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Internship in Spain: The 3-3-3 Rule for Your First Weeks

 

You’ve just landed in Spain to start your internship. Everything feels exciting, new, and maybe a bit overwhelming. So, how do you know if what you’re feeling is normal? Moreover, when will you start feeling at home?

The answer lies in the 3-3-3 rule: three days, three weeks, three months. In fact, this rule is used by expats worldwide. As a result, it will help you understand what to expect at each stage. Furthermore, you’ll learn how to turn initial challenges into your competitive advantage.

The First 3 DAYS: The Honeymoon Phase

What You’ll Feel Emotionally

Everything seems fascinating at first. Spanish sounds musical in the streets, and the food tastes delicious. Even the sun appears to shine differently. Naturally, you’re in extreme tourist mode, taking photos of everything and sharing them with family and friends. Meanwhile, adrenaline and excitement keep you alert. However, you’re probably not sleeping well due to jet lag and overstimulation.

It’s completely normal to feel: Euphoria, infinite energy, extreme curiosity, the urge to explore everything, and also some nervousness about the unknown.

Your Mission During These 3 Days

Day 1: Establish Your Base

  • First, familiarize yourself with your accommodation. If you haven’t found a place yet, check out our guide on finding the perfect accommodation in Spain.
  • Next, locate the nearest supermarket and buy the basics
  • Then, download Google Maps and mark your home, your office, and the nearest metro/bus station
  • Finally, set up your mobile phone (even if just with WiFi for now)

Day 2: Reconnaissance

  • To begin with, walk the route from your home to your workplace (yes, physically, before your first day)
  • Afterwards, identify where to have breakfast near the office
  • Additionally, locate a pharmacy and an ATM
  • Before finishing, take a walk around your neighborhood to get oriented

Day 3: First Connections

  • Initially, present your documentation at your company and meet your team
  • Subsequently, get the contact of at least one person from your office on WhatsApp
  • Also, join Facebook or WhatsApp groups for internationals in your city
  • Lastly, write down all bureaucratic questions you have to resolve them the following week

PRO TIP: Resist the temptation to do intensive sightseeing these first days. Instead, focus on establishing basic routines before exploring. After all, you’ll have plenty of time to visit the Prado Museum or Sagrada Familia later.

The First 3 WEEKS: The Inevitable Dip

What You’ll Feel Emotionally

The honeymoon phase is over. Suddenly, everything that seemed charming becomes confusing and frustrating. For instance, why does everything close at 2 PM? Similarly, why do people have dinner so late? And why doesn’t anyone respond to your emails in August? On top of that, the language you thought you mastered turns out not so much when you try to understand your Madrid colleague speaking fast.

This is the classic culture shock, and unfortunately, it’s the phase that makes many internationals consider going home. In fact, approximately 60% of students experience this stage between weeks 2 and 4.

It’s completely normal to feel: Frustration, homesickness, insecurity, incompetence, loneliness, irritation at cultural differences, and constant mental fatigue.

Your Mission During These 3 Weeks

Week 1: Bureaucracy and Routines

  • First and foremost, apply for your NIE (Foreigner Identification Number) – this is your #1 priority. Read our detailed guide on getting your NIE in Spain
  • After that, open a Spanish bank account (you’ll need the NIE or the application receipt)
  • Next, get a Spanish SIM card
  • Meanwhile, establish a routine: same wake-up time, same route to work, same morning coffee
  • Golden rule: One big bureaucratic task per day, no more. In other words, don’t try to do everything at once.

Week 2: Work Integration

  • To start, ask for a one-on-one with your supervisor to clarify expectations
  • Then, take notes of EVERYTHING (technical vocabulary, names, processes)
  • Also, ask how the company culture works: Do people eat lunch together? Are there after-work events?
  • Additionally, identify your “go-to person” in the office, someone to turn to with questions

Week 3: Building Your Social Network

  • First, attend at least ONE social event (meetup, language exchange, internationals event)
  • Similarly, say YES to invitations from coworkers, even if you feel like staying home
  • Moreover, find your “third location”: a café, library, or park where you feel comfortable
  • At the same time, call home, but set a limit (no more than twice a week at first)

PRO TIP for the Emotional Dip:

  • Recognize it’s temporary. In fact, in a few weeks you’ll feel better.
  • Don’t make important decisions when you’re in this phase. For example, don’t decide to leave during this time.
  • Physical exercise is key. Therefore, walk a lot, join a gym, or go running. Indeed, exercise is the most effective antidote to culture shock.
  • Try journaling. Specifically, write down how you feel. Eventually, when you reach month 3, reading this will seem like it was written by another person.

The First 3 MONTHS: The Turning Point

What You’ll Feel Emotionally

Something changed without you noticing. Suddenly, you no longer think in euros converted to your local currency. Besides, you know your route to work without looking at your phone. Even better, you understand your colleagues’ jokes (well, most of them). Furthermore, you have your favorite tapas spots and you’ve made real friends. Overall, Spain went from being “the place where I do my internship” to being “my city.”

This is the adjustment and acceptance phase. Importantly, you’re no longer trying to make Spain work like your country. Instead, you understand (and even appreciate) the differences.

It’s completely normal to feel: Growing confidence, sense of belonging, mixed nostalgia (you miss home but don’t want to leave), pride in what you’ve accomplished, and clarity about your experience.

Your Mission During These 3 Months

Month 1: Mastering the Basics

  • By now, your NIE should be ready (or at least in advanced process)
  • Likewise, you should already have a Spanish bank account and card
  • Additionally, your registration (empadronamiento) should be completed
  • Moreover, your work routine should be established and clear
  • At this point, you should have at least 2-3 regular social contacts
  • Checkpoint: If any of the above isn’t done, prioritize it NOW.

Month 2: Going Deeper

  • At this stage, take initiative on a project at work. Want to maximize your internship experience? Check out our tips.
  • Furthermore, start documenting your achievements for your CV and LinkedIn
  • Also, explore your city beyond the tourist center
  • Meanwhile, establish a hobby or regular activity (flamenco class, book club, sports team)
  • In addition, travel to a nearby city for a weekend
  • Goal: Move from “surviving” to “living”

Month 3: Reflection and Projection

  • First, evaluate your experience so far: Are you learning what you expected?
  • Next, have a serious conversation with your supervisor about your progress
  • Then, focus on active networking: connect on LinkedIn with people in your field
  • After that, plan the rest of your stay: What else do you want to achieve?
  • Also, document your progress in Spanish (oral and written)
  • Key question: What can I do in the coming months that my day-1 self would consider impossible?

Signs You’ve Successfully Completed the 3-3-3

  • ✅ You can navigate your city and solve basic problems without help
  • ✅ You have at least one social group (work, hobbies, or internationals)
  • ✅ You understand Spanish social norms (schedules, greetings, direct/indirect communication)
  • ✅ Your Spanish has improved noticeably, especially everyday vocabulary
  • ✅ You no longer constantly compare everything with “how it is in my country”
  • ✅ You have moments when you forget you’re “abroad”
  • ✅ You can help newcomers with practical advice

Final Tips for Each Phase

For the First 3 Days:

“Keep it simple” – Don’t try to be 100% productive. Instead, rest, get oriented, and breathe.

For the First 3 Weeks:

“This is normal” – Everyone goes through the dip. In fact, you’re not weak or incompetent. Rather, it’s simply part of the process.

For the First 3 Months:

“Document everything” – Photos, notes, reflections. Eventually, when you return home, this experience will be gold on your CV and in your personal development.

The Uncomfortable (But Important) Truth

Not everyone gets through the culture shock of the first weeks. Unfortunately, some people lock themselves in their room and only interact with compatriots. As a result, they count the days until they leave. Technically, they completed their internship, but did they really live the experience?

The 3-3-3 rule isn’t just a calendar. Rather, it’s a commitment to yourself to give this experience a real chance. Specifically, it means hanging in there when it’s difficult. Similarly, it means going out when you’d rather stay home. Moreover, it means trying to communicate in Spanish even when it’s easier to use English.

Because here’s the secret: The first 3 months are the hardest, but they’re also the ones that change you the most. In other words, the person you are on day 90 is not the same one who arrived on day 1. And ultimately, that transformation is exactly what you came looking for.

Ready to Start Your 3-3-3 Journey in Spain?


You now have the roadmap for your first weeks in Spain. But here’s the thing: having a plan is great, but having the right support system makes all the difference between just surviving and actually thriving.

At Spain Internship, we’ve guided hundreds of international students through their 3-3-3 journey since 2009. We don’t just help you find an internship—we’re with you from day 1 to day 90 and beyond.

Why Choose Spain Internship?

  • ✨ Personalized matching – We connect you with internships that match your career goals
  • ✨ Full support – From visa guidance to NIE assistance, we’ve got your back
  • ✨ Local expertise – We know Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, and more like the back of our hand
  • ✨ Community – Join a network of international students who understand your journey

Take Your Next Step:

Still Not Sure? Check Out These Resources:

Looking for more guidance on your internship journey? Explore our other helpful articles:

For even more international opportunities, visit our parent company Piktalent for programs across Europe.

Join the Conversation

Already living your 3-3-3 in Spain? We want to hear from you!

  • 📸 Share your story on Instagram and tag us @spain_internship
  • ✍️ Comment below: What phase are you in right now? What’s been your biggest challenge?

Remember: The first days are for establishing foundations, the first weeks are for hanging in there, and the first months are for flourishing.

Welcome to Spain. Welcome to the best 3-3-3 of your life. 🇪🇸

Questions about your adaptation process? Need support during your first weeks in Spain? At Spain Internship, we don’t just help you find the perfect internship. Instead, we accompany you throughout your entire experience.

Ready to take the leap? Let’s talk.

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