Traineeship in European Institutions: a chance you don’t want to miss

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“We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected for a traineeship for university graduates in the European Parliament, Directorate-General for Translation, Terminology Coordination Unit in LUXEMBOURG”

WOW. Yes, that’s the first thing I thought when I read that e-mail. Well, actually the first thing I thought I can’t really write it down on here, it wouldn’t be appropriate. But I guess I kind of looked like this:

surprised-baby

I was surprised. And shocked. And scared. I thought I wasn’t good enough for the amazing opportunity that was given to me. When I applied, I never thought about actually being selected. But hey, here I am, at the end of my traineeship, with tears all over my face and a huge bag of experience.

Yes, experience. I gained a lot of it. I was used to writing a lot. I was used to short deadlines and teamwork. Then I came here and it all started to feel different. It felt real, like real work. The first thing that scared me a lot, was the fact that I had to write terminology/translation related posts, which really wasn’t my field. But people here at TermCoord can be extremely motivating and supporting. So it didn’t take much long to find my way.

Being work-independent from the very first moment helped me a lot, for sure. It grew confidence in my-self.

I was given a great opportunity. And I fully realized it just now that I almost crossed the finish line. The amazing job opportunities that a traineeship like this can offer are countless. As I am packing my stuff here in Luxembourg, I am also planning my moving to Verona, where I just got a contract with an incredible Italian company called In Job. Yes, there are still jobs in Italy – not that many though- and more importantly, there are still companies that believe in young professionals, in their right to work and build a solid career.

But I am not the only lucky one. Some of my fellow colleagues had to quit their internships here earlier because they got hired from other institutions, big firms and so on. As I am writing this article right now, others are having job interviews. Infinite possibilities will open to you so quickly you won’t even the time to breathe.

Time. That’s the bad part. Time will fly. So grab every chance you are given, don’t procrastinate. Live this experience to the fullest. Make as many friends as possible, and learn from them. Seeing the world from their point of you will make your world bigger all at a sudden.

You will travel a lot, visit Brussels and Strasbourg. Tell your friends and family back home all about it. People need to know how good it feels to be part of this thing called Europe. They need to understand how important Europe is for the growth of each one of us, for we are the future.

So here is my advice to you. Don’t be afraid: always give it a try, speak up, stand out. European Institutions give incredible opportunities, just go grab them. Whether you studied translation, law, communication, or economy, you will have your own little spot to prove what you are worth, learn new things, and eventually shine out.

“What if” never took anyone far away, and always leaves heavy regrets behind. So don’t waste any more time. Applications will be open from March 15. Write it down on your calendar, and don’t miss this chance.

Trust me, these are going to be the best spent 40 minutes of your life.

 

 

By Sabina Grixoni

Editor and Social Media Strategist

Communication Trainee at TermCoord