Grüße von Viena,
My name is Mugurel Florea, soon to become and alumnus of the Academy of Economical Studies - Bucharest, Accounting Faculty, currently in an internship at IBM HeadQuarters Viena for 1 year, through the AIESEC Exchange Program experience.
I would write my posting in English because, although this blog is dedicated to Romanian students that are interested in such opportunities as mine or Cori's, with today's Internet reach, chances are that people from Japan, Brazil, Ghana, Ireland and other parts of the world will get to read this blog. Therefore I would like to thank you for your understanding.
My story?
I am 24 years old, and for the past 5 years I had different jobs (that lasted between 9 months to 1 year and a half): assistant trainer involved in different Romanian training companies: Ascendis, Human Invest, Marketing Team leader and afterwards Regional Sales Manager for a pharmaceutical company (it was bought in the mean time by a multinational one).
I was an active member of AIESEC for around 4 years with different responsibilities and roles, both local (President of AIESEC Bucharest '06 - '07, Recruitment Coordinator '05, Training Manager '05-'06), national (coordinating a virtual team of 4 people developing various Strategic HR tools such as coaching, recruitment and selection for AIESEC Romania, an organization of 1200 members), international (Vice President Human Resources in AIESEC Klagenfurt, Austria 2004).
Starting with april 2007 I have decided to look for an internship through the AIESEC Exchange program (part of the AIESEC Experience platform). It was not easy, as I applyied for a job at iMachines in Bahrein, an internship in the reseller of Apple products in Bahrein, Qatar and United Arab Emirates. Actually they have selected somebody else from Bucharest, another person that was applying through the Exchange program, so in the end it was still good :)
When looking for such an experience, you can look at either the country / city or the job description, or both, but most of the times it is hard to get what you want, where you want, when you want, because in the end it is a two way process (your criterias must be met but in the same time also the employers needs, in this case an organization, being it from the civil society, government, educational system or most of the times a company).
In the third week of may, I have applied for IBM , in an intership they had available in Viena. As I was in Austria in 2004 (so I knew a bit the country), some of my best friends are here (studying, working, living), the job description was really appealing (marketing for the Central Europe Middle East Austria and Switzerland,CEMAAS) I said that I will give it a shot.
On the 29th of May I had an interview with my current manager, the Marketing Manager of CEMAAS and was marketing based, with questions that you answer not with theory you read in books but the one you experience in daily work. One day after I had the interview I was announced that I was expected in Viena to start at the beginning of June (usually it takes longer, my process was shorter because they needed someone fast).
And I here I am, first 29 days since I have started working in IBM, and 2 days away from my first salary as IBM employee :)
My name is Mugurel Florea, soon to become and alumnus of the Academy of Economical Studies - Bucharest, Accounting Faculty, currently in an internship at IBM HeadQuarters Viena for 1 year, through the AIESEC Exchange Program experience.
I would write my posting in English because, although this blog is dedicated to Romanian students that are interested in such opportunities as mine or Cori's, with today's Internet reach, chances are that people from Japan, Brazil, Ghana, Ireland and other parts of the world will get to read this blog. Therefore I would like to thank you for your understanding.
My story?
I am 24 years old, and for the past 5 years I had different jobs (that lasted between 9 months to 1 year and a half): assistant trainer involved in different Romanian training companies: Ascendis, Human Invest, Marketing Team leader and afterwards Regional Sales Manager for a pharmaceutical company (it was bought in the mean time by a multinational one).
I was an active member of AIESEC for around 4 years with different responsibilities and roles, both local (President of AIESEC Bucharest '06 - '07, Recruitment Coordinator '05, Training Manager '05-'06), national (coordinating a virtual team of 4 people developing various Strategic HR tools such as coaching, recruitment and selection for AIESEC Romania, an organization of 1200 members), international (Vice President Human Resources in AIESEC Klagenfurt, Austria 2004).
Starting with april 2007 I have decided to look for an internship through the AIESEC Exchange program (part of the AIESEC Experience platform). It was not easy, as I applyied for a job at iMachines in Bahrein, an internship in the reseller of Apple products in Bahrein, Qatar and United Arab Emirates. Actually they have selected somebody else from Bucharest, another person that was applying through the Exchange program, so in the end it was still good :)
When looking for such an experience, you can look at either the country / city or the job description, or both, but most of the times it is hard to get what you want, where you want, when you want, because in the end it is a two way process (your criterias must be met but in the same time also the employers needs, in this case an organization, being it from the civil society, government, educational system or most of the times a company).
In the third week of may, I have applied for IBM , in an intership they had available in Viena. As I was in Austria in 2004 (so I knew a bit the country), some of my best friends are here (studying, working, living), the job description was really appealing (marketing for the Central Europe Middle East Austria and Switzerland,CEMAAS) I said that I will give it a shot.
On the 29th of May I had an interview with my current manager, the Marketing Manager of CEMAAS and was marketing based, with questions that you answer not with theory you read in books but the one you experience in daily work. One day after I had the interview I was announced that I was expected in Viena to start at the beginning of June (usually it takes longer, my process was shorter because they needed someone fast).
And I here I am, first 29 days since I have started working in IBM, and 2 days away from my first salary as IBM employee :)
What is my job?
IBM aquired one of the leading internet security companies worldwide in October 2006 (Internet Security Systems). I am working in a team that helps the regional integration of this company and products (it is present in 60 countries and has 1200 employees worldwide) into IBM. This means that revenues must be generate on a continuous basis as nobody we'll say "Ok guys, so you can stop working until we finalize the merger" :)
My current job title is:
Global Technology Services Central and eastern Europe Middle east Austria and Switzerland Integrated Marketing Team Internet Security Systems Sales Enablement :)
Or in the short version: GTS CEMAAS IMT ISS Sales Enablement. (it took me while to learn it). I work on a daily basis with a manager from Austria and one from Switzerland. My job is to develop marketing tools and activities that will increase the number of leads for the sales teams in the CEMAAS countries. So, here I am, 24 years old Romanian, working in a regional headquarters of the world's largest IT company. I chose this job because of the job description and the city (I wouldn't say country as I do not know so much of Austria except Viena and Klagenfurt).
For me, this first 29 days meant lots of adapting skills building, coming from just an economical background and going to an IT company. Lots of abbreviations and people that I've met and must work with (either virtually or face to face), fast thinking and working on deadlines... really deadlines. Last week on wednesday I had a conference call with 120 people in 80 countries, that was really really cool; I admit I still have lots to learn, but infrastructure wise and networking capacities of IBM (and I guess of any kind of company of this size) are impressive.
IBM aquired one of the leading internet security companies worldwide in October 2006 (Internet Security Systems). I am working in a team that helps the regional integration of this company and products (it is present in 60 countries and has 1200 employees worldwide) into IBM. This means that revenues must be generate on a continuous basis as nobody we'll say "Ok guys, so you can stop working until we finalize the merger" :)
My current job title is:
Global Technology Services Central and eastern Europe Middle east Austria and Switzerland Integrated Marketing Team Internet Security Systems Sales Enablement :)
Or in the short version: GTS CEMAAS IMT ISS Sales Enablement. (it took me while to learn it). I work on a daily basis with a manager from Austria and one from Switzerland. My job is to develop marketing tools and activities that will increase the number of leads for the sales teams in the CEMAAS countries. So, here I am, 24 years old Romanian, working in a regional headquarters of the world's largest IT company. I chose this job because of the job description and the city (I wouldn't say country as I do not know so much of Austria except Viena and Klagenfurt).
For me, this first 29 days meant lots of adapting skills building, coming from just an economical background and going to an IT company. Lots of abbreviations and people that I've met and must work with (either virtually or face to face), fast thinking and working on deadlines... really deadlines. Last week on wednesday I had a conference call with 120 people in 80 countries, that was really really cool; I admit I still have lots to learn, but infrastructure wise and networking capacities of IBM (and I guess of any kind of company of this size) are impressive.
I enjoy very much the work, as I feel that it is a proper place to start my career in and for the moment it helps me see what a multinational company is, what does ending a quarter in a marketing department really is, having around me managers that have been within the company for 20 years (that really blew me off.. coming from a bit unloyal corporate culture, if I look back at the Bucharest market, with all the moving around from a company to another).
I work 38.5 hours per week :) more or less. Actually it's 09:00 - 17:30 working schedule, with 30 minutes lunch break. I can come earlier / later and leave earlier / stay later. The most important thing is to reach targets, achieve objectives. This means a lot of discipline and responsibility.
My daily life?
I've started doing a lot of sports, due to the fact that I have a lot of possibilities: beach voleyball, biking (I have the coolest pink bike ever, that two of my best friends here borrowed me), jogging. It is impressive to see how many people do sports here. In IBM actually, we have showers and locker-rooms, so you can come by bike in the morning, have a shower, change and go to work.
I work 38.5 hours per week :) more or less. Actually it's 09:00 - 17:30 working schedule, with 30 minutes lunch break. I can come earlier / later and leave earlier / stay later. The most important thing is to reach targets, achieve objectives. This means a lot of discipline and responsibility.
My daily life?
I've started doing a lot of sports, due to the fact that I have a lot of possibilities: beach voleyball, biking (I have the coolest pink bike ever, that two of my best friends here borrowed me), jogging. It is impressive to see how many people do sports here. In IBM actually, we have showers and locker-rooms, so you can come by bike in the morning, have a shower, change and go to work.
AIESEC Viena organizes several social activities, so that a person like me, that is doing an internship, can create a social network (beach voleyball tournaments, parties, AIESEC meetings, conferences such as one that was last week on the topic of Global Development).
We are around 25-30 interns from: Colombia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, The Republic of Macedonia (and I am sure I am forgetting someone here) and in autumn we will be around 40.
Some of us have been active AIESEC members for a long period, some of us for a short period, but that doesn't make any difference between us at work... it might be that you understand better (if you have been involved in AIESEC) what AIESEC is all about and what should your contribution be towards the community you live in (you can hold trainings on your abilities, presentations about your country, join various events that are of interest and if you manage with your working hours :)).
We are around 25-30 interns from: Colombia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, The Republic of Macedonia (and I am sure I am forgetting someone here) and in autumn we will be around 40.
Some of us have been active AIESEC members for a long period, some of us for a short period, but that doesn't make any difference between us at work... it might be that you understand better (if you have been involved in AIESEC) what AIESEC is all about and what should your contribution be towards the community you live in (you can hold trainings on your abilities, presentations about your country, join various events that are of interest and if you manage with your working hours :)).
Actually today we go for a party that celebrates a special moment in the AIESEC life over here: the take-over event of the new teams of AIESEC Austria and AIESEC Viena (old team finishes their term and new teams start their own).
In the mean time I am studying for my diploma thesis exam (the famous "examen de licenta") and planning to move on sunday to Schiffamtsgasse :)
Now going towards second part of the subject, in 2 days I will get my first salary. I looked up on Wikipedia what does salary mean: "A salary is a form of periodic payment from an employer to an employee, which is specified in an employed contract". As my employer is IBM, I am the employee and in my employment contract they do not mention that I am payed to blog, I think I must finish my lunch break and get back to work so that in one month from now I will get my second salary, and so on :)
It was an honour to share my experience with you, and I look forward to reading the experience of the other guys that are right now living international experiences through the AIESEC Exchange Program, like Marina (Paris, France), Magda (Brazil) or the the ones that have already been through one, like Lexy (India), Lemmy (Indonesia), Cezar (Sri Lanka) and many others.
It was an honour to share my experience with you, and I look forward to reading the experience of the other guys that are right now living international experiences through the AIESEC Exchange Program, like Marina (Paris, France), Magda (Brazil) or the the ones that have already been through one, like Lexy (India), Lemmy (Indonesia), Cezar (Sri Lanka) and many others.
I would be glad to answer your questions, if any, just add them as a comment to this posting.
Salutari din Viena,
Mugur Florea
