after studies

8. Internship opportunities during and after studies

Internships are usually unpaid, but there are some exceptions depending on employers.

It is presumed that as part of university studies, a student shall undertake work experience of some form. Internships are exceedingly more often a mandatory part of the curriculum and are also related to the aims of the curriculum. In addition, it is possible to obtain practical experience separately, independently and on the basis of personal interests. Internships are usually unpaid, but there are some exceptions depending on employers. A student does not have to pay to undergo an internship himself or herself and if a potential internship opportunity so claims, you should consult your university.

Curriculum-based internship Having an internship is a mandatory part of most curricula. It is also very important because it provides an opportunity to put the knowledge and skills acquired during your theoretical training into practice in a real work environment. It also helps to make connections and gain experience, which is valuable if you plan to take up employment in Estonia after completing your studies. Internship places do often prefer interns with a knowledge of Estonian, but if there is an internship obligation in a foreign language curriculum, schools have generally found opportunities for foreign language students to also participate in an internship.

The workflow organization of the university and the characteristics of the curriculum will dictate whether a student shall find an internship himself or herself, or if the school does it. The requirements and timeframes provided by the university must be taken into account when looking for an internship i.e. an internship must comply with the instructions provided by the school. Vocational higher education is generally of a more practical approach and its internships are often longer and more thorough. The head of curriculum adviser can give instructions that are more precise.

Keep in mind! • A curriculum includes internship instructions and requirements, find these out at the first opportunity! • Plan the internship according to the instructions and consult with the university; • Several curricula also allow completing internships abroad; • To undertake an internship, it may be necessary to arrange an internship contract, receive a permit from the school to undertake an internship or organise other documentation.

Independent internship A student may also carry out an internship independently, in Estonia or abroad, for example as part of AIESEC. In such case, they must find an internship position themselves and it does not have to comply with any specific requirements. An internship may still require documentation from the school, for example - proof of student status.

How to find internships? Looking for an internship is similar to looking for a job. Help can be found in various information channels of the school - for example, from careers lists and field of speciality lists. In addition, it is worthwhile to check various international student organisations and contact authorities within your field. In addition, there is often information about internships under the section “Job offers” on the websites of companies and authorities. If application deadlines or specific requirements have been provided, these must be followed and the attitude when communicating with authorities must be positive and professional. In addition, there is information about Estonian internship opportunities on

the workinestonia.com environment where there are jobs, as well as internship offers.

More useful internship links Võti Tulevikku (Key to the Future) – is the biggest career fair aimed at students and is organised each spring by BEST-Estonia, see more at www.vt.ee. Universities also organise smaller-scale fairs.

AIESEC – you can find an internship abroad through the international youth organisation, www.aiesec.ee

Erasmus+ – EU programme for education, which offers study migration grants also for undertaking an internship abroad, http://adm.archimedes. ee/erasmusplus/

EURES – Europe-wide job portal; provides job offers, job seekers’ CVs, information about work and residency permits, www.eures.ee

EUROPASS – information about how to present your skills and experience to the employer in the best possible way, and how to prove your qualifications, www.europass.cedefop.europa. eu

European Youth Portal – information on eight main topics, about 31 countries in 25 languages for young people living, studying and working abroad, www.europa.eu/youth Entrypark – Europe-wide, webbased career platform where you can find information about potential employers, career events, educational opportunities, and career advice, www.entrypark.com

Euractiv – job site linked to a portal that deals with European Union topics, where you can find job and internship offers from EU institutions and agencies, international organisations, and NGOs related to the European Union, jobs.euractiv.com

Fit For Europe – information about education, studying, and career opportunities in 31 European countries, www.fitforworkeurope.eu/

On the Move – information and advice about studying and working abroad, www.on-the-move.org

Ploteus – information about studying and internship opportunities, education systems, and exchange programs in Europe, www.ec.europa.eu/ploteus

EURAXESS Researchers in Motion – information about career opportunities for researchers, www.ec.europa.eu/euraxess