Our former trainees

  • I ended up interning at Blic due to my interest in the intersection of business and politics, which I had also focused on in my studies. I joined the team with enthusiasm and a keen interest in advocacy. Previously, I had worked both as a lobbyist in an MEP office and as a student lobbyist, so I was looking forward to the opportunity to see advocacy from a consulting perspective.

    The best part of my Brainee period was the wonderful work community. It is very important to me that going to work is enjoyable and that you can share your daily life together if you wish. The team includes many different and amazing personalities from whom you can learn new things and with whom you can form friendships. At the office, your own personality is allowed to shine and be heard. Additionally, Brainees are integrated into the team from the start, and after the first week, I already felt like I had been at the office for much longer.

    During the Brainee period, I encourage asking questions and discussing things boldly with different people. In problematic situations, it is not worth staying alone, as Blic has a wealth of expertise, and someone always knows the answer to any question. During the internship, your own attitude, interest, and eagerness to learn help you get more out of the experience.

    After the internship, I continued working at Blic as an analyst.

  • I applied for an internship at Blic because I wanted to learn more about social influence and the regulatory needs of companies. Previously, I worked in the political and organizational world, where ambitious goals drive influence objectives. My goal was to learn more about the perspectives of companies, which also emphasize concreteness and practical realities. The expectations I set for the internship were clearly met, and I also got to learn a lot about customer work and the substance of clients from different fields.

    In the Brainee application process, it is worth boldly highlighting your personality and thinking about how your personal history and the experience gained from hobbies and jobs can provide relevant skills for influencing.

    You can benefit the most from the Brainee period by actively seeking out clients and development projects that interest you. I also recommend boldly presenting your own thoughts and views and getting to know your colleagues!

    After my internship, I have continued working at Blic as an analyst.

  • My internship at Blic felt thoroughly inspiring and strengthened my professional identity. My previous work experience was mainly in organizational and communication roles, so I was very interested in working on different topics. In addition to learning about the content of the clients, I found it very meaningful to participate in Blic’s internal tasks, such as preparing political monthly reports. Participating in these tasks further deepened my understanding of the political landscape, influence opportunities, and the importance of timeliness.

    I highly recommend Blic’s Brainee program. In addition to interesting content, the internship allows you to become an equal part of Blic’s warm work community, where you are encouraged to take responsibility and share your thoughts. Alongside close teamwork, Blic facilitates more relaxed gatherings, introductions, and exchanges of ideas through regular team-building activities, strengthening the sense of community among colleagues. You can influence the content of the internship by bringing forward your own skills and interests.

    After the internship, I continued working at Blic as an analyst.

  • The breadth and variety of the Brainee role particularly surprised me in a positive way. I was given a fair amount of responsibility right from the first day. Additionally, the encouraging work atmosphere and humorous, skilled colleagues ensured a very successful internship.

    During my Brainee period, I learned that good communication skills are especially beneficial at work, both in the office and in client meetings. These skills are certainly helpful in everyday life as well. At Blic, I also noticed that a proactive attitude goes a long way. Actively seeking out new projects, voicing your thoughts and ideas, and offering help are both rewarding and developmental. I would definitely encourage new interns to engage in these activities.

    For Brainee applicants, I would recommend highlighting your personality. At Blic, diversity and versatility are highly valued, so it’s worth boldly showcasing any special expertise you may have.

    After my internship, I continued to China and Peking University to complete my Master’s degree in Law.

    I highly recommend Blic’s Brainee program. In addition to interesting content, the internship allows you to become an equal part of Blic’s warm work community, where you are encouraged to take responsibility and share your thoughts. Alongside close teamwork, Blic facilitates more relaxed gatherings, introductions, and exchanges of ideas through regular team-building activities, strengthening the sense of community among colleagues. You can influence the content of the internship by bringing forward your own skills and interests.

    After the internship, I continued working at Blic as an analyst.

  • I started my internship with an open mind, as my previous work tasks had mainly focused on developing internal processes within companies, and I assumed that the tasks at Blic would be quite different. This was indeed the case, although conducting various investigations, meeting clients, and preparing reports were already familiar tasks to me. The biggest difference compared to my previous experience was the approach, which aims to shape the playing field on which companies operate rather than the companies’ operations themselves.

    In addition to interesting tasks, during the Brainee period, I learned how incredibly motivating it is to work in a team and atmosphere where you enjoy being. A significant part of life is spent at work – so it should also be fun! During the internship, I also encountered people who had taken very different paths. It has been refreshing to see things I had taken for granted in my own life in a new light and to burst my own bubble!

    For applicants and new Brainees, I give the same advice – think about what you can contribute to the work community. Bringing a new perspective or skill to the team is highly valued, and the views of new employees are listened to carefully.

    After my internship, I continued working at Blic as an analyst.

  • For someone interested in politics, an internship at Blic was the perfect place to grow and develop my thinking in a diverse environment. Few places offer such close insight into the business world and companies’ strategic goals, and in four months, I learned as much about social influence as I would normally in a few years.

    I recommend the Brainee program to anyone who wants to broaden their perspective on societal discussions and has a passion for changing the world. Additionally, at Blic, you effectively learn the ways of the consulting world, which is a valuable lesson for your future career. If you plan to one day sit on the other side of the table making decisions or dream of a career in the business world, Blic is definitely a worthwhile choice.

    After my internship, I continued working at Blic as an analyst.

  • I ended up at Blic somewhat by accident. I had never really considered a career as a lobbyist, but something about the Brainee job advertisement intrigued me, so I decided to apply. My enthusiasm only grew as the recruitment process progressed and the Brainee period began. Behind the veil of influence, an interesting and diverse job emerged, involving societal issues, politics, analysis, and consulting. My colleagues were highly skilled experts and amazing people who quickly made me feel part of the team.

    As a Brainee, I learned a lot about the fast-paced daily life of a consulting firm. At Blic, vision is key, and different perspectives and everyone’s contributions are valued. Therefore, it’s important to boldly present your own views and expertise! I was impressed by the high quality of everything we did, the warm and dynamic office atmosphere, and the constant encouragement and sparring from colleagues, which supported my learning. Adopting Blic’s work culture will certainly be beneficial in both studies and any job!

    I encourage applicants and new Brainees to be open and courageous. It’s important to highlight your strengths and interests – one of Blic’s strengths is that not everyone is cut from the same cloth. It’s worth approaching new projects with an open mind. Additionally, it’s good to be active and proactive, to ask, suggest, and offer help whenever possible. You can take on responsibility if you want, and that’s truly educational!

    I worked at Blic as a manager with diverse tasks.

  • Through the internship and getting acquainted with corporate advocacy, my understanding of EU decision-making and my information retrieval skills improved significantly. Additionally, I appreciated that the Brainee was naturally integrated into the work community and that the tasks emphasized content work.

    The Brainee period helped me understand what kind of employee I am – an independent worker who, after spending time on a task, delivers the most polished result possible. I instinctively try to avoid wasting others’ time.

    If you are applying to Blic as a Brainee, I recommend taking ample time to refine your application text and any preliminary tasks. If you get the Brainee position, remember to be active and proactive: projects don’t always land on your desk by themselves.

  • When I started the Brainee period at Blic, I didn’t exactly know what the work would be like. After a quick orientation period, I was given various responsibilities quite quickly, and through them, my job description and my place in the amazing work community began to take shape.

    The Brainee period taught me to work with different people, gave me the opportunity to familiarize myself with a wide range of topics, and taught me how to organize my own time. The Brainee period also had its impact on everyday life: understanding large topics contributed to shaping my worldview and promoted a broader understanding of the surrounding world.

    If I were to give advice to someone applying for the Brainee program, I would say: take a leap into the unknown and boldly challenge yourself. This is a workplace where everyone is respected as an individual, and where you learn something new every day and get to develop yourself.

    After my internship, I continued working at Blic as an analyst.

  • I dare to admit that when I started at Blic, I didn’t know exactly what my daily work would consist of. However, my Brainee period exceeded even my highest expectations, and from the very first days, I got involved in the most interesting tasks.

    So if you are applying for the Brainee program, I encourage you to do so boldly! Here, different people, experiences, and backgrounds come together to form an amazing collection of talents.

    For new Brainees, I advise you to eagerly dive into as many activities as possible and push the boundaries of your comfort zone.

    After my Brainee period, I continued working as an analyst at Blic’s Brussels office.

  • What I really enjoyed about my Brainee period was that I was given quite a lot of responsibility right from the start of my internship – an essential part of Blic’s culture is that people are trusted and given the opportunity to show their skills. The work period taught me many things about the practical work of a consultant. I constantly learned new things about the operational logic and potential challenges of different markets and actors, and how these challenges can be solved.

    If you are thinking about applying to Blic as a Brainee, I recommend submitting an application that reflects your personality and emphasizes the strengths you believe you have. Blic’s operations are diverse, and the work atmosphere is permissive and open, so there is demand and space for many different types of thinking, skills, and experiences. And when you become a Brainee, boldly express your thoughts and adopt a constructively critical feedback culture; besides their networks, consulting firms rarely have other capital than the methods, ideas, knowledge, and skills of their employees – these can always be challenged and developed.

    After my internship, I continued working at Blic as an analyst.

  • When I started my internship, I didn’t really know what to expect! Although I had already worked in the EU world for a year, Brussels and corporate advocacy were completely new to me. The excitement was heightened by the fact that I was Blic’s first EU intern.

    My Brainee period taught me how valuable networking and effective communication are in working life. Small or even slightly bigger mistakes don’t matter if you’re willing to work to correct them and bravely admit you’ve made a mistake.

    In Brussels, initiative and creativity are key: you don’t need to be a hardcore EU policy expert to get an internship, but you should show genuine interest in the subject and an understanding of business operations. So, speak up confidently in different situations where you believe you have something to contribute (Note! Even in cases where you think your idea or suggestion is “wrong” or just silly).

    After my Brainee period, I moved on to work at Finland’s Permanent Representation during Finland’s EU presidency as an assistant expert in the competitiveness sector.

  • When I started at Blic, my expectations were somewhat mixed: the field was familiar due to my background in youth policy, but I lacked a clear understanding of the daily life in a consulting firm. In hindsight, the work at Blic is so unique that you can’t fully grasp it until you experience it yourself. Ultimately, all my expectations were exceeded by far!

    The learning curve during the Brainee period was immense, as I got to work with many different clients and sectors. The best lesson was realizing the importance of teamwork – there was always help available to achieve a common goal. At Blic, they genuinely cared about the well-being of their employees and emphasized to me that life should and must have more content than just work.

    I highly recommend applying for the Brainee program to those at the beginning of their careers. New and seemingly difficult things can be learned by doing, as long as you believe in yourself and your potential. From the start, it’s worth boldly presenting your own views and visions; at Blic, new ideas are valued and listened to, regardless of whether they come from an intern or an experienced consultant.

    After my Brainee period, I moved on to work as a political secretary for the National Coalition Party in Helsinki.

  • I expected the Brainee period to be a deep dive into politics and corporate advocacy. And that’s exactly what I got. Blic has real experts in politics and administration, from whom I could learn more about political processes and the relationship between companies and these processes. In my work, I participated in influencer and sales meetings, various client teams, and conducted political analyses. Each case was different, requiring broad and quick familiarization with different operating environments. I was surprised by how much my opinions were sought and how much I got to use my own expertise.

    The Brainee period taught me to trust my own skills and take strong control of my work. Although consultants do a lot of independent work, everyone helps and supports each other in tricky cases.

    For a new Brainee, I would advise boldly seizing different opportunities and tasks, as the internship at Blic can provide a very diverse experience in various roles. Responsibility is given if you ask for it. It’s also worth observing how experienced veterans handle their tasks.

    After my Brainee period, I moved on to work at Tampere University on a project evaluating the management system and operational model of the City of Helsinki.

  • I didn’t know much about the field of societal influence before coming to Blic. I wanted experience working in a consulting firm on interesting topics such as social issues and political decision-making. These expectations were also met during the Brainee period with diverse projects and tasks. The most positive surprise at Blic, in addition to the great work team, was the quick integration of the intern.

    The Brainee period taught me the importance of teamwork and different perspectives and opinions: many of our employees come from different educational backgrounds, which allows for a broad perspective and problem-solving ability for various issues. Many times, I find that I have never thought about something from a particular angle.

    If someone applying for the Brainee program asked me for advice, I would encourage boldness: many probably haven’t considered political advocacy as their field, and it’s not the most typical career path. I am very pleased that I dared to apply for an internship outside my comfort zone. It’s also not worth worrying too much about whether you can do this job without a previous political background or activity. Of course, a political background is beneficial, but it is not a prerequisite – for example, I don’t have one.

    I currently work at Blic as a consultant.

  • The Brainee period exceeded my expectations in many ways! Too often, you hear stories about internships where tasks are limited to making coffee or other duties irrelevant to skill development and professional growth. Blic’s internship offered a diverse vantage point into the world of influencer communication consulting, where you really get to put yourself out there. From the very beginning, interns are fully integrated into client teams and the company’s internal development projects. This also means that interns work on real consulting tasks and are expected to actively take responsibility and ownership of their work and its high quality.

    The intern’s role is shaped according to each person’s strengths and interests. There were meaningful and varied tasks throughout the internship, and the employer and colleagues supported the development of consulting skills and career planning. In my understanding, these things are certainly not a given in all office internships!

    I currently work at Blic as a director.