Are you the next EU trainee for Blic? - What's in store, if anything?
Blic's call for internships in the Brussels office is now open. The six-month internship is a great opportunity to work both close to the EU decision-making process and as part of a multi-disciplinary team of experts in social impact and advocacy. So what might be in store for the spring traineeship?
Let's start with the big picture: the presidential elections in Finland early this year have taken the spotlight away from the European Parliament elections next spring, but the debate in Brussels is already well underway. The electoral climate and the approaching end of the current term are shaping the work of the EU institutions in different ways. The EU Commission is under both external and internal pressure to complete pending initiatives before the end of the current term. In the European Parliament, many of the current MEPs who are seeking a possible extension of their mandate are stepping up the pace of their election campaigns. In the run-up to the elections, the media have become increasingly keen to analyse the messages of Brussels' authorities and officials in the light of possible profiling on specific electoral themes. Will climate and environmental issues be replaced by economic and security issues at the heart of EU decision-making? The June elections will certainly be one of the main themes running through next spring's internship period, with implications for the workload in many different ways.
About two thirds of my training period is behind me, and I have perhaps never learned so much in four months, both about the world around me and about myself, as I have now. My background is in geography, and after graduating I moved to Brussels to work, simply because the so-called "EU stuff" interested a fresh Master's student. For me, a couple of years at the heart of the European Union has meant learning new things every day, building networks and taking on new issues at a fast pace. The Blic internship is like the same experience, but in a tighter package: although the pace of work can get fast at times, the invaluable support and determination of a good team has helped me to get through everything with flying colours. Listening and asking questions goes a long way, and you can learn a lot from your colleagues, from the Waste Framework Directive to cabbage recipes.
Tips from a current trainee to an applicant:
When applying, think about your own strengths and expertise. Do you have a strong knowledge of a particular area of EU policy? Can you say a little about everything, but not everything about anything? Do you have a knack for organising and running events? All skills are useful, so remember what you're good at and show it.
Be active and courageous - you need that to make a difference.
Pay attention to the details too. Spelling mistakes in an application where the applicant says they are accurate and careful will give the opposite impression.
Be yourself! There is no prototype of the perfect trainee. Blic's team of experts is made up of individuals, each with different backgrounds and skills, which is Blic's strength.
Katja Palosaari
The author is a trainee at Blic in Brussels.