Erasmus Internship
To be entitled for an Erasmus internship the person applying for it has to be enrolled as a student of a higher education facility. Moreover the field of the institution you chose for your internship shall be relevant and related to your higher educational degree. The internship can be proceeded excluding the EU connected organisations and establishments.
How to look for a host organisation?
Company – the best way to land an internship fast is to target the smaller companies or organisations where they have projects in languages you can speak well or are well connected to your field of study and career development interest. I landed in a small HR firm with German capital which at a time had projects in Poland which I could manage and learn to execute remotely. The interview can be held via skype and it can be either very relaxed or quite strict, depending on the style of the organisation. Do not take anything for granted though, the fact that the organisation responded means you caught their eye, but you still have to convince them you are worthy of their efforts and time to have you onboard. After you receive the positive feedback and start sending documents to the International Office, keep in touch with the company and inform them hands on how the process is going. Bear in mind you are free to ask for help such as advice and possible information on how to plan your trip and accommodation. Some companies offer assistance in finding an accommodation and applying for a temporary ID, city card etc. For the time-being as an intern you are obliged to have an internship supervisor. Feel free to turn to that person with any technical difficulties, they are there for you.
Another important thing to remember is the fact you are a student and it is totally okay to make mistakes, as this might be your first more serious working experience.
You learn how to work, so try to focus on solutions rather than internally reprimand yourself for mistakes.
What do you learn during an internship abroad?
The pros
- The business etiquette if you chose a company or the free spirit of an NGO.
- The working habits such as amounts of breaks and style of working in a certain country.
- The communication between employees, their boss and with customers.
- International communication and ideas about the world and your own country.
- You learn to be the ambassador of your country as everything you do for people you encounter will be firmly connected to how they view your fellow countrymen and your homeland.
- You can challenge yourself in a professional environment.
- The same as during your studies you become self-sufficient, more open-minded.
- You can also polish your language abilities.
- You build up professional network in another country.
- You can also enjoy rich social life with either locals or other international people.
- Travelling is still a very strong part of this program.
As wonderful the whole experience is, it also has some cons
- It is difficult to find an organisation abroad that will accept you. For me it took around 4–5 months, but the most important is not to give up and keep applying and searching.
- You do not have as much time for travelling, due to the fact that you have to work usually from Monday to Friday, however working hours depend on your employer, it can be 5 hours a day, but it can be also 8.
- If you operate a project with language nobody else in the office speaks, you are practically on your own when it comes to issues, which can also be very challenging.
- You have to take into account every country has some different legislative basis, it is recommended to check such issues before you assert something.
- Educational systems in all countries seem different, sometimes you have more theoretical knowledge than practice, while your employer already expects you will be prepared to execute the tasks.
- Many facilities do not offer remuneration, which means you will have to learn to get by with your scholarship, savings and some possible family financial support.
You can find many merithorical advices in Eramus guidebooks on official Eramus+ web page
To make your stay more fun do check our local ESN Facebook websites , Facebook fanpages and FB groups to follow the latest news and events.
For example for Erasmus in Antwerp
The overall sum up balance is that both programs have their pros and cons.
This is why I strongly recommend applying for both programs. Studying and working abroad are complementary experiences. They are also very well desired by employers and can show your ambition to develop personally and professionally abroad so that you can bring good practices and experiences to your future occupation.
My ultimate thought and advice is, whether it is Erasmus or another program, do not be afraid. Grasp your opportunity, take on the adventure and experience the world!
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