Work - life - study balance during Erasmus+ internship from Anastasiia Kolesnyk and Stepan Orletskyi

Anastasiia Kolesnyk and Stepan Orletskyi, two students from Ukraine, recently completed their Erasmus+ internships and shared their experiences on balancing work, life, and study during this unique journey.

Anastasiia, a student from Kyiv National Economic University, worked as an E-commerce business support trainee at a global technology company. She gained valuable experience in segment management, saying, "I have learned how things work in practice, and how big international teams operate across different markets." Her supportive work environment made a big difference, with mentors and colleagues being "very friendly and supportive," helping her quickly adapt despite initial challenges. Reflecting on the experience, Anastasiia highlighted the "new skills gained" and "a lot of communication with the team" as the most rewarding aspects. Though she was initially anxious about entering a new environment, she found that "everything turned out very well, and the internship gave me a lot of good friends." For her, maintaining a balance between work, life, and study was key, and she advises future trainees to "be open to new experiences and new cultures" while learning how to manage these aspects effectively. To find out more details about the internship experience you can watch Anastasiia's full interview here.



Stepan, from Chernivtsi National University, also found this balance crucial during his Erasmus+ internship as an EMEA SSG Marketing Intern. His tasks included content management, campaign creation, and administrative duties, and he gained "hours of new experience" while honing his communication skills using tools like AEM and HighSpot. Stepan, like Anastasiia, found the company’s environment to be welcoming, stating, "Everyone is very lovely and supportive." He enjoyed meeting new people and making memories but acknowledged the challenge of learning to prioritize and avoid burnout. Outside of work, Stepan appreciated Slovakia's beautiful nature and castles, and despite his remote location, he loved his accommodation's "sunset view at the balcony."
His advice to future interns mirrors Anastasiia’s: "Be open, don’t hesitate to try something new, and have fun!" After his internship, Stepan plans to finish his studies and possibly continue working at the hosting company. Learn more about Stepan's exciting experience by watching his interview on our YouTube.