At the end of my first blog, I wrote that I couldn’t wait to discover whether my expectations would become reality. Now, after completing my Erasmus traineeship in Belfast, I can finally answer that question. The answer is both yes and no. While I achieved many of the learning goals I had set for myself, the work I carried out was not exactly what I had expected. However, that is what made this experience so valuable. I learned to adapt to new challenges, developed new technical and creative skills, and gained a better understanding of what working in a real marketing environment is really like.
About me
My name is Katia and I am a Multimedia Electronics student from Mendrisio, Switzerland. As part of my vocational education, I had the opportunity to complete a six-week Erasmus traineeship with work place host – Trainer Christine Watson, Founder of TrainingMatchmaker.com in Belfast, Northern Ireland. This was my first experience working abroad and it was an unforgettable opportunity to develop both professionally and personally.
My work experience
One of the things I appreciated most during my traineeship was the opportunity to work alongside other Erasmus students from different countries. During my first week, I worked with Giulio from Italy and Jonas from Austria, who introduced me to many of the tools and daily tasks they had already learned. For the first two weeks, I also worked with Marilen from Germany, who shared her experience and taught me new skills that helped me settle into my role.
For the final four weeks of my placement, I had the opportunity to work with Kristel, an art student from Switzerland. By then, I had gained enough experience to teach her some of the things I had learned during my own traineeship, like how to use Meta Business Suite. It was rewarding to see how, in just a few weeks, I had gone from being the student who was learning from others to someone who could support and guide a new trainee.
Overall, this experience taught me a great deal, not only about the professional world but also about myself. I improved my communication skills, became more confident working in an international environment and learned how important teamwork, flexibility and organisation are in a real workplace.
Although my main role focused on social media marketing, my placement involved much more than contributing content to social media platforms. I improved my photography and videography skills by creating content for different projects, and I became more confident using professional equipment and editing tools. I also had the opportunity to discover another side of running a business by also helping with administation – organising and sort through company receipts. This gave me an insight into the essential accounting tasks that take place behind the scenes and showed me that every part of a business plays an important role.
Another highlight of my traineeship was taking part in several work-related trips outside Belfast. These visits allowed us to combine work with exploring beautiful places such as Newcastle and Royal Hillsborough. Unlike the more popular tourist attractions, these locations gave me the chance to experience a different side of Northern Ireland and learn more about the local culture while completing my work.
Furthermore, I really appreciated having the opportunity to trial alternating between working in the office and working from home. Experiencing both environments helped me understand the advantages of each and taught me how to stay organised, productive and independent, whether I was working alongside my colleagues or remotely.
New Skills and Training
During my traineeship, I had the opportunity to develop many of the skills that I mentioned in my first blog. One of my biggest achievements was learning how to use design platform Canva to create and edit both photos and videos. Before coming to Belfast, I had never used Canva, but during my placement I used it almost every day to create content for social media. I also completed three certified Canva online courses, earning three official certificates, namely Marketing with Canva, Create Scroll Stopping Content and Graphic Design Essentials.
This experience helped me develop my graphic design and video editing skills. Combining the online training with real work experience allowed me to quickly become confident using the platform in a professional environment.
I also learned how to use Meta Business Suite to schedule and manage social media posts across different platforms – specifically instagram and facebook. After becoming familiar with the software, I was even able to teach another Erasmus trainee how to use it, which showed me how much I had learned in a relatively short time.
Another exciting part of my placement was learning how to use Meta Glasses and the DJI Osmo Pocket to capture high-quality photos and videos. Using this equipment gave me practical experience with different ways of creating content and helped me improve my photography and videography skills.
I also learned how to use GIPHY to create and upload branded GIFs and stickers. My Host – Trainer Christine Watson provided me with training presentations that she had created and delivered in her training work, that introduced me to the platform, and I then developed my skills by drafting stickers for the company to use on their approved GIPHY page. Combining the training material with practical experience helped me become much more confident using GIPHY for social media marketing.
Throughout the traineeship, artificial intelligence also became an important part of my daily work. I regularly used AI – mostly the Chat GPT tool, to support content creation, generate ideas, improve written content and work more efficiently. Learning how to use AI responsibly and effectively has been one of the most valuable skills I will take away from this experience. I also attended an AI training bootcamp course, with Trainer Tina Calder, which helped me better understand the growing role of artificial intelligence in the workplace and how it can be used to improve productivity and creativity.
To further develop my skills, I also took part in the free, in person, Today at Apple workshops, where I learned new techniques for photography and video creation using Apple devices. The Tutor showed us how to use the many different functions available within the Iphone camera – funtionality I had not previously put to use when taking photos.
Another valuable part of my traineeship was the opportunity to attend two networking events. The first was a
half-day networking event at Hillsborough Castle, courtesy of the Lisburn Chamber of Commerce, a membership organisation for local businesses. At this event I had the chance to meet professionals from different sectors, learn more about the local business community and experience networking – I even had to introduce myself and share my goals with the group.
Later in my placement, I also attended a lunchtime networking event in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter, by the BID – Business Improvement District team, where I again had the chance to observe how professionals connect, exchange ideas and build business relationships in an informal setting. These experiences helped me understand the importance of networking, communication and building professional connections.
I would like to thank the organisations that welcomed us and made these opportunities possible. Their hospitality and willingness to share their knowledge gave me a valuable insight into the local business community and made these experiences even more memorable.
Looking back at the learning goals I set before coming to Belfast, I am happy to say that I achieved most of them. More importantly, I gained practical experience by using these tools in real projects rather than simply learning about them in theory.
Exploring Northern Ireland
One of my goals before coming to Belfast was to explore as much of Northern Ireland as possible, and I am happy to say that I achieved almost everything on my list. During my free time, I visited many of the places I had hoped to see, including St George’s Market, Titanic Belfast, Belfast City Hall, Queen’s University Belfast, The Cathedral Quarter, Botanic Gardens, Belfast Castle and Giant’s Causeway. The only places I didn’t manage to visit were the SS Nomadic and the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, but I hope to see them on a future trip.
As I mentioned earlier, my traineeship also gave me the opportunity to travel to Newcastle and Hillsborough for work outings. These trips allowed me to discover beautiful places that I probably would not have visited otherwise. During our visit to Hillsborough, I had the chance to explore the beautiful Hillsborough Castle and its gardens. In Newcastle, which was my
favourite destination, I visited Tollymore Forest Park and Castlewellan Forest Park, where I successfully navigated the famous Peace Maze. I also enjoyed hiking in the Mourne Mountains, in and around the first bridge of the Slieve Donard mountain and taking a long walk along Murlough Beach. Exploring these beautiful landscapes gave me the chance to experience a different side of Northern Ireland beyond the city of Belfast, making these trips one of the highlights of my stay.
One of the biggest surprises of my stay was visiting the White Rocks in Portrush. This was not
on my original list, but it quickly became one of my favourite places because of its stunning scenery, impressive cliffs and beautiful coastline. I also had the chance to visit Belfast’s most photographed street, the famous Umbrella Street in the Cathedral Quarter. Seeing the colourful umbrellas above the street was a fun experience and another great example of Belfast’s creative and vibrant atmosphere. Another unexpected but memorable experience was visiting Helen’s Bay, where I enjoyed the beautiful beach and even had the chance to swim in the sea. It was a special moment because it allowed me to experience the coast of Northern Ireland in a different way and create a unique memory during my stay.
Of course, my experience in Northern Ireland was not only about sightseeing. I also spent time with the other Erasmus students, visiting different pubs and clubs around Belfast. One of my favourite memories was experiencing a traditional Irish pub, Maddens, where we enjoyed live music and watched traditional Irish dancing. It was a fantastic atmosphere, and I had a great time experiencing such an important part of the local culture.
Looking back, I feel that exploring Northern Ireland was just as valuable as the work experience itself. Visiting new places, meeting people from different countries and experiencing the local culture made my Erasmus traineeship an unforgettable experience.
About Trainingmatchmaker.com
During my stay in Belfast, I had the opportunity to discover more about TrainingMatchmaker.com and its role in supporting learning and professional development. I was involved in different tasks connected to the platform, including creating content, working on blogs and supporting social media activities. Through this experience, I learned how important digital communication is when sharing opportunities and connecting with an international community.
About My Workplace Host
Christine Watson is the founder of Watson & Co. Chartered Marketing and TrainingMatchmaker. She is a Chartered Marketer, Trainer and business mentor with extensive experience in marketing, training and professional development.
During my traineeship in Belfast, Christine was my workplace host and supported me throughout my six weeks of work experience. She provided me with guidance, training materials and opportunities to develop new skills in areas such as social media marketing, content creation, artificial intelligence and digital tools.
Thanks to her support and experience, I had the opportunity to work on different projects, learn from real business activities and better understand how marketing works in a professional environment. I am grateful for the time, knowledge and encouragement she shared with me during this experience.
About Intern Europe
Intern Europe is an organisation that supports students, apprentices and young people in taking part in international work placements and Erasmus mobility experiences. It helps participants gain professional experience abroad, develop new skills and discover different cultures through opportunities in other countries.
Through Intern Europe, I had the opportunity to take part in my Erasmus traineeship in Belfast and experience working in an international environment. Their support helped make this experience possible and allowed me to develop both professionally and personally while living and working abroad.
This experience showed me how valuable international placements can be for gaining confidence, independence and skills that will be useful in the future.
About Erasmus
Erasmus is the European Union’s programme that supports education, training, youth and sport by providing opportunities to study, train and gain work experience abroad. The programme encourages people to develop new skills, improve language abilities, discover different cultures and become more confident in international environments.
Thanks to Erasmus, I had the opportunity to complete my traineeship in Belfast and experience working in a different country for the first time. This experience allowed me to grow professionally and personally, improve my English, meet people from different backgrounds and create memories that I will always remember.
Final Thoughts
Looking back on these six weeks, I can honestly say that this traineeship has been one of the most valuable experiences of my life so far. It helped me develop new technical and creative skills, become more confident in an international working environment and improve my English every day.
Although my traineeship was not exactly what I expected before arriving in Belfast, it taught me much more than I had imagined. I learned that being open to new challenges and stepping outside my comfort zone can lead to unexpected opportunities and personal growth.
I will return to Switzerland with new knowledge, new friendships and many unforgettable memories. I am grateful to my host Christine Watson and her network for giving me this opportunity, to all the Erasmus+ students I had the chance to work with, and to everyone who made me feel welcome during my stay in Northern Ireland.
I would highly recommend an Erasmus traineeship to anyone who has the opportunity to take part. It is not only a great way to gain professional experience, but also a chance to discover a new country, meet people from different cultures and grow as a person. If I had the chance to do this experience again, I would not hesitate for a second. Belfast has given me far more than just work experience – it has given me confidence, independence and memories that I will carry with me for a long time.
Thank you for reading my blog and for following my journey in Belfast!
One of the things I appreciated most during my traineeship was the opportunity to work alongside other Erasmus students from different countries. During my first week, I worked with Giulio from Italy and Jonas from Austria, who introduced me to many of the tools and daily tasks they had already learned. For the first two weeks, I also worked with Marilen from Germany, who shared her experience and taught me new skills that helped me settle into my role.
For the final four weeks of my placement, I had the opportunity to work with Kristel, an art student from Switzerland. By then, I had gained enough experience to teach her some of the things I had learned during my own traineeship, like how to use Meta Business Suite. It was rewarding to see how, in just a few weeks, I had gone from being the student who was learning from others to someone who could support and guide a new trainee.
Overall, this experience taught me a great deal, not only about the professional world but also about myself. I improved my communication skills, became more confident working in an international environment and learned how important teamwork, flexibility and organisation are in a real workplace.
Although my main role focused on social media marketing, my placement involved much more than contributing content to social media platforms. I improved my photography and videography skills by creating content for different projects, and I became more confident using professional equipment and editing tools. I also had the opportunity to discover another side of running a business by also helping with administation – organising and sort through company receipts. This gave me an insight into the essential accounting tasks that take place behind the scenes and showed me that every part of a business plays an important role.
Another highlight of my traineeship was taking part in several work-related trips outside Belfast. These visits allowed us to combine work with exploring beautiful places such as Newcastle and Royal Hillsborough. Unlike the more popular tourist attractions, these locations gave me the chance to experience a different side of Northern Ireland and learn more about the local culture while completing my work.
Furthermore, I really appreciated having the opportunity to trial alternating between working in the office and working from home. Experiencing both environments helped me understand the advantages of each and taught me how to stay organised, productive and independent, whether I was working alongside my colleagues or remotely.
New Skills and Training
During my traineeship, I had the opportunity to develop many of the skills that I mentioned in my first blog. One of my biggest achievements was learning how to use design platform Canva to create and edit both photos and videos. Before coming to Belfast, I had never used Canva, but during my placement I used it almost every day to create content for social media. I also completed three certified Canva online courses, earning three official certificates, namely Marketing with Canva, Create Scroll Stopping Content and Graphic Design Essentials.
This experience helped me develop my graphic design and video editing skills. Combining the online training with real work experience allowed me to quickly become confident using the platform in a professional environment.
I also learned how to use Meta Business Suite to schedule and manage social media posts across different platforms – specifically instagram and facebook. After becoming familiar with the software, I was even able to teach another Erasmus trainee how to use it, which showed me how much I had learned in a relatively short time.
Another exciting part of my placement was learning how to use Meta Glasses and the DJI Osmo Pocket to capture high-quality photos and videos. Using this equipment gave me practical experience with different ways of creating content and helped me improve my photography and videography skills.
I also learned how to use GIPHY to create and upload branded GIFs and stickers. My Host – Trainer Christine Watson provided me with training presentations that she had created and delivered in her training work, that introduced me to the platform, and I then developed my skills by drafting stickers for the company to use on their approved GIPHY page. Combining the training material with practical experience helped me become much more confident using GIPHY for social media marketing.
Throughout the traineeship, artificial intelligence also became an important part of my daily work. I regularly used AI – mostly the Chat GPT tool, to support content creation, generate ideas, improve written content and work more efficiently. Learning how to use AI responsibly and effectively has been one of the most valuable skills I will take away from this experience. I also attended an AI training bootcamp course, with Trainer Tina Calder, which helped me better understand the growing role of artificial intelligence in the workplace and how it can be used to improve productivity and creativity.
half-day networking event at Hillsborough Castle, courtesy of the Lisburn Chamber of Commerce, a membership organisation for local businesses. At this event I had the chance to meet professionals from different sectors, learn more about the local business community and experience networking – I even had to introduce myself and share my goals with the group.
Later in my placement, I also attended a lunchtime networking event in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter, by the BID – Business Improvement District team, where I again had the chance to observe how professionals connect, exchange ideas and build business relationships in an informal setting. These experiences helped me understand the importance of networking, communication and building professional connections.
I would like to thank the organisations that welcomed us and made these opportunities possible. Their hospitality and willingness to share their knowledge gave me a valuable insight into the local business community and made these experiences even more memorable.
Looking back at the learning goals I set before coming to Belfast, I am happy to say that I achieved most of them. More importantly, I gained practical experience by using these tools in real projects rather than simply learning about them in theory.
Exploring Northern Ireland
One of my goals before coming to Belfast was to explore as much of Northern Ireland as possible, and I am happy to say that I achieved almost everything on my list. During my free time, I visited many of the places I had hoped to see, including St George’s Market, Titanic Belfast, Belfast City Hall, Queen’s University Belfast, The Cathedral Quarter, Botanic Gardens, Belfast Castle and Giant’s Causeway. The only places I didn’t manage to visit were the SS Nomadic and the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, but I hope to see them on a future trip.
As I mentioned earlier, my traineeship also gave me the opportunity to travel to Newcastle and Hillsborough for work outings. These trips allowed me to discover beautiful places that I probably would not have visited otherwise. During our visit to Hillsborough, I had the chance to explore the beautiful Hillsborough Castle and its gardens. In Newcastle, which was my
favourite destination, I visited Tollymore Forest Park and Castlewellan Forest Park, where I successfully navigated the famous Peace Maze. I also enjoyed hiking in the Mourne Mountains, in and around the first bridge of the Slieve Donard mountain and taking a long walk along Murlough Beach. Exploring these beautiful landscapes gave me the chance to experience a different side of Northern Ireland beyond the city of Belfast, making these trips one of the highlights of my stay.
One of the biggest surprises of my stay was visiting the White Rocks in Portrush. This was not
on my original list, but it quickly became one of my favourite places because of its stunning scenery, impressive cliffs and beautiful coastline. I also had the chance to visit Belfast’s most photographed street, the famous Umbrella Street in the Cathedral Quarter. Seeing the colourful umbrellas above the street was a fun experience and another great example of Belfast’s creative and vibrant atmosphere. Another unexpected but memorable experience was visiting Helen’s Bay, where I enjoyed the beautiful beach and even had the chance to swim in the sea. It was a special moment because it allowed me to experience the coast of Northern Ireland in a different way and create a unique memory during my stay.
Of course, my experience in Northern Ireland was not only about sightseeing. I also spent time with the other Erasmus students, visiting different pubs and clubs around Belfast. One of my favourite memories was experiencing a traditional Irish pub, Maddens, where we enjoyed live music and watched traditional Irish dancing. It was a fantastic atmosphere, and I had a great time experiencing such an important part of the local culture.
Looking back, I feel that exploring Northern Ireland was just as valuable as the work experience itself. Visiting new places, meeting people from different countries and experiencing the local culture made my Erasmus traineeship an unforgettable experience.
About Trainingmatchmaker.com
During my stay in Belfast, I had the opportunity to discover more about TrainingMatchmaker.com and its role in supporting learning and professional development. I was involved in different tasks connected to the platform, including creating content, working on blogs and supporting social media activities. Through this experience, I learned how important digital communication is when sharing opportunities and connecting with an international community.
About My Workplace Host
Christine Watson is the founder of Watson & Co. Chartered Marketing and TrainingMatchmaker. She is a Chartered Marketer, Trainer and business mentor with extensive experience in marketing, training and professional development.
During my traineeship in Belfast, Christine was my workplace host and supported me throughout my six weeks of work experience. She provided me with guidance, training materials and opportunities to develop new skills in areas such as social media marketing, content creation, artificial intelligence and digital tools.
Thanks to her support and experience, I had the opportunity to work on different projects, learn from real business activities and better understand how marketing works in a professional environment. I am grateful for the time, knowledge and encouragement she shared with me during this experience.
About Intern Europe
Intern Europe is an organisation that supports students, apprentices and young people in taking part in international work placements and Erasmus mobility experiences. It helps participants gain professional experience abroad, develop new skills and discover different cultures through opportunities in other countries.
Through Intern Europe, I had the opportunity to take part in my Erasmus traineeship in Belfast and experience working in an international environment. Their support helped make this experience possible and allowed me to develop both professionally and personally while living and working abroad.
This experience showed me how valuable international placements can be for gaining confidence, independence and skills that will be useful in the future.
About Erasmus
Erasmus is the European Union’s programme that supports education, training, youth and sport by providing opportunities to study, train and gain work experience abroad. The programme encourages people to develop new skills, improve language abilities, discover different cultures and become more confident in international environments.
Thanks to Erasmus, I had the opportunity to complete my traineeship in Belfast and experience working in a different country for the first time. This experience allowed me to grow professionally and personally, improve my English, meet people from different backgrounds and create memories that I will always remember.
Final Thoughts
Looking back on these six weeks, I can honestly say that this traineeship has been one of the most valuable experiences of my life so far. It helped me develop new technical and creative skills, become more confident in an international working environment and improve my English every day.
Although my traineeship was not exactly what I expected before arriving in Belfast, it taught me much more than I had imagined. I learned that being open to new challenges and stepping outside my comfort zone can lead to unexpected opportunities and personal growth.
I will return to Switzerland with new knowledge, new friendships and many unforgettable memories. I am grateful to my host Christine Watson and her network for giving me this opportunity, to all the Erasmus+ students I had the chance to work with, and to everyone who made me feel welcome during my stay in Northern Ireland.
I would highly recommend an Erasmus traineeship to anyone who has the opportunity to take part. It is not only a great way to gain professional experience, but also a chance to discover a new country, meet people from different cultures and grow as a person. If I had the chance to do this experience again, I would not hesitate for a second. Belfast has given me far more than just work experience – it has given me confidence, independence and memories that I will carry with me for a long time.
Thank you for reading my blog and for following my journey in Belfast!
