Allow us to begin by introducing ourselves.
Some of our members of AIESEC in Aberdeen
We are the world’s largest youth-run organisation. We help to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and provide young people with opportunities to develop skills relevant for their future.
We offer both memberships and exchange opportunities. With our exchange opportunities , you have the choice to go to over 100 countries and do anything from marketing internships to volunteering with local NGOs. In this article, we will introduce you to 5 major benefits and skills you can develop with us in AIESEC that you wouldn’t get anywhere else!
Adaptability – this is by far one of the most relevant skills to have right now. The best way to develop the skill of adaptability is to… well, put yourself in a situation where you have to adapt! It is desirable to companies because it shows that you are able to work independently, even during difficulties. An adaptable person looks for solutions to problems and does not give up easily when things do not go as planned. The memberships and exchange programmes offered by AIESEC provide an opportunity to develop this essential skill. You will have to adapt to the new environment and learn how to take unfamiliar situations in your stride.
Eniko during her exchange in Brazil
Self-confidence – putting yourself out of your comfort zone is the best way to develop confidence in yourself. Self-confidence is imperative in the workplace in order to sell yourself. It also helps when it comes to networking and interpersonal skills. The opportunities provided by AIESEC help you to develop self-confidence by putting you in an environment that is alien to you where you have to meet and work with new people. The best way to develop confidence is to prove to yourself just how much you are capable of!
Self-awareness – this means knowing what your strengths and weaknesses are; what you are passionate about and what is important to you. Knowing more about yourself is particularly important in early stages of your life as it allows you to make better decisions for your career and future. Putting yourself out of your comfort zone and getting involved in something new is the best way to achieve this. On exchange with AIESEC, you may find a passion that you never even thought you would have. It may be for a cause, a country or even an industry.
Intercultural skills – another set of skills you can develop with AIESEC is intercultural skills. Intercultural competence is one of the most sought-after skills in the globalised workplace of today. Simply put, it is the ability to work effectively across cultures. It is important for networking, team management and even just to help you develop relationships with colleagues. AIESEC offers outstanding opportunities to develop intercultural skills by spending time overseas and by working with a diverse group of people.
Esther during her Marketing internship in Brazil.
Language skills – as with cross-cultural understanding, language skills are increasingly important in the globalised world we find ourselves in. AIESEC offers programmes which are able to take you to countries where major world languages are spoken.
Learning Spanish?
Volunteering or interning in South America would be invaluable to improve your language skills. The same goes for any other language you may be pursuing. AIESEC gives you an excuse to travel and develop those skills! Even as a member, you have the opportunity to meet people from around the world who could help you to acquire and practise a new language.
University will not necessarily provide you with all the skills necessary for your future. There are a variety of soft skills to develop which will help make you stand out from the thousands of people who have the same qualifications. Having the volunteering or interning experience that AIESEC provides not only shows that you are active in the community; it is also a way to show how you have developed soft skills, rather than just saying that you have them. Even though stepping out of your comfort zone to develop these skills is intimidating, AIESEC provides a support system to help you do it.
We take pride in the welcoming and inclusive culture that we create in AIESEC. We are all here to learn and develop our own potential. If you are interested, feel free to sign up on our website https://aiesec.org/ to see what amazing opportunities we have!
