I thought Erasmus+ was only for students until I found out it could help job seekers too. That's how I ended up in Budapest for a 3-month internship with Egyesek.
A bit about me
My name is Youngy, I’m 25 years old and I'm from France. After a year working in the internal communication team at a French business school and holding a master’s degree in communication, I felt the need for a change and something new. Since high school I have wanted to work abroad to improve my English and discover new cultures. It never happened until now thanks to my Erasmus+ internship.
How I discovered Erasmus+ for job seekers
While working at the business school I heard about someone who did a professional internship in Belgium through Erasmus+ and France Travail - (French governmental agency which registers unemployed people, helps them find jobs and provides them with financial aid) -. This Erasmus+ programme offers three-month internships across Europe for job seekers and is co-funded by the European Commission and France Travail. It’s open to everyone regardless of background or age and includes full support throughout the mobility.
I already knew Erasmus+ existed for students but had no idea it also included job seekers and young professionals. This version of the programme is much less known which is unfortunate because it’s a great opportunity.
I’ve never taken part in the student version so in this blog post I’ll focus only on my experience as a French job seeker who joined the Erasmus+ professional mobility programme.
Applying to the programme
After discovering the programme I researched it and waited for my contract to end before starting the application. Since it’s managed by France Travail I had to register as a job seeker first. Once registered I was assigned an advisor to whom I expressed my interest in working abroad with Erasmus+. She provided me with the contact details of the regional organisation in charge and told me how to apply.
To apply, you must:
Be registered as a job seeker with France Travail
Be a citizen of the European Economic Area or have the right to work in France
Have a clear professional goal related to employment
Have experience or a diploma linked to the internship you are looking for
I met the requirements and submitted my application to the regional Erasmus+ coordinator through the contact my France Travail advisor gave me. It included my CV and cover letter in French and English (or another European language), preferred countries and internship fields and my advisor’s name.
After a group info session and an interview, I was thrilled to be accepted.
Finding my internship
I focused on three Erasmus+ partner countries: Hungary Greece and Croatia. I chose Budapest because friends who had been there loved it and highly recommended it.
I searched for communication internships in Budapest on LinkedIn, Welcome to the Jungle, Indeed, ErasmusIntern.org and Stage4EU. Since most internships last six months and mine was shorter, I didn’t apply directly. Instead, my Erasmus+ coordinator advised me to email companies explaining my situation and attaching my CV and cover letter.
I tailored each application and contacted companies directly when possible. That’s how I found my internship at Egyesek Youth Association.
Once I signed the contract, everything moved fast. I had only one week to find accommodation in Budapest.
Settling in Budapest
I checked many mid-term rental sites like Erasmus Play, HousingAnywhere, Uniplaces and Airbnb but found nothing suitable. Some were too expensive, too far, or required large deposits and ID upfront.
Then I found Flatio.com, a trusted platform for furnished medium-term rentals that verifies landlords and lets you sign contracts online without big deposits.
Final thoughts
Joining Erasmus+ was one of the best decisions of my life. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, exposed me to a new culture, and helped me grow professionally at Egyesek Youth Association.
I’m grateful for the opportunity and recommend it to anyone interested in similar experiences. If you’re unsure, my advice is simple: go for it. There’s a whole world to discover and learn from.
