From Graduate Stress to Dream Job: My Travel Intern Story

Internships get a bad rep. They conjure images of making endless cups of tea, being ignored in meetings, or doing nothing that actually helps your career. But becoming a travel intern? That’s a different story — and in my case, it was the best thing I ever did. This is how a one-month marketing internship in Beijing changed everything: my outlook, my confidence, and my career.

Updated from the original post published on 29th July 2017.

From Stuck Graduate to Something More

It was the end of university. My dissertation was nearly done. My classmates were landing graduate jobs. I was preparing to return to my receptionist role — full of dread. It felt like I was being left behind. Everyone else had direction. I had a growing pit of anxiety and the classic frustration: you need experience to get a job, but can’t get a job without experience. Then I saw a Facebook ad. A marketing internship in China. It sounded mad, but it made sense. I applied. I got accepted. I packed my bags for Beijing.

At 21, I told hiring managers I’d lived and worked in China. That I’d created a website for a real business. That I’d jumped at an opportunity most people would hesitate over. That’s what got me hired. And more importantly, it gave me the confidence to keep chasing opportunities outside my comfort zone. Because if I could handle Beijing, I could handle anything.

Why I Chose CRCC Asia

CRCC Asia offered internships across Asia — Japan, South Korea, Vietnam India, and Thailand — but I chose Beijing as at the time (2013), China was on the rise as a global economic powerhouse.

The panic set in mid-flight. Two months in China. Alone. What had I done? Thankfully, CRCC Asia met me at the airport and handed me everything I’d need: a welcome pack, metro card, sim card, schedule of social events — even Ritz crackers for a taste of home.

The apartment had snake-print sofas and cartoon dog wallpaper. Weirdly perfect. I was officially a travel intern.

Fun fact: Central heating in Beijing is government-controlled and switched off from March to November. Socks in bed became my thing.

Interning at Natooke

I was placed with Natooke, a fixed-gear bike shop founded by Ines Brunn — physicist, entrepreneur, and professional stunt cyclist. My job? Create a new website for the company’s distribution branch. It wasn’t pretend work. It was real. I wasn’t fetching coffee — I was learning.

The office was based in the Hutongs, a labyrinth of traditional alleyways. My daily commute? 45 minutes, two train changes, and subway staff whose job was literally to push people onto trains during rush hour. I wasn’t just learning marketing — I was learning survival.

Fun fact: During Beijing’s rush hour, the subway is incredibly crowded — far more intense than anything I’d experienced on the London Underground. In fact, some stations employ staff to physically guide (or gently push) people onto packed trains to keep things moving. It sounds wild, but when you see the size of the crowds, it makes perfect sense.

What Being a Travel Intern Gave Me

That experience taught me more than I expected.

• Independence – I moved to China alone and made it work.

• Resilience – I navigated a foreign city, built real-world skills, and kept going even when I couldn’t understand the lunch menu.

• Confidence – I proved to myself (and future employers) that I had initiative and drive.

When I returned, I landed my first marketing job — not because of a fancy degree, but because I stood out. I had a story. I had proof that I could adapt, learn, and lead.

Where I Am in 2025 — 12 Years After Becoming a Travel Intern

Since publishing this story, I’ve completed a Master’s degree and now work as a Marketing Manager in Bristol. While Natooke may no longer be in business, the experience I gained — and the LinkedIn recommendation from my former boss, Ines Brunn — played a key part in getting me here. Proof that one travel internship really can change your entire career path.