Gavin Hosford - Business Management
During my placement in Ceuta my duties mainly consisted of administration work. I created invoices and receipts for both the company and customers using the company's specialised computer software. I organised these by filing them numerically in folders and put the folders into storage. I also dealt with customer queries, especially customers who only spoke English. During this placement I have improved my organisational skills and my communication skills. I have also gained a better understanding of the Spanish language, both written and verbal. The experience as a whole was amazing; the work involved, sharing an apartment with my classmates, travelling to Morocco and enjoying the diversity and culture of Ceuta. The opportunity to work in a country where there is very few English speakers and being able to communicate, even with the language barrier has given me confidence that I could communicate in countries where English isn't spoken.
In regards to the work, the staff were amazing and always happy to help. They helped improve my Spanish and they involved me in all their tasks and duties. The mentors we had were great, both from GTI and Ceuta. I can only say good things about them. They were always just a phone call or text message away. My workplace was a five minute walk from where we were staying and the shopping markets, restaurants and beach were a 10 minute walk which was great.
I'm so grateful that I had the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing placement. I loved every minute of it and I would strongly advise anyone interested to take full advantage of this opportunity.
In regards to the work, the staff were amazing and always happy to help. They helped improve my Spanish and they involved me in all their tasks and duties. The mentors we had were great, both from GTI and Ceuta. I can only say good things about them. They were always just a phone call or text message away. My workplace was a five minute walk from where we were staying and the shopping markets, restaurants and beach were a 10 minute walk which was great.
I'm so grateful that I had the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing placement. I loved every minute of it and I would strongly advise anyone interested to take full advantage of this opportunity.
Mari Pereira - Business Management
I was placed with a company called 'Alberto Nunez Assessoria' where they offer account consultancy services. Alberto Nunes Asesoria is not a big company but due to its reputation and solid name they have a loyal clientele making the atmosphere at work very light and the proximity with people a key point learn a lot as well. From April until July people in Spain have to declare to the state all their expenses and incomes and all the taxes paid. Based on each clients information the government is entitled to pay a person an amount in regards to their taxes or receive an amount of money from the person, having the opportunity to see the whole process of declaring them to the state using an accounting program called SAGE and uploading the information on the state online platform.
The whole process is not complicated if you have a good base of information, however is very important to be at-tentative to the details and to have a critical way of thinking in order to identify any irregularity or wrong information on them before transferring the declaration regards each client to the governmental organization such as the Spanish revenue. These are some of the areas that I was able to work on and further develop during this placement. The fact that I can speak the Spanish language helped me get more responsibilities from the team and actually learn things that I have seen before at university and GTI but never had experience working with.
During the second week however they decided to give me a little bit more responsibility. This involved bookkeeping companies' financial operations. I'm glad I was selected for this placement because I can look back and I can see how I have learned and developed in a short period of time and it is something that is of real value, putting into practice what we have learned in GTI. Overall I learned not only about accounts but about how to deal with different people and different cultures in and out of the work place. So for this I am very grateful.
The whole process is not complicated if you have a good base of information, however is very important to be at-tentative to the details and to have a critical way of thinking in order to identify any irregularity or wrong information on them before transferring the declaration regards each client to the governmental organization such as the Spanish revenue. These are some of the areas that I was able to work on and further develop during this placement. The fact that I can speak the Spanish language helped me get more responsibilities from the team and actually learn things that I have seen before at university and GTI but never had experience working with.
During the second week however they decided to give me a little bit more responsibility. This involved bookkeeping companies' financial operations. I'm glad I was selected for this placement because I can look back and I can see how I have learned and developed in a short period of time and it is something that is of real value, putting into practice what we have learned in GTI. Overall I learned not only about accounts but about how to deal with different people and different cultures in and out of the work place. So for this I am very grateful.
Lorena Carvalho- Business Management
During my placement in Ceuta I developed my communication skills, decision making, team work, networking, organisational and interpersonal skills. Dealing with different cultures on a daily basis was a great way to enhance my language fluency and improve my abilities to work in groups with people from different cultures and backgrounds. I believe this experience will be extremely valuable both personally and professionally in my future. I would highly recommend the Erasmus+ placements to anyone who has an open mind and seeks an opportunity for personal and professional development.
Sinead Keon - Business Management
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience in Ceuta. I worked in the local school and was very lucky to work alongside some very enthusiast people.
The first day of my placement was a little daunting. They had told me there was an Irish teacher who had been there for 8 months working. David came down and met me and brought me for a coffee and he explained to me all about the school where I had been placed and how things work in Ceuta. It was great meeting with David as he understood the difficulties of having to start in a new work environment that was very different to home. I made a good connection with the receptionist and Lola in the school. The IT guys took me for coffee every morning and made me feel like part of the team. I could not fault the school or colleagues in anyway. The group of us that went to Ceuta formed a strong bond as we were all as nervous as each other.
I acted on my own leadership whilst in Ceuta, as I struggle with confidence. I made myself speak what I had learned to the colleges and some students and they couldn’t but be nicer and even helped me with my Spanish grammar.
Coming to the end of the 3 weeks placement I got a bit down as the experience was over and I was enjoying the placement and the culture. Progressing on to college at this moment in time is not for me just yet but this placement has opened my mind to the potential of moving to Madrid and doing a teaching placement like David had done in Ceuta. Ceuta may have just being the start of my foreign work experience but living away from home for 3 weeks has made me very appreciative of what I’ve got already in life that others do not have. Overall my experience in Ceuta is one I will never forget and i cannot thank GTI and the classmates I went with for such a memorable time. It is one of the best opportunities that I have been part of to date. If I was asked to go again with the same people to the same spot i would do it in a heartbeat!
The first day of my placement was a little daunting. They had told me there was an Irish teacher who had been there for 8 months working. David came down and met me and brought me for a coffee and he explained to me all about the school where I had been placed and how things work in Ceuta. It was great meeting with David as he understood the difficulties of having to start in a new work environment that was very different to home. I made a good connection with the receptionist and Lola in the school. The IT guys took me for coffee every morning and made me feel like part of the team. I could not fault the school or colleagues in anyway. The group of us that went to Ceuta formed a strong bond as we were all as nervous as each other.
I acted on my own leadership whilst in Ceuta, as I struggle with confidence. I made myself speak what I had learned to the colleges and some students and they couldn’t but be nicer and even helped me with my Spanish grammar.
Coming to the end of the 3 weeks placement I got a bit down as the experience was over and I was enjoying the placement and the culture. Progressing on to college at this moment in time is not for me just yet but this placement has opened my mind to the potential of moving to Madrid and doing a teaching placement like David had done in Ceuta. Ceuta may have just being the start of my foreign work experience but living away from home for 3 weeks has made me very appreciative of what I’ve got already in life that others do not have. Overall my experience in Ceuta is one I will never forget and i cannot thank GTI and the classmates I went with for such a memorable time. It is one of the best opportunities that I have been part of to date. If I was asked to go again with the same people to the same spot i would do it in a heartbeat!
Sarah Fahy - Business Management
By completing the Erasmus + placement , I have learned and gained so much. My professional, social and interpersonal skills have been enhanced hugely through experience in a new workplace and country. I was working in a tourist office and I absolutely loved it. I was always getting to meet new people and the majority of the time was spent out of the office so that was really nice also. I got to see all that Ceuta had to offer, from the local businesses and hotels to all of the big tourist spots.
My mentor was so lovely, and even though a language barrier existed, we still worked really well together. Getting to work in a business where everyone was so friendly and helpful is really nice, because I always enjoyed going to work everyday. The experience also served to increase my self-confidence and motivation because I know what its takes to work in a foreign country away from everything that you are used too. It can be daunting at first but I feel that once I have done it once I now know that I would definitely be able to do it again.
I also think that Erasmus+ is a really great motivation for when you are continuing on to third level education. It gives you a really great foundation and it provides more contacts with which you may use in later life. Other important skills that I learned were the importance of budgeting and being independent. Making sure all of the bursary lasted for the three weeks was important and also being responsible enough to look after yourself.
Being away from home can be tough but it is also beneficial because you get to learn how to look after yourself on your own for three weeks. The trips, such as the day visit we did to Morocco was something that I will always remember and luckily we all budgeted well so we had the means to do it. Overall, I had a really valuable experience that will be great for my employ-ability prospects in the future.
My mentor was so lovely, and even though a language barrier existed, we still worked really well together. Getting to work in a business where everyone was so friendly and helpful is really nice, because I always enjoyed going to work everyday. The experience also served to increase my self-confidence and motivation because I know what its takes to work in a foreign country away from everything that you are used too. It can be daunting at first but I feel that once I have done it once I now know that I would definitely be able to do it again.
I also think that Erasmus+ is a really great motivation for when you are continuing on to third level education. It gives you a really great foundation and it provides more contacts with which you may use in later life. Other important skills that I learned were the importance of budgeting and being independent. Making sure all of the bursary lasted for the three weeks was important and also being responsible enough to look after yourself.
Being away from home can be tough but it is also beneficial because you get to learn how to look after yourself on your own for three weeks. The trips, such as the day visit we did to Morocco was something that I will always remember and luckily we all budgeted well so we had the means to do it. Overall, I had a really valuable experience that will be great for my employ-ability prospects in the future.