We love that our team is a wild mix of nationalities and characters - and while we may share certain visual preferences (I mean, who doesn't love a GIF and overexposed flash photography?!), the unique references, stories, and skills that each member brings to the team are what really makes life exciting. 

So, if you spend all your time drawing imaginary creatures, we would much rather see those drawings than a coffee shop branding that looks like every other coffee shop branding on Instagram. If you manage to convey clearly who you are, why you are interested in the company you are contacting and what exactly you are looking for in a couple of paragraphs - there is a big chance that your application will be read and considered. While the following tips are only based on our personal perception and the way we do things here at Chukster, we believe that it will be similar for many smaller agencies around the world, so hopefully it can be useful to those of you looking to get some work experience in a different country.

01: Most smaller design agencies don't have an HR department, often not even a person taking care of HR as a full-time job. So reading through applications and getting back to applicants often falls into the lap of the founders who are also juggling 17 other hats. So, the way you write your email is super important - I'm almost tempted to say more important - than your portfolio (shocking i know!) If you manage to convey clearly who you are, why you are interested in the company you are contacting and what exactly you are looking for in a couple of paragraphs - there is a big chance that your application will be read and considered.

02: We are totally aware that as a student, as someone who is looking for an internship, your body of work will not be that extensive. That a bunch of projects will be school assignments, and the scope/brief determined by your school. Don't consider this an issue. If you have just 4 or 5 projects that you are proud of, that is perfectly enough. It's more important to show those projects off, maybe include some insights into your creative process or explain your thought process. When selecting an intern, we are not looking for "the finished" article, but for someone with an interesting creative approach and an eye for design that gets us intrigued (tbh, the same goes for full-time employees also).

03: Don't try to mimic someone else or try to fit in. We love that our team is a wild mix of nationalities and characters - and while we may share certain visual preferences (I mean, who doesn't love a GIF and overexposed flash photography?!), the unique references, stories, and skills that each member brings to the team are what really makes life exciting. If you are a huge geek with a penchant for Dungeons and Dragons, and you spend all your time drawing imaginary creatures, we would much rather see those drawings than a coffee shop branding that looks like every other coffee shop branding on Instagram.

04: Last but not least - this might be an obvious point - but try to stand out from the crowd with your approach. 

We get sooo many template applications, where it's obvious that someone just changed the company name and updated the [insert a project that agency worked on] field. (And yes, we have gotten applications where someone FORGOT to update the text in between the brackets...) We get it, you need to send a bunch of applications to improve your chances. And it takes time. We are not telling you to create a custom portfolio and a custom CV for your application - certainly not for an internship. But do take the time to write an email that feels personal , follow the company on Instagram, and comment on your favourite project (with a real comment, not just a heart emoji) or share one of their blog articles or Linked In posts for example. Finally, do not… I repeat, do NOT, use AI to write your emails. They stick out like a sore thumb! 

And sometimes you will do all of this just right: the concise and personal email, the strong portfolio with a bit of character, the little extra that gets you noticed - and despite that, you receive a negative answer (or none - though we really try to get back to everyone that makes the effort to send us an application). A lot of small agencies have limited availability for interns - and sometimes it’s just luck that your application arrives at the right time, or that your availability time frame matches theirs. So don’t give up, and try not to take a rejection personally. Keep going and give yourself the credit you deserve for daring to apply for an internship abroad 🤍