| |
|
RSS feeds |
|
Available RSS feeds:
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Other Internship Testimonials |
|
|
|
As part of Private Sector Development, SPARK made available several paid internship positions in South East and Western Europe. Read here the experiences of some of these interns!
"Make the most of internship"
 The opportunity, I was offered through the SPARK Internship Programme, was not something what “ordinary” people would get every day. First of all, SPARK selection process, which is candidate oriented, provided me, who graduated in agriculture, an internship within the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. In other words, world class institution in terms of agriculture. Secondly, both my supervisors but also supervisor who was in charge for the other SPARK interns was not ordinary FAO staff. They exactly knew how to motivate us, to push to the limits of our abilities, yet never over the limits. This synergy resulted in excellent cooperation, my both personal and professional development, but also invaluable experience.
All those, who are ready to try something different, new and certainly challenging, will be able to achieve this trough SPARK Internship Programme. Professional development is completely guaranteed, since you will have a chance to learn from the people with huge amount of experience and knowledge. Finally, just as everything else, social side of the internship will depend only on you. I will just say that I was in position to meet people from literally all around the globe, but I was also invited to join the Balkan Lunch, and other activities where were people from ex-Yugoslavia. I cannot tell you anything about Rome, you must experience it.
Milorad Plavsic, Intern in the UN FAO, Rome
"Grab the chance for enjoyment and personal development!!!! "
 The internship in the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations offered me the opportunity to pursue new challenges and gain life and work experience in a multicultural environment. Furthemore, internship helped me to acquire new skills, expand my knowledge and learn from experience. It broadened my ability and resourcefulness to solve more complicated life and work tasks that were set during my three–month stay in Rome, but also, to build a network of friends and contacts from all over the world.
If you are eager to gain an invaluable experience, verify your theoretical knowledge by putting it into practice and live the diversity in a multicultural interaction, than the right choice for you is to apply for SPARK (formerly ATA) Internship Programme. You will have a chance to enjoy, meet people from all over the world and get an outstanding work and life experience that will initiate you to your future job and allow you to get a wider perspective of your life goals and standards.
Irena Petkovska, Intern in the UN FAO, Rome
“I don’t want to go back  ”
I’ve started to think about the possibility to apply for an internship position upon explanation on “how it was” by a friend of mine from Tuzla, Emir Hadzic who finished his internship in Amsterdam through SPARK. I first applied for Kosovo Tobacco in Pristina and I was unfortunately rejected. I was quite disappointed for losing a life-time opportunity and I did not believe I will get a second chance.
Several months later I applied for both: an internship at ProCredit Bank in Pristina and for the International Pristina Summer University and I was accepted for both. This acceptance meant 4 months absence from home and from my daily routine, a whole new life for me. I was curious and I wanted to challenge myself , at the same time I was happy since, thanks to SPARK, I’m going back to Kosovo, the place I’m originally from, but never had the chance to live.
After 3 weeks spent at Summer University, my internship at ProCredit Bank started. At the beginning I was afraid and I felt insecure, but thanks to ProCredit Bank staff and their hospitality, I actually started to like working and spending days at the Bank. The fact that I was doing my internship from 08:30 in the morning until 17:30 in the afternoon made me feel like a real employer and made others accept me as such. I had the chance to see how things work at the marketing department, client advising department, reception, credit department and the human resources department and I don’t really want to go back home in Tuzla and be a student again even though I know I have to, if I want to make this become reality again. By doing it I’ve learnt the importance of it and the importance that internship provides to our carrier. I recommend every student to give him/herself a chance like I did – it’s worth it.
Lema Balaj, Intern in ProCredit Bank, Pristina
"Excellent guidance”
I found my ATA internship through my university, and since I thought it would be great to work in Holland for a while, I applied. The whole experience turned out to be even better than I hoped! I handed in my application form, CV and motivation and soon I was in touch with Pentascope and my mentor Erman Doric. The organisation, administration and the travelling I did was great. I did 3 projects for Pentascope and I am still working on a fourth project.
My experience in Amsterdam was excellent; I worked hard but also had a lot of fun. I recommend this opportunity to all students – it is a great chance to learn and improve on your existing skills. I would like to thank ATA Amsterdam, Beograd ATA team and Pentascope and my mentors Erman Doric and Edita Hasovic for making my internship possible.
Emir Hadzic, Intern in Pentascope, Amsterdam
''Practice makes perfect''
A good internship experience can be very significant for someone’s career – it can teach you things that years of studying simply cannot. This was my experience. Theory differs from practice, and working with people is something you are not taught directly while you are a student. That is why practice is so important, also for an economics student like me. When I finished my internship, and returned to my faculty, everything was very different for me. I understood certain things better, and the knowledge I gained from literature finally took on a practical form. I don’t think that words are enough to best describe my experiences. I recommend that you try it for yourself and find your own way. One thing is certain – you will start looking at your future career from a different angle and a world of possibilities opens up. I hope you take the chance to apply for an ATA-financed internship, and have just as great an opportunity as I had!
Nevena Despotovic, Intern in Sirbegovic, Gracanica, B&H
“Be successful!”
It was a great opportunity for me to gather practical experience in addition to the knowledge I obtained at my faculty. Every work experience is unique – my internship employer was the Serbian Agency for SMEs in Belgrade, Serbia. I was involved in direct consulting services for business, such as training and mentoring activities, and I was part of a team with a really positive attitude. I worked in an international environment, on different international projects. They included projects of cooperation with the governments of Japan, Norway, Italy and Spain.
Another contribution I made to the work of the agency was helping to organise the fifth International Entrepreneurship Fair “Business Base” with 250 exhibitors and 30,000 visitors. I am also proud of the fact that I was part of the team that prepared the publication “Credit Lines”, which directly targets entrepreneurs and outlines all available credit lines for SMEs in Serbia. All of this was a chance created for me by ATA. Don’t miss the opportunity ATA can offer you. Apply and increase your chances at finding a job after graduation. Be successful!
Pance Asroski, Intern in the Serbian Agency for SME and Entrepreneurship Development, Belgrade
“Take a chance, and enjoy!”
My three month-internship programme with the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) was an experience that will stay with me for life. The international surroundings of the UN enabled me to meet people from all over the world. It was a pleasure to work with young FAO volunteers, determined to beat hunger and make the world a better place. Their energy and enthusiasm is something that I have brought with me back home. Working in the Investment Centre, I did not only learn how to apply the knowledge I gained at university, but also how to communicate with supervisors and colleagues, how to solve problems I faced for the first time – all things you cannot learn just through scholastic education. Life in incredible Rome was an experience in and of itself!
I am really happy I took this chance, because I enjoyed my internship programme immensely,
Bojana Radovanovic, Intern in the Un FAO, Rome
|
|
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 23 February 2010 )
|
|
|
