How Keerthi from India managed to make the most out of her Placement Slovakia Internship

Keerthi Jaligam, originally coming from India, is a student in the faculty of Science studying Scientific Instrumentation at the University in Jena, Germany. She spent almost 6 months in Slovakia, doing an internship as a Mechanical Designer in a company in the town of Trenčín. These international experiences in work and study have given Keerthi a foot in the door to progress to the next level in the heart of Europe. Here is what she has to say about her experience.

What were your main work tasks during your internship and what was your role or project? What have you achieved?
The work tasks comprised of developing industrial design components for flight simulators and developing manufacturing concepts with an emphasis on the practical feasibility of production.
The products included interior and exterior parts of flight simulators. Overall, I experienced instructor workplace design and the general product design role. The team made sure we analysed each new project step by step through monitoring and evaluation.

Has your internship improved your professional skills? Please state particularly which ones.
Yes, I have improved my understanding in 3D design softwares such as Solidworks and how it works in a real-life industry setting.

How would you describe the overall support you received in the company during your internship?
I received excellent support from my mentor as well as colleagues in the company. They were all kind, helping and understanding people. Slow and study wins the race.

What did you find as being the most positive during your internship in Slovakia?
Meeting new people, the internship became a great platform for learning a lot, more specifically improving technical and communication skills.

What did you find as being the most difficult for you during your internship in Slovakia?
Fortunately, I do not have any difficulties at the moment but there is always some kind of positive challenge to complete.

Was the financial grant you received from your university sufficient for you to cover your expenses during your internship in Slovakia?
Yes, Company has provided me accommodation, food coupons. Erasmus+ grants gave me 330 Euros per month for my health insurance, travel and other expenses.

How would you describe the overall support you received from our team during your internship?
When everything is just perfect I do not have anything to suggest.

What would you advice us we should do better or other way?
When everything is just perfect i do not have anything to suggest.

Please summarize your overall experience of joining our Placement Slovakia Programme and carrying out the internship in Slovakia with us.
According to me you did every possible help, supportive. I received more than I expected. keep up the good work, it’s my pleasure to be part of Placement Slovakia

What would your advice be to the next trainees coming to Slovakia?
Just believe in yourself, people will stretch their hands to help you. This has been one of the friendliest country I have been to. Learning the language would be advantageous although you find people speaking English so you don’t have to as a trainee.