organization’s goals.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the company: Highlight specific projects or initiatives that impress you.
• Explain how you can contribute: Clearly articulate the value you can bring to the team. Many students don’t know how to do this. So they skip it. Do not skip it.
• Show enthusiasm: Convey your excitement about the opportunity to work for the company.
• Be genuine: Don’t lie but don’t undermine yourself. Be humble but say it exactly as it is without any pride in your heart. But to do this, you must know your strength and weaknesses,