Karina from Ukraine: "It was great to meet young professionals who aspire you"

Karina Berdnikova, a student at The University of Ostroh Academy from Ukraine, came to Bratislava for her internship as a Content Syndication Support Trainee at a big international company.

Before she came to Slovakia for the internship, she had a familiar worry that many people share when starting a new role: being underqualified and unable to perform her tasks correctly:

“I was mostly afraid that I would be underqualified for my position and wouldn't be able to execute tasks correctly. In the end, everything turned out great.”

Those concerns didn't last long, though. Karina shared how clear and reassuring the guidance from her team was throughout her internship:

“Both the Placement Slovakia team and my colleagues have provided me with clear guidance throughout the whole process. It made my adaptation process a lot more stress-free.”

Additionally, one common problem students have is lacking practical experience with professional tools and platforms. Internships are helpful in this situation, as they let students build real, applicable skills. Karina shared the same experience here:

“I have enhanced my skills in MC Excel and acquired new skills closely related to various content syndication platforms. I have also improved my communication skills which allowed me to conduct the required tasks more efficiently.”

The most important part is that our interns gain experience in working on real tasks and take on real responsibility. Karina described her work as following:

“My tasks were centred around the work with content syndication platforms, which were mentioned in my learning agreement. I also actively worked in MC Excel for reporting and data activities. Lastly, my primary focus was on adapting rich media content.”

Besides work, there is a wonderful opportunity to explore Slovakia and experience a new culture. For Karina, the country's nature left a strong impression, alongside the many similarities to her home country:

“I haven't noticed any major differences between Ukraine and Slovakia. I am quite appreciative of the nature of Slovakia.”

At the same time, the most pleasant experience was the people she met:

"It was definitely the people that I met on the way. It was great to see young professionals who aspire to better themselves."

The accommodation also added up to an overall positive experience from her internship:

"I found my accommodation to be quite comfortable overall. My apartment was around 40 minutes away from the company's office, but I didn't find it particularly troubling. The atmosphere was pleasant and friendly."

So, for her future plans, Karina will continue her studies before starting her career.

As advice for interns, Karina shared that newcomers shouldn't be afraid to ask questions, and should also seek advice from more experienced trainees:

"First of all, do not be afraid to ask questions. Secondly, ask advice from more experienced trainees."

We are glad to have had Karina as an intern through our program and wish her success in her further plans.