Is Intern Abroad HQ a scam company?
I've always wanted to go to Japan and I saw a company Intern Abroad HQ internhq.com offer internships here for foreigners.
This sounds perfect for me in 2025 as I'm lacking the relevant experience in the UK to get a job especially with the market being so competitive for grads.
I also know basic Japanese but has anyone heard of this company or done a placement with them?
Their website is new and modern but the reviews on their site seem a bit fake and there are no prices unless you apply. It also says you get a international reference letter and completion certificate but I can't see any information about visas and I don't want to arrive and have any issues.
Also I can't see any negative experiences and I also read on Reddit it is quite common that these work experience placements overseas are scams so I don't know what to do :/
Any help is appreciated.
Have you thought about applying to companies direct to avoid the agency? But I understand this might be difficult especially in countries like Japan? These gap year internships might appeal to you too.
Hi Albert, did you apply in the end? I too was thinking about doing a placement with Intern Abroad HQ too but all the reviews look a bit unreal/dubious and this put me off a bit. It would be good to actually hear from someone who has gone and who would recommend to go or avoid.
My advice is to avoid these rip off middle agencies and just apply direct with companies direct. For example you want a finance internship in Asia, google international companies/banks in specific locations e.g. Hong Kong and usually they will have application pages (so you avoid paying a really big fee).
Has anyone completed a program in Dublin with Intern Abroad HQ? The option to gain academic credit appeals to me but the fully hosted experience charged at $2994 is a big chunk of money to pay. If anyone has been to Ireland pm me.
Are the business internships good?
Do they offer placements to Americans?
I haven't actually come across Intern Abroad HQ before but from my research most companies charge big fees to join an internship abroad. I'm not sure what their costs are but the application fees+accommodation are very expensive. I've been looking at a summer program in Barcelona with Absolute Internship but the fees range from 3800-8000 Euros. I just hope these are placements are worth it long term when future employers see this experience as otherwise it is a lot of money down the drain.
It is a scam.
I applied in march to do an architecture advertised as being in spain for around £1000. The photos showed interns in a spanish villa and the advert included the name of the location. I got to the end of the application process and the note said it would need to charge $499 as a downpayment, but that this would only leave my bank once it had been approved. Then I noticed some small print on the last page of my application saying the trip is actually not in Spain. The last page of the application said do you have anything you need us to know before we approve. I wrote in this box to please not approve my application. As it said they would see this note before approving I assumed I had solved the issue.
The next day I saw the money had come out of my bank account and sent an email. I was replied to with an ai style response written by Sarah Butler stating their policy. Policy said “if I didn’t qualify it would be returned back to me”, so if I told them to not approve my application because I wouldn’t be able to do it, I’m not sure how I am classed as qualifying to go.
I had to sell my belongings to pay rent that month because of this. Do not use this company.
I have screenshots of this all if anyone knows how I can attach them tell me and I will.