Although internships abroad can be pricey, students are taking the long view.
"We are ambitious — we don't want to relax," said Ms. Lisek, describing students like her who seek internships abroad.
You can also find gap year companies, such as Real Gap Experience, that cover everything from internships abroad to paid work and volunteering – all in the same place.
Meanwhile firms offering to arrange internships abroad for a fee, usually in China or Australia, are growing in size and number.
Joe Roma, director of programs for Intrax Internships Abroad, said: "We do a great deal of work seeking host companies that are going to provide value to the student".
Sites such as Internships Abroad offer teenagers opportunities, with a price tag of more than £1,000, while many of the companies that offer CV-enhancing trips to help out in community projects in the developing world charge enormous sums.
We've introduced wikibooks and online courses, conducted in-country workshops, study trips and internships abroad, while also providing research and analysis to help others try to understand how the DPRK's economy and society are changing.
