Ashley | Marketing Internship at Absolute Internship

Ashley A.

Marketing InternshipAbsolute Internship|MadridMadrid

Now studying MSc Marketing & Consumption at University of Gothenburg

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Internship

MarketingUnited StatesUnited States

Currently

MSc Marketing & ConsumptionUniversity of Gothenburg

Hey, I’m Ashley! Along with interning in Spain back in 2022, I’ve had the opportunity to live in California and New York, doing marketing and advertising in each respective region. Now I’m in Sweden pursuing my MSc, and each place has shaped how I connect with people and approach new environments.

Ashley is a former student and verified Absolute Internship ambassador

Why Ashley chose this path

“I chose to intern abroad because I wanted to experience what it was like to build an international career. While I knew the language, interning in Spain gave me the chance to step outside of my comfort zone and learn how people approach work and communication differently.”

How I got in

It was my first time traveling to Europe, and as a Mexican American, I knew Madrid was the perfect city for me. I also love art history and loved seeing the Spanish architecture, which has a rich blend of styles shaped by Roman, Gothic, and Renaissance influences.

Top tips for getting accepted

1) Don’t treat your internship like a temporary version of your life at home. Use the experience to learn how people in another culture communicate, collaborate, and approach work differently. 2) Build relationships beyond the other interns. Talk to your coworkers, ask questions, and make an effort to connect with people who actually live there. Those conversations can teach you things a guidebook never will. 3) Document the experience while you’re living it. Not just the big trips, save the everyday moments, people you meet, and things that surprised you. Those are often what you’ll appreciate most when you look back.

Common mistakes to avoid

I wish I had stayed longer to engage more with my peers and everyone else I met!

What Ashley wishes they knew

Things I wish I knew before starting

I wish I had known just how much this experience would change my life. I never could have anticipated where it would lead me or the impact it would have on the person I became.

The hardest part

Definitely, not having my usual support system around me. Abroad, even simple things can require more initiative. Learning to navigate that uncertainty while still being open to new people and experiences was challenging, but it ultimately made me much more independent and adaptable.

The best decision I made

Choosing to go in the first place. It would have been easy to wait until I felt more prepared or confident, but I realized that there is never going to be a perfect moment to move somewhere new.

What it's actually like

A typical day

My weekdays usually started with getting ready for work and heading into the office on the bus, where I spent the day working on my internship responsibilities and learning how the team operated. After work, I tried not to immediately fall back into a routine of staying in; I would explore different parts of the city, grab food, etc. On weekends, I had more time to take trips to Toledo and Valencia!

Topics Ashley can help with

Application TipsWorkplace CultureIndustry SkillsInterview PrepDay-to-Day LifeNetworkingCareer Development

Questions students ask Ashley

What does a typical day in your internship actually look like?
My weekdays usually started with getting ready for work and heading into the office on the bus, where I spent the day working on my internship responsibilities and learning how the team operated. After work, I tried not to immediately fall back into a routine of staying in; I would explore different parts of the city, grab food, etc.
How did you land your internship - what did the application process involve?
My internship was with a small fashion startup, and I connected with the company because of my genuine interest in handmade clothing, Spanish culture, and making the pieces more accessible to a wider audience. That enthusiasm came through during the application process and helped me stand out. What attracted me most was that it was a small team where a passionate group of people was directly involved in shaping the company, so I knew I would have the opportunity to learn closely from the people making the decisions.
What skills do you wish you had before starting that you'd tell others to prepare?
I wish I had brushed up more on my Spanish before going. I ended up doing a bit of translation. Also, having a stronger understanding of localization beforehand would have made communicating and translating much easier and more natural during my internship.

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