Internships
Your First Internship in Greece: The Complete Insider Guide
Getting your first internship in Greece can feel overwhelming. Should you target startups or corporates? When should you start applying? What's fair compensation? This guide answers everything, based on real experiences from students studying at Greek universities.
When to Start Looking
❌ Too Early
1st Year, September
Most companies want at least some coursework completed. Focus on building skills first.
✓ Perfect Time
2nd Year, February-March
Companies hire summer interns 3-4 months ahead. You have enough coursework to be useful.
⚠️ Late
2nd Year, May
Many positions already filled. Still apply, but you've missed prime recruiting season.
Pro Tip: Greek companies often post internships in March-April for summer (June-August). International companies in Greece post earlier (January-February). Apply to both timelines.
Startups vs. Corporates: The Real Difference
🚀 Startups (10-50 people)
✓ Pros:
- • Hands-on experience from day 1
- • See entire business (not just one department)
- • Casual culture, flexible hours
- • Potential for full-time offer if they grow
✗ Cons:
- • Less structured (you need to be self-directed)
- • Lower/no pay (€400-600/month or unpaid)
- • Less "brand name" on your CV
- • Less formal training program
🏢 Corporates (500+ people)
✓ Pros:
- • Structured program with training
- • Better pay (€800-1,200/month)
- • Strong brand name for future CVs
- • Clear path to graduate role
✗ Cons:
- • More bureaucracy and approvals
- • Narrower scope (focus on one function)
- • More competitive (100+ applicants/role)
- • Less flexibility in schedule
Honest Advice: If this is your FIRST internship, a startup might be better for learning. If you're targeting a specific corporate career path (consulting, finance), go for the brand name. There's no wrong choice - just different trade-offs.
Compensation: What's Fair in Greece?
2025 Market Rates (Athens)
Tech Startups
Software, Data, Design
€400-700/month
Tech Corporates
Microsoft, Google, etc.
€1,000-1,500/month
Finance/Consulting
Big 4, Banks
€800-1,200/month
Marketing/Communications
Agencies, In-house
€500-800/month
Non-Profit/NGO
Often unpaid
€0-400/month
Note: These are averages for Athens. Thessaloniki is typically 10-15% lower. Some prestigious programs are unpaid but offer strong CV value.
Your First Week: What to Expect
📅 Day 1-2: Onboarding & Setup
- • HR paperwork (bring ID, tax number - AFM, bank details)
- • IT setup (laptop, email, accounts)
- • Meet the team
- • Overview of company/projects
Don't panic if you feel overwhelmed - this is normal!
🎯 Week 1: Learning Mode
- • Ask LOTS of questions (expected from interns)
- • Take notes (you'll forget otherwise)
- • Shadow team members
- • Small tasks to get familiar with tools
Nobody expects you to be productive week 1
🚀 Week 2+: Contributing
- • Real project work (with supervision)
- • Weekly 1-on-1s with your manager
- • Start building your portfolio of work
- • Networking with other teams
Document your accomplishments weekly (for final CV update)
How to Turn Your Internship Into a Full-Time Offer
-
1
Deliver More Than Expected
If they ask for a report, add analysis. If they ask for 3 options, give 5 with pros/cons. Small extras show initiative.
-
2
Communicate Proactively
Don't wait for your manager to check on you. Send brief updates: "Just finished X, starting on Y, should be done by Friday." Shows ownership.
-
3
Build Relationships
Have coffee with people outside your immediate team. Learn about other departments. When hiring decisions happen, you want multiple people advocating for you.
-
4
Express Interest Early
Week 6-8 of your internship, tell your manager: "I'm really enjoying this and would love to continue if there's a full-time opportunity." Plants the seed early.
-
5
Document Your Impact
Keep a weekly log: "Completed 15 customer support tickets" "Designed 8 social media graphics" "Reduced page load time by 40%". Makes your final presentation compelling.
Red Flags: When to Walk Away
Not all internships are created equal. Here's when to decline or leave early:
🚩 No Real Work
If week 3 you're still just "observing" or doing coffee runs with no real projects, this isn't valuable. Talk to your manager. If nothing changes, this internship won't help your CV.
🚩 Unpaid + No Value
Unpaid is acceptable IF you're learning valuable skills at a respected company. Unpaid AND doing administrative work with no training? Walk away.
🚩 Unprofessional Environment
Inappropriate comments, no clear manager, chaotic disorganization beyond normal startup hustle. Your mental health matters. Don't stay somewhere toxic.
The Internship Success Formula
60%
of interns receive return offers
(if they perform well)
3x
more job offers at graduation
(vs. no internship)
100%
worth the effort
(seriously, just do it)
Bottom line: Your first internship matters more than your grades. Real experience beats perfect GPA every time.
Final Thoughts
Every successful professional in Greece started with their first internship. They were nervous, made mistakes, and learned as they went. You will too, and that's completely normal.
The difference between students who land great jobs and those who struggle isn't talent - it's starting early, applying broadly, and learning from each experience.
So apply to that internship you think you're "not ready for." The worst they can say is no. The best they can say might change your career trajectory.
Your future career starts with one application. Make it today. 🎯