Information on traineeships

Hi! My name is Jessye, and I am a trainee in Research Unit A – Working Life. After obtaining a Bachelor's degree in International Business and a double master’s degree in Public Policy and Human Development, I joined Eurofound in July 2023. Since then, my career development has been nothing short of transformative.

From day one, Eurofound colleagues have welcomed me with open arms, offering incredible opportunities and treating me with utmost professionalism. My traineeship at Eurofound has been a continuous learning experience characterized by substantial growth in my research skills. This growth has been achieved through active involvement in contributing to various working papers and surveys, expanding my expertise in the dynamic realm of working life.

In addition to this, I've played a role in organising workshops, conducting data analyses, and writing comprehensive reports. My position has also granted me the opportunity to engage with stakeholders and to present (preliminary) research findings. This diverse and hands-on experience has not only enriched my professional skills but has also played a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of my career beyond Eurofound.

Besides enjoying working at Eurofound, living in Dublin is likewise fun, with its vibrant culture and friendly atmosphere. From exploring historic landmarks to enjoying live music and from visiting museums to long nature walks, I believe that Dublin has something to offer to everyone.

I joined as a graduate trainee in the Information and Communication Unit in September 2022, and had the opportunity to use my pre-existing skills and knowledge while simultaneously learning a lot and growing thanks to the support of my colleagues.

I was treated as a team member throughout and those around me acted as great mentors and showed a real interest in me, my work, and my future. I was responsible for much of Eurofound’s presence on social media, as well as drafting press releases, supporting the events team and generally assisting with all things media and promotions.

I have no doubt that working with fascinating research, with supportive, talented, and friendly colleagues, has helped immensely with my career progression as I take the early steps in the social policy and media field. My traineeship at Eurofound certainly gave me a springboard to the next stage of my career.

My traineeship at Eurofound has taught me a lot, about working at a point which closely intersects with EU policy, about skills and skill development, and especially about myself. I have gained a whole new perspective on what it is that I want in my career, and which work environments bring out the best in me.

The reason why I became interested in working at Eurofound is the fact that it deals with social issues and developments which I have always found crucial, and dives deeply into these.

I am thankful to have worked on fundamental topics in the field of labour and social policy and know that I will always see the value in Eurofound engaging with these fields and endorsing how important it is to do so. Specifically, I have been working on the maintenance and development of qualitative databases in the field of restructuring (ERM), a research report on income inequality in the EU, as well as the platform economy repository.

When it comes to living in Dublin and Ireland, I can only say that I had a wonderful time, particularly due to the many opportunities to spend time in nature. For anyone who has the chance to do so, I can only recommend jumping into the sea, going on hikes, and paying attention to the many animals around.