Internships are an excellent tool for advancing your skills in a field of interest. These positions help young adults find a career path, test their aptitude for certain kinds of work, and further develop their resume or CV. Internships are almost always unpaid as the intern is gaining skills and experience. It is critical to find the good match so that the relationship is beneficial to both intern and company. Full-time students are great candidates for internships because they are still developing their professional skills, and the academic calendar often allows them to intern between terms.

You may search for internships abroad yourself or work with a company that organizes internships. Universities also commonly arrange internships for its students.

Internships in Croatia

Internships are available in almost any field. As Croatia's capital and economic center, Zagreb offers many opportunities for professional development. Students interested in the tourist industry might also consider securing an internship on the coast, in Dalmatia or in Istria.

Search for Internships

Online

There are online search engines to help you find an internship:

• Go Abroad
• Go Overseas
• Study Abroad

It is also possible to directly contact organizations and businesses of interest. For example, students pursuing political careers often intern at their embassy in Zagreb, and the United Nations Development Programme offers internships to recent graduates of social welfare, business, economics, and environmental studies. Cultural institutions often offer internships to students studying art, history, or anthropology.

Research your area of interest, compile a list of institutions that interest you, and send an inquiry along with your CV.

Newspaper

As mentioned in the section on job hunting, newspapers are not a great resource for professional classifieds. Instead, browse listings on classifieds sites such as Plavi oglasnik, Njuškalo, and Moj Posao for jobs and internships.

Networking

In Croatia, as elsewhere, being well connected can take you far professionally. Join professional networking sites, such as Linkedin, and participate in local expat forums. Start contacting local businesses and institutions that you're interested in. Even if they cannot offer you an internship, they might be able to put you in touch with a colleague or give you useful leads.

Programs

There are several companies that help applicants secure internships abroad; however, very few of these offer internships in Croatia. If you would like assistance with finding an internship, as well as access to a number of internship positions, consider becoming a member of AIESEC. AIESEC is the largest youth-run organization in the world and offers internships in over 113 countries. Croatia has five AIESEC local committees, located in Osijek, Rijeka, Varaždin, Split, and Zagreb.

Visa

If hired through an agency, the agency usually guides the intern through the process of obtaining a visa. Otherwise, it is best to discuss your options directly with the organization or institution where you will intern.

For more information on visas, consult the section on "Passport and Visas."

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