Nicole McMartin

Program of study: International Development and Globalization

The Hague, The Netherlands 

In January 2014, I began working at a Dutch company, SES, as a Communications and Marketing Intern. While working in the Netherlands, I gained hands-on experience with a company that works globally and learned about business-to-business relations on a global scale. I had the opportunity to help plan customer events in other parts of Europe and I also gained experience working on the SES website. 

The Hague is the headquarters of the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice, as well as home to many embassies. This work term really opened my eyes to new cultures and new countries, and  I met many international students and interns. 

Working abroad in the Netherlands, I had two vacation days each month that I could use to take four-day trips, and I made the most of these extra-long weekends by travelling to seven different countries in Europe. I would encourage all students to take the opportunity to go abroad, especially for a work term. The independence you gain from moving to a new country alone is one thing, but the experiences you gain from learning about new cultures and meeting new people, in addition to the valuable work experience, are truly unforgettable.