This is what she told us about her EMTM experience. Interviewer: Vladimira, please describe your present function and responsibilities.
Vladimira: I work as a relationship manager in the strategy marketing department of Amadeus, where I organize events for Airlines across the globe. We organize and participate in over 50 global and regional events. Interviewer: Was it difficult to find a job after graduation? Vladimira: Not really, haha! During and after EMTM I had a marketing traineeship in Brussels at the European Travel Commission (ETC). It was one of the organisations I loved the work for, so I applied. Since one of the ETC products is ‘Tasting Europe’ I send my CV as a dinner menu, and they hired me. After that I was hired by the World Tourism and Travel Commission (WTTC) to work in London as a communication assistant and help in organizing their annual summit in Bangkok. Furthermore, I was responsible for promoting the ‘Tourism for Tomorrow Award’. After the summit, I immediately moved to Madrid where I currently work. I really enjoy working for public institutions since there are many challenges, such as funding. Those kind of problems motivate me. For example, at ETC we constantly face budgetary limitations, which is very contrasting with the private sector, such as in WTTC and Amadeus where it’s all about performance, and money is not a problem. Interviewer: What were the three most important things EMTM has given you for your career development? Vladimira: Naturally, the first one would be adaptability: the ability to work and live in a diversity of environments. Secondly, the attitude of not seeing problems as problems. We had so many ‘interesting’ situations in EMTM, so I learned that a problem is a process that can be solved, and there is always an interesting outcome for you to be discovered. In EMTM they assist you in a way that you have to do it yourself, which might be initially irritating, but is actually helpful. For example, in the case of EU grants: I needed money to fund my tuition fees, but no one gave us concrete information on what and where to find grants. Through the guidelines of the European Commission I learned everything and I applied it. EMTM doesn’t really guide you, but the truth is that no one in life is actually going to guide you. So, I don’t see this as a negative experience, and I enjoyed it a lot. In the end, EMTM took really good care of us and we felt privileged to be part of it. The third one would be the network. For example, I was working for the summit of WTTC that would take place in South East Asia, and my classmate Brandy from Vietnam helped me accessing an internal list of journalists. Above all, it’s not only about the professional side, but even more about the personal development. We give each other advice that can help you to grow personally. Interviewer: Do you incorporate the values that EMTM teaches, such as sustainability and responsibility, in your job functions? Vladimira: Each place is different. On the one hand, ETC did not engage in sustainability. There, it was buried under the burden of bureaucracy. On the other hand, at WTTC we worked a lot with sustainability. There, they didn’t only work with sustainability, but they actually lived sustainability as we passed research and articles among each other. Lastly, in Amadeus we have a CSR department, but that’s more a mainstream phenomena as in every other company. Interviewer: Would you enroll again in the EMTM programme, in relation to career development, and why or why not? Vladimira: For sure! The international dimension helped me a lot. Each time I apply for a job they are amazed by the internationality of the experience. So, I really use this as one of the major assets during interviews (e.g. the ability to work in a multicultural team). But, I would have perhaps gone for something more technical, because management gives you perhaps a nice overview, but there is nothing concrete that facilitates the job search. Sadly, most of the tourism programmes have this non-technical curriculum. Interviewer: Did you ever benefit from EMTM network for your career? Does the EMTM network (or family as we call it) really help? Vladimira: Yes! For example, most companies have a referral system. I was helped by Kostos (Greek Alumni) to get an interview with Amazon. Although I was not selected, it was extremely helpful. Besides the access it gave me, the interview itself was an enormous learning experience as it was five hours long, and helped me in other interviews. Besides this aspect, we share of course job openings and traineeships throughout the network. Interviewer: Are there any things that could improve in the EMTM programme? Vladimira: Well, there are a lot of things. First of all, they should include more possibilities for students to get practical experience. For example, there was complete lack of guidance during the fourth semester concerning internships. I’m not saying they should offer internships, but at least some guidance in the process. Furthermore, for me it was just too academic. They should make it more ‘real world’, because in the end not many students end up doing a PhD. At the end of the day, you will end up in the corporate world or a public institution where you are not going to be a researcher. I do have to say that the research skills you obtain through EMTM will be of help in any job, but nonetheless they should find a better balance. A third element of improvement would be to be more updated on the evolvements in tourism, which are so vast. The amount of things that are happening in tourism is crazy. The students could, for example, create a forum. Here, at Amadeus there is each day a newsletter with specific news facts concerning technology in tourism. Also in EMTM, to start the day, students could prepare something to keep each other up to date. It could also be a small newsletter that is send each day/week to everyone in the network, which not only enriches our knowledge but also improves research and e-mail marketing skills. These are the three elements I would work on. Of course, there were some boring courses, but that is a reality everywhere. Interviewer: Describe your most memorable moment in the programme. Vladimira: That is so difficult. There are so many. If I would need to give a moment it would be our road trip in Norway where we slept with five in a tent, and washed ourselves in gas stations. We were so happy. I could summarize the whole EMTM experience through the ‘why not’ spirit. It’s super important to meet people in life who say ‘why not’. In EMTM we help each other to cultivate that spirit, and those who don’t possess it at the beginning will definitely have it at the end. Interviewer: Do you have any advice for students who look for a job? Vladimira: Go for anything! Take whatever passes your way: internships, volunteering, online positions. Stay active. Engage. Try to find your way. Even if it’s something completely unrelated to what you envisioned, go for it, because it will offer you another perspective. Don’t limit yourself to the tourism industry, because tourism is at the intersection of so many things. Interviewer: Do you have any message for future members of our EMTM family? Vladimira: Well, the cliché one: go for it and enjoy every moment. I tell this, because I was worried a lot, too many times, due to the challenges and frustrations along the road. I was worried more times than I should. At the end, I understood that I would have benefitted and enjoyed more if I would have been more relaxed. Don’t worry about what will happen and enjoy the ride. I would like to add one more thing: EMTM changed my life. Through EMTM I learned that life can be without boundaries. You meet all these people from different countries who share their stories and experiences. You just learn to see the way. Interviewer: Thank you Vladimira. All the best!
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