Training Course 'First Steps to Employment' 01 - 06 June 2025, Krushevo, North Macedonia

An article by Magdalena Marcinkowska

On 2-6 June 2025 participants from five different countries, North Macedonia, Türkiye, Italy, France and Poland, met in Krusevo, a picturesque town in North Macedonia for a “First Steps to Employment” Training Course founded by Erasmus+ programme. 

For five days we were taking part in sessions where we learned about soft skills, conflict resolution, problem solving, and team building. Every day, summoned by a ringing bell, we gathered in the training room with open minds and eager eyes ready to gain new knowledge. All of us come from different countries and different backgrounds and while some already have their careers and been through seven jobs or more, others have just graduated from school and are entering the job market just now, however, nevertheless we were able to exchange our experiences regarding work environment, recruitment process and personal career goals, and learn from one another. 

Hearing all the stories and ideas that people have for themselves inspired me to dream bigger and believe more in myself. I find it fascinating how a week in a foreign country with a group of strangers can change your perspective on life. It is said that travels broaden our horizons and this project is a perfect example of that. We have not just learned how to write a CV or a cover letter or how to make the LinkedIn profile more eligible and structured but more importantly we learned more about ourselves, about our strengths and weaknesses, about our values, priorities and goals in life, about what drives us in life and what we want to focus on career-wise. 

However, this project was not only about the knowledge we gained. It was also about making connections. And we did. Sessions which took 1.5h each were not enough for us to say everything we wanted to say and so our discussions continued during meals, afternoon walks around the town or in the evening, when we were sitting by the pool. We enjoyed our company and wanted to make every minute count because we knew soon enough the project would be over. 

The most fun was during the cultural evening when not only we could learn more about each other but also about each other’s countries and traditions. We learned some Italian and Turkish dances, tried to speak French, played the Polish chair game, and learned some facts about North Macedonia. All that was followed by tasting delicious snacks brought by each country. 

All in all, this project was a great learning opportunity and unforgettable experience. After this amazing week we left with our minds full of new knowledge and our hearts full of happiness. 

Magdalena Marcinkowska