ANALYSIS
Don’t Waste Valuable
Time – Intern!
Interview with Marija Janeva, Procurement Officer at EVN Macedonia
EVN Macedonia has welcomed over 300 students via its internship
program since 2009, some of whom were later offered jobs in
the company. Emerging Macedonia talked with Marija Janeva, a
former EVN intern who has since become a valuable and successful
company employee.
EM: How would you describe your
internship experience?
Janeva: I had my internship in
the Department for procurement
and material management. When
I started the internship I was new
to the whole area of procurement,
so my first responsibilities were to
learn the overall procurement process, prepare bid requests, archive
finished procedures, learn public
procurement regulations, etc. My
impression was very positive and it
motivated me to learn as much as I
could. I recognized right away that
this was a valuable investment in my
future.
EM: Out of everything you learned
as intern, what would you highlight
as key?
Janeva: This was my first “serious”
work experience, so the first thing I
had to learn was how to behave in a
corporate environment. In EVN, the
corporate culture was on a much
higher level than I expected.
EM: How did your job offer come
about?
Janeva: EVN Macedonia rewards
young people who demonstrate
knowledge, ambition and a good
work ethic, so I was lucky to be in
the right company at the right time.
I had great communication with
both the Department and Group
Head for Procurement of Materials and Services. About six months
after my internship ended, a position was opened in the group
where I had interned. I had many
advantages over other candidates,
especially due to my internship
experience. When I got the job
offer, it proved to me that EVN
Macedonia really gives a fair chance
to those who deliver good results
and want to be a part of their team.
EM: Is this position everything you
expected?
Janeva: I’ve now been part of EVN
Macedonia’s Procurement Department for almost 4 years. The difference between an internship and
a job is really the level of responsibility, professional training, deeper
collaboration and a sense of long
term job security.
I’m constantly learning new things
and working with more challenging assignments as my superiors
see that I’m ready to handle them.
Bigger and more interesting challenges follow a job well done; this
was the case even when I was an
intern. My superiors and peers are
always open for help and guidance,
so I’m happy with my progress.
We also have a couple of formal
trainings each year, depending on
department needs and the company
strategy.
EM: What would you recommend
to the young people considering an
internship?
Janeva: I would recommend that
they shouldn’t hesitate. Internships
can be great experiences; if possible, students should take part in
more than one program. Find a
good company, expand your learning horizons and don’t waste valuable time. You may be surprised by
some of the talents you have. If you
keep a positive attitude, you’ll have
better luck finding a job; but don’t
be surprised if a job finds you first!
Summer 2015
Issue 46 9