Evelina Verkhola, a student of Lviv Polytechnic’s Institute of Computer Science and Information Technologies, has been doing an internship at a Polish company as part of the Leopolis for Future international project. She shared with us her experience of participating in this program.
– How did you find out about the Leopolis for Future project?
– I saw an announcement from the Centre for International Education.
– Why did you decide to take part in it?
– I was interested in the opportunity to gain experience in an international company, improve my professional skills and expand my network of contacts. In addition, I saw it as a great chance to apply my knowledge in practice.
– What are the requirements for students who want to participate in such a project?
– The requirements are the following: to know English or Polish at a sufficient level for communication and work. You also need to have a good academic level, motivation to study, and pass a competitive selection process that includes an application and an interview.
– Tell us, please, what documents you need to fill out to become a participant in the Leopolis for Future project.
– First, I filled out an application form. Then I wrote a motivation letter explaining why I wanted to take part. I also prepared a resume outlining my skills, experience and achievements.
– Do you have any advice you could give to other students on how to prepare for an project interview?
– First of all, you need to get to know the history and goals of the program and the company you are applying to. Next, prepare to answer questions about your practical and soft skills, motivation and career goals. It is worth preparing examples of situations that demonstrate your abilities. And, last but not least, be confident and open during the conversation.
– Where exactly was your internship in Poland?
– I did my internship in Warsaw at KPMG as an IT analyst.
– What skills and knowledge did you gain from this internship?
– During my internship at KPMG, I gained valuable experience in the field of IT analytics, which helped me to better understand the processes of IT project management and interaction between business and developers. One of my main tasks was to monitor and report on the status of solution implementation, which taught me how to systematically track project progress and analyse key performance indicators.
I analysed the tasks performed by the development team, which helped me to better understand the workflows in the IT team and evaluate the results of their work. An important part of my work was preparing project documentation, which included both technical and business reports. This allowed me to develop my skills in presenting information in a structured manner and working in accordance with corporate standards.
I also participated in requirements gathering, interacting with various teams, including clients and developers. This significantly improved my analytical and communication skills. Overall, this internship not only helped me improve my technical skills, but also taught me how to work in a dynamic international environment, communicate effectively with a team and adapt quickly to new challenges.
– Please tell us about the Leopolis for Future Alumni Club.
– This is a community of project alumni that allows them to keep in touch with other participants, share experiences, discover new career opportunities and participate in various events in the future.
– What are the pros and cons of participating in the Leopolis for Future program, based on your personal experience?
– The advantages of participating in this program are valuable international experience, the opportunity to work in a large company, expanding my professional network and improving my language skills and prospects for my future career. I can’t think of any disadvantages.
Leopolis for Future is a unique initiative that provides students of Lviv universities with the opportunity to gain international professional experience through internships in leading Polish companies. The project was created by Grzegorz Waluszewski, an entrepreneur and founder of many successful companies.
The Leopolis for Future project was born out of a desire to help Ukrainians facing challenges similar to those experienced by Poles in the early 1990s. When the economic and political situation in Poland stabilised, Polish business and entrepreneurs decided to support Ukraine, which is currently undergoing structural reforms.
