Let’s meet Gergana Ivanova, Victoria Mironska and Danaya Miteva, students from the High School of Economics “Knyaz Simeon Tarnovski”, majoring in “Economics and Management”. Just days before the start of the new school year and the crucial 12th grade for every high school student, the three young ladies talk about their summer internship at “VIDEOTON Bulgaria” and the opportunity to join our Finance & Accounting team. Here is what they shared about their choices and this unusual, for a teenager, but very dynamic and interesting “professional journey” called a summer internship.

“Before We Begin”…

How did you choose the “Economics and Management” specialization? What attracted you to it?

The practical aspect of the program was the main factor behind our choice. This specialization offers the broadest range of specialized subjects and provides a comprehensive foundation in economics. We also received very positive feedback from people with personal experience of the school, which further confirmed that we were making the right choice.

And how did you decide to apply for an internship in VIDEOTON Bulgaria?

Our school principal, who teaches us one of our specialized subjects, recommended the internship program. She told us that it would be a great opportunity for young people like us to make the most of our summer by gaining first-hand experience of the real business world, working as part of a team and in a professional environment.

What was your first impression when you “walked through the doors” of VIDEOTON Bulgaria? Was there anything that surprised you?

Well, overall, it was the scale of the production and the scope of the company’s operations. We thought we were coming to a standard, medium-sized company… We did not expect a business group with four divisions and so many employees. The team is huge! And yet, despite its size, everyone is very supportive. The colleagues are helpful, friendly, always smiling, and always willing to answer our questions, despite how busy they are.

What did you expect to gain from this “experience”?

We expected to gain practical experience and a lot of new knowledge that we simply cannot acquire at school, because there we mainly study theory, whereas here we get to put it into practice. It turned out, however, that the reality far exceeded our expectations…

“When the Textbook Comes to Life”

What turned out to be different from what you had learned at school?

Everything, because our specialization is broader and we do not study accounting in as much depth. At school, we mainly work with accounting journals and business transactions, recording entries as debits and credits. Here, everything is digital from the very beginning, and that makes the whole process much faster and easier. In addition, there are many different activities and specific cases that need to be resolved, and our colleagues show us how this is done. We simply cannot encounter situations like these at school — which is perfectly normal, because the focus there is on building a theoretical foundation. The practice - it is here, on the spot.

Which task or activity during your internship did you find most interesting?

Gergana: What I liked most was working with the accounting software because it makes the processes so much easier. I never expected everything to be so well and logically organized, making things user-friendly. So, I particularly enjoyed this part of accounting.

Danaya: For me, the most interesting part was dealing with credit notes, identifying discrepancies, and making corrections when necessary. These are not routine accounting operations; they require you to think and find a solution to a specific case.

Victoria: Overall, I am a more practically oriented person, and perhaps that’s why I was most interested in processing invoices in a real working environment. This was the first thing I wanted to learn because it allows me to gain experience, and I would like to work specifically in accounting in the future.

Was there a task that initially seemed difficult to you?

No, because our colleagues explained everything in detail, including exactly how to do it. Whenever something was unclear, we asked, and we always received an answer. That’s why we didn’t encounter any difficulties with the tasks. This certainly does not mean that we know everything…. What mattered was that our colleagues were supportive and patient with us.

“Being Part of the Team”

Did you feel like part of the team?

Very quickly, because our colleagues welcomed us with great warmth and hospitality. Despite being very busy and having many responsibilities, they were always ready to answer any question we had. This is a good opportunity to thank them from the bottom of our hearts - for giving us a helping hand and sharing their knowledge with us!

What impressed you most about the way people and teams work here?

Even though a huge staff across different teams, everyone is positive and supportive toward one another. They work in sync and turn to each other for help whenever needed.

Did the internship change your perception of business or of the work of accountants and finance professionals?

Definitely. At the beginning of this internship, we had no idea just how large the volume and variety of activities carried out by a finance and accounting team actually are. We also had never imagined that accounting processes could be so highly digitalized. This undoubtedly makes the experts’ work much easier and saves them time and effort.

“What Comes Next?”

What advice from your colleagues here will you remember?

It is not necessarily important to rush when solving a particular task. What matters is to do it correctly, pay attention to the details, and see it through to the end. And most importantly, never give up, because every problem, every case, has a solution! This is a valuable lesson not only professionally, but also on a personal level - one that we will carry with us.

Did the internship change your idea of what you would like to do in the future?

Gergana: I still have not decided what career I want to pursue after I graduate, but after the internship, accounting is definitely one of my options. I now have a clearer idea of how it is applied in the real world, and I could see myself choosing a related field at university.

Victoria: In my case, the internship rather confirmed my intention to pursue a career in accounting. Today, I am more certain than ever that this is what I want to do professionally!

Danaya: I am currently leaning toward marketing as the field I would like to develop in professionally, but I am not 100% sure - I still have time to think about it. However, my internship here definitely changed my perspective. I really enjoyed accounting, both in practice and in theory.

What is the most valuable thing you will take away after the internship?

The experience we gained in accounting, but not only that… Teamwork as well. Overall, we learned what being part of a team really means: how people work together, how they divide their tasks, and how they treat one another. And, of course, working with the accounting software, because we had never seen anything like it before.

Another important aspect is confidence. After seeing how things work in practice, we undoubtedly gained confidence that we can handle this type of work. It is not easy, but with the right motivation, anything is possible!

What would you say to the next student who is considering whether to apply for the internship program?

Be more confident in yourself and definitely apply, because here, even if you have no idea what you are supposed to do, the team will treat you with understanding and respect and will help you. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain!

If you had to describe the internship in three words, what would they be?

Do they really have to be only three?! Definitely “inspiring,” “motivating” (a great opportunity for personal development), and “well spent time.” But we would also add “teamwork”, because here we learned that something a person might find difficult to accomplish on their own can be achieved easily by a close-knit team.