Paths that inspire: Yaroslava and Anna did it twice!

Anna Merintsova, a student from Dnipro University of Technology, Ukraine, joined the Erasmus+ internship programme to step into the world of international project development and talent acquisition. Her professional journey has taken her through two internships in Slovakia in two different companies – first as a Project Development Trainee and later as a Talent Acquisition Intern.

“Set a goal and go for it, know why you came here and what you want to achieve. Take maximum from this experience.”

As a Talent Acquisition Intern, Anna has been actively involved in the recruitment process – from posting vacancies and reviewing CVs to interviewing candidates and making offers. “I help recruiters recruit candidates and fill in vacancies, sometimes help with projects related to TA and by request of my team,” she explains. During her internship as a Project Development Trainee, Anna’s tasks ranged from content and website management to project analysis.

But the internships are also full of activities behind the office doors and Anna shares her thoughts about it: “The most interesting thing about Slovakia is its choice of time spending. There are so many options to travel within Slovakia and abroad on budget, which is convenient for students. Additionally, there are many interesting studios like dance, art studios, etc. Outside of work, travelling and socialising were the most pleasant parts of my internship,” she recalls.

“The Placement Slovakia programme is decent, gives enough opportunities to students. The terms of living during the programme are comfortable enough. Support from team is enough. Process of me coming to Slovakia and dealing with the documents was flawless, couldn't be better. Support in the beginning was sufficient and prompt, after that - I don't even need it, everything's good, but if I need something - I know I'll get help”.

Anna encourages future interns to take maximum from this experience: "Set a goal and go for it. Know why you came here and what you wanna achieve by the end of an internship (either in the professional field or social or mental etc); keep an eye on your professional progress, do what brings you joy and what develops your skills, so you get better, more confident and can fill your CV after; don't build high expectations to always be content and be grateful for the experience you're having.”

Yaroslava Pop, a student from Uzhhorod National University in Ukraine, first joined a successful Slovak start-up company in Bratislava for her initial Erasmus+ internship as a Payment specialist assistant. Later, during her master’s degree, she returned to be a Project Launch Assistant under another company.

“Be proactive and curious from the very beginning, build strong relationships with your colleagues.”

In her role as a Payment Specialist Assistant, Yaroslava’s responsibilities included invoicing partners, controlling orders, matching payments, and coordinating with customer care and sales departments. “When preparing a payment, I had to check all the order data, clarify any discrepancies with the agent, and confirm payment details with partners,” she recalls.

From issuing commission invoices to managing urgent orders requiring quick communication, Yaroslava gained an in-depth understanding of how the finance system operates in an international company. “My mentor gives me tasks and explains how to do them. All colleagues were very friendly and helpful with advice, and in general the atmosphere in the office is very pleasant. The most enjoyable part of the work was our teambuildings. One of them was in a gallery where we all painted pictures together.”

Of course, such a rough change while moving to another country doesn’t come without any difficulties, but if you’re truly willing, you can overcome everything and gain precious experience: “The most difficult part of this experience was stepping out of my comfort zone and building new connections in a completely new environment. While Slovakia is quite similar to Ukraine in many ways, there were still moments of uncertainty when navigating different organisational processes and getting used to the team dynamics. Additionally, balancing the internship workload with adapting to a new city and culture was sometimes challenging. However, these experiences taught me how to be more flexible and open to new perspectives.”

Yaroslava truly enjoyed the time she spent here in Bratislava: “I really like the location of Slovakia, which allows me to travel a lot. There are many lakes where you can have fun, and also quite a lot of different events”.

And what does she say about Placement Slovakia?

“I really like the program, because it allows you to find many new friends, gain work experience and experience living in Slovakia. I am very grateful to the Placement Slovakia team for their support at all stages, from meeting at the station and helping with settlement to helping to find a communication operator and manicurist. I am confident that the experience gained during the internship in Bratislava will not only complement my academic studies but also contribute to my future career development. The program provides everything for a comfortable life and improving your skills.”

Yaroslava shares her insights for those starting an internship: “I would recommend new trainees to be proactive and curious from the very beginning. Don’t hesitate to ask questions or seek clarification if something feels unfamiliar. Building strong relationships with your colleagues is essential, so make an effort to connect with them and learn from their experiences. I feel lucky to have things the way they are."

We are so proud of the growth and dedication demonstrated by our interns throughout the time spent in companies and in Slovakia. Their contributions have made a meaningful impact and we are confident they will excel in their future endeavors. We look forward to staying connected and watch their continued success! <3