Warming up
In 2018, I came to study in the Netherlands and obtained my master’s degree in Strategic Innovation Management (Energy Focus Area) from the University of Groningen. Prior, I graduated from the University of National and World Economy in Bulgaria with a bachelor’s in Economics (Trade Economics specialization). During my highly research-oriented master's degree, there was not much time and space for personal development. That is why I have decided that the best way to enter the job market would be through doing a management traineeship. A traineeship focuses explicitly on professional and personal development through exploration, self-reflection, and learning. As a young professional, I was craving the freedom to choose where and on what within the organization I would like to work. This contributes to a dynamic and diverse work environment where you can also collaborate with various kinds of colleagues.
My passion and educational background in innovation management and sustainable development led me to seek a career in a technical university like the University of Twente. Here, education and research try to make a positive societal impact while focusing on empowering the individual. University of Twente (UT) is a unique university because of its entrepreneurial spirit and strong connection with industry.
The training
During my traineeship, I worked in both a department and a faculty. Individually, at SBD, I have worked on two projects Portfolio Management as a Way-of-Working and Impact Academy for academic and support staff. Now at BMS, I work on a BMS International Network project. Meanwhile, with two other young professionals, we collaborated on a UT-wide project Measuring the Visibility and Effect of Shaping 2030 Strategy. This variety of experience gave me an insight into the organizational structure, the strategic goals on various levels, and the internal politics of the organization. Besides my individual projects and the two-year development program, I was encouraged to pursue other learning activities like Dutch language courses, Lean Green Belt certification, or other trainings from the extensive UT catalog. You can structure your workdays as you wish but they are mostly filled with meetings, following up on ongoing projects, preparing for or attending a training session, networking activities, etc.
As an international young professional my priority was to get familiar and accustomed to the Dutch working culture and further develop my Dutch language skills. For me, it was important to do so in a welcoming environment where my colleagues would approach this with understanding and patience.
Prepared for the future
This program fosters a safe environment for personal exploration, reflection, and growth. The biggest personal takeaway is getting to know myself better in a professional context without putting a guard on. Now, I have a better understanding of my core qualities and drivers and what kind of environment is suitable for unfolding and enhancing my natural talents. The intensive dynamics of this program let me experience a lot of things in these short two years so I could eventually draw these conclusions for myself. Therefore, I am positively recommending this experience to recent graduates and individuals who are at the beginning of their careers. This program suits young people interested in pursuing a career in an academic institution or the public sector. UT is a large international organization offering many projects for trainees and further career opportunities.
After the program's successful completion, I want to continue working on projects related to topics significant to me such as internationalization, innovation management, sustainable development, and energy transition. Currently, the university is assisting us in the career orientation process through various development activities and coaching. I am curious to see what will come out of this and how this will influence my career choice in the future.
