Looking back, I see that coming to work at Frontex as a Bluebook Trainee was one of the best decisions I had ever made.
Starting on Day One of my Bluebook Traineeship I was really thrown in at the deep end and had to familiarise myself with a completely new world for me – the maritime domain. I was assigned to the Coast Guard Sector and worked on issues like supporting the coordination of European cooperation on coast guard functions together with EU Agencies (EMSA and EFCA), enhancing partnerships with EU Member States as part of various Coast Guard forums, but also planning meetings and preparing reports.
After the Traineeship I had the opportunity to continue working with the Coast Guard Sector team within the framework of an interimaire contract. A few months later I successfully applied to a Frontex job opening and thanks to this I am currently working as a Coordinating Assistant at the Executive Management Bureau, which is an evolving and dynamic environment. On a daily basis I support the development of an upgraded model of cross-divisional cooperation and support system for the expanded Executive Management role. This is a job that requires a high level of flexibility, an ability to understand and operate in a sensitive environment, and a strong sense of initiative.
Working at Frontex means lots of responsibilities and tight deadlines, but first and foremost an exciting and empowering experience. I would recommend it to anyone - the combination of gaining first-hand work experience at a European agency while meeting friends from all over Europe is just hard to beat.
I was thrilled when I received the Traineeship offer from Frontex, as I was familiar with the Agency, and had an interest in its activities. My experience at Frontex exceeded my expectations in every way.
As a trainee at the European Centre for Returns, I immediately got involved aligning the work of the Agency with changes brought about by its new Regulation and the formation of the European Border and Coast Guard Standing Corps.
Thanks to the inspiring work environment at Frontex and the variety of work tasks I was able to learn a lot about the area of returns and improve my competences in report writing.
I'm glad that I am part of a cheerful ‘family’ of like-minded trainees from all around Europe, with whom I never miss an opportunity to go out after work. Warsaw is a lively capital, where one cannot get bored! I will definitely remember my time at Frontex as one of the most defining periods of my life, and I encourage everyone who wishes to experience the unique atmosphere of a dynamic EU agency to apply.
I decided to apply for a Traineeship at Frontex because I wanted to experience what it was like to work for a European agency. I was selected for a Traineeship in the Pooled Resources Unit, where I was given real responsibilities from Day One. My main task was the assignment of surveillance equipment, ships, and cars to the various Frontex operational areas. Working in the Pooled Resources Unit gave me the unique opportunity to improve my planning and coordination skills and provided me with new perspectives for the future of my career.
The best thing about the Traineeship was the people.
It was a wonderful experience to work with colleagues from various national and cultural backgrounds, and it was great that they were always very supportive whenever I encountered any difficulties.
Living in Warsaw as a trainee was great. The city is very dynamic, with new bars and restaurants opening up every week. I especially appreciated how green the city was during the summer months, and that it is still very affordable compared to other capitals in Europe.
I had a great time in Warsaw and I recommend the Traineeship at Frontex to anyone who wants to gain experience in working for a European agency.
I have always been interested in international security and the fight against crime. Previously, I had the opportunity to be part of INTERPOL, which allowed me to expand my knowledge about human trafficking, people smuggling, and smart border management. This was the reason I wanted to develop my skills in this sector at a European level, which led me to apply for a Traineeship at Frontex.
During my Traineeship, I contributed to the work of the Risk Analysis Unit, assisting with a project focused on the strengthening of the Africa – Frontex Intelligence Community (AFIC). I was treated as an equal from the very first day and was assigned responsibilities related to the correct functioning and continuity of the project.
Warsaw is a vibrant city, constantly evolving with restaurants from all over the globe, a multitude of events, activities, and nightlife. In addition, Warsaw is very well connected to other cities in Poland, as well as other eastern European countries. Coming from southern Europe, I was a bit worried about the Polish climate, but I was surprised to find that winter is manageable, summer is pleasant, and Polish people are warm-hearted and welcoming.
My Traineeship at Frontex helped me clarify the path I want to take for my professional career and how I have to develop my skills to follow this path.
When
I arrived in Warsaw it welcomed me with warm weather and a clear sky. This is my
second time here, and it is astonishing to see how the city has changed
during the last few years. Its modern appearance is shaped by skyscrapers and new
buildings rising every day. Still, the flavour of the Old Town is not lost, and
the spirit of a young, dynamic city can be felt constantly. It is a wonderful
experience to live in such a multicultural place.
When I started in October, I was impressed and overwhelmed by the scope and size of the Agency as well as by the challenging tasks that all my colleagues need to face every day. I became part of a small and amazing team that had to tackle new challenges every day. I am happy to work in a multinational agency, striving for the benefit of the freedom and security of everyone in Europe.
I decided to apply for a Traineeship at Frontex because I was studying political science and always wanted to work in an international and multicultural environment.
I worked as part of the Communications team, helping to organise international conferences and events, managing social media, liaising with the Agency’s stakeholders and event participants, and organising visits to Frontex by researchers, journalists, and students.
The Traineeship helped me work on my organisational skills. I wasn't just making coffee or spending the whole day at the photocopier - I was given real responsibility - and discovered I have a passion for organising events and I am good at handling stress. Working with people from different countries taught me to be more flexible and open-minded. And I really loved the people I was working with - so much so it was very hard for me to leave. Now I'm working abroad, and I think it's thanks to my Traineeship at Frontex that I'm not having any big problems adjusting.
I am from Warsaw, so I will always love this city. It’s amazing to see how much it is growing, changing, and modernising every day. Forget Paris or Berlin – Warsaw is really the place to be now!
The Traineeship gave me more than I expected. I was hoping to gain some practical experience, but in addition to that I gained wonderful friends that I am still in touch with.
I'm in France now, where I work for the Polish version of the European cultural TV channel ARTE. I manage social media and the website, ARTE’s participation in Polish film festivals, and I liaise with journalists and other stakeholders. None of this would be possible if not for my experience at Frontex.
I started my Traineeship at Frontex soon after finishing my studies at the College of Europe in Bruges. As a trainee at the Frontex Situation Centre, it felt like I was in the middle of the action from Day One. The working environment is incredibly dynamic, multicultural, and every day comes with a new challenge. In other words, one is never bored, which is what I appreciate so much about this experience.
The workload includes a variety of tasks such as media monitoring, daily briefings on open sources, supporting in service operations, and the overall administration of team members and seconded team members, including deployments and trainings.
The Traineeship exceeded all my expectations. To this day, I still come to work with a smile on Monday mornings, and leave with a smile on Friday evenings.