13 Soft Skills You'll Build During Your BridgeUSA Internship

An internship is about more than mastering tasks. It’s a chance to grow the skills that define long-term success.  

And that means developing your toolkit of soft skills. 

While technical abilities may get you in the door, personal qualities that help you work well with others and navigate office challenges will help you thrive in any role. It's where real professional growth begins – and it’s the internship skills employers want. 

The Soft Skills Internships Want You to Develop 

Soft skills are crucial to your success throughout your career – no matter if you stay in the same industry or change multiple times. That’s because they’re important on both a professional and personal level. 

Learn more about the BridgeUSA internship skills you’ll want to focus on during your time in America. 

1. Adaptability 

Moving to another country, taking on an American internship, meeting a variety of coworkers – it's a lot to get used to. But if you can adapt well to changes big or small, you’ll make it easier when projects need to take another direction or new members join the team. 

“Being so close to the local community and building trust relationships in a culture and a language that were not mine was very rewarding.” 
– Safia D., France 

2. Collaboration and teamwork 

No matter what organization you intern at or work at afterward, there will be times when you’re required to work with others. Knowing how to work with different personalities, break down silos, and participate in group brainstorms – and doing them well – can take you far in your career. 

“Throughout my internship, I had the opportunity to work with professionals who not only guided me but also encouraged my growth every step of the way. I learned the importance of teamwork in a professional setting.”  – Naomi M., Kenya

3. Critical thinking 

As a critical thinker, you can look at problems holistically and make solid decisions after being given all the information. It helps you steer clear of your biases and weigh out all of your options. And it presents you as a leader who knows how to make a tough call. 

“During my time there, I not only could work and improve in my career, but also grow as a person. The United States taught me how to be independent from everyone and fight for what I think is right.” 
– Deacon V., South Africa 

4. Communication 

Being an excellent communicator is important in every aspect of life. Whether it’s the written form or verbal, communicating with others in a way everyone understands is much appreciated. 

It can be even more important if you continue to learn to communicate in another language as part of your BridgeUSA internship skills. During your time in the U.S., you can pick up more formal business English at work, while developing more casual and slang words in your downtime. 

“Besides the improvement of my hard skills and professional qualification, I feel that I got much better in a number of soft skills as well. I have significantly improved my business English.”  – Peter S., Slovakia

5. Leadership 

You may only be at the beginning of your career, learning from people with lots of experience, but you still may have leadership opportunities you can take advantage of during your internship. 

Stepping up to take the reins on a project or a task can show colleagues that you’re feeling more confident in your role, wanting to take advantage of more opportunities while you can. 

6. Creativity 

While jobs in media, entertainment, advertising, and the arts are more obvious about their inventive requirements, roles in business, STEM, and healthcare may require you to get your creative juices flowing. 

Allowing yourself to be creative in your role can mean imagining new solutions, motivating colleagues, and positioning yourself as a standout employee. 

"I sharpened my technical skills and developed a deeper appreciation for precision, consistency, and creativity.”  – Maefo S., South Africa

7. Organization and time management 

Meeting deadlines is crucial in every line of work. Not being organized or able to manage your time can cost your company time and/or money. And in some businesses, it can make or break your role there. 

Ensuring that you can be counted on means your manager trusts you with the work, sealing your place as a reliable, responsible intern throughout your team. 

8. Emotional intelligence 

Emotional intelligence (EI) not only helps you navigate relationships in the workplace, but it can also improve your own self-awareness in the office. 

That’s because once you understand your own emotions, you’re able to better respond to situations that may come up. People with high EI are seen as able to adapt well, collaborate successfully, and contribute to a positive work culture. 

“Beyond having a deeper understanding of the modern American history, I gained a greater awareness of contemporary racial and social justice issues in the U.S.”  – Céline G., France

9. Resilience 

When something goes wrong during your internship – and as a newbie in the role, it very well could – it's what you do after that will be remembered. Will you be hard on yourself, bottling up your feelings so much it affects future projects? Or will you find the successes and failures in them, take away a few learnings, and move on?  

Your mistakes are a part of the learning process. And your internship is specifically to learn how to do the job. Take your feedback and apply it as soon as you can to your next project. 

10. Growth mindset 

During your internship, don’t be afraid to ask questions at any time. In fact, they’re often appreciated by managers and mentors, as it shows you want to learn more and be successful in your role. 

You can also ask your colleagues for resources they’ve used to move their career forward and take advantage of any development opportunities that come your way. 

“I have learned to be open-minded about the world and accepted things that are different. All things considered, I am able to see the world bigger and more clearly.”  – Soroth S., Cambodia

11. Problem solving 

Managers don’t just want to hear your problem. They want to know how you plan on tackling it. 

Being able to problem-solve shows that you’re becoming self-sufficient – that your manager isn’t losing time on their projects to help you try to get through yours. If you don’t have an immediate answer, try presenting it as a brainstorming opportunity, something that you want to work on together to find the right solution. 

“I built confidence, improved problem-solving skills, and learned how to manage a wide range of guest needs, special requests, and unexpected challenges.” 
– Summer K., United Kingdom 

12. Professionalism 

Professionalism doesn’t always happen in the office. But when you find a role where everyone just clicks, magic can happen. 

Either way, it’s important to be respectful, clear, punctual, ethical, and accountable. Once you’re able to show this to others, you contribute to a more positive workplace. 

“I worked in a multicultural environment. There, everyone could contribute equally to the development of the different projects in a very open-minded atmosphere. This exchange promoted different ways of thinking, as anyone who wanted to contribute was encouraged to do so and their ideas were always welcome.”  – Pablo A., Spain

13. Cross-cultural awareness 

If you work in an industry that does business around the globe – or even if you just have a handful of coworkers from other areas of the world – it's important to gain a better understanding of how to conduct yourself appropriately. Because whether you know it or not, a regular phrase or action in America could come off as something completely different elsewhere. 

Feel free to ask these colleagues more about their cultures to learn from them. If you’re not comfortable, consider asking a manager what you need to know to become a part of the office’s inclusive environment. 

“The clichés are true: Living in another country and meeting people from other cultures and nationalities really broadens your perspective. Being away from your family, friends and home country gives you a new perspective.” 
– Eline D., Netherlands 

BridgeUSA Is More Than Just an Internship 

The skills gained from internships can take you far – both professionally and personally. But participating in a BridgeUSA Intern or Trainee program and developing these professional skills for international students can help you build cross-cultural connections and prepare you for an interconnected world. It may be the boost your resume needs to become even more competitive in the job market. 

Learn how the CIEE BridgeUSA Intern and Trainee programs can help shape your global career.