Career Starter Tips From “Catapult Your Career”

Read these tips and pick one to reflect on—perhaps one you can apply right now.

1. How to start an internship – when, what to expect, and where to find the ideal Internship

An internship can be the key to discovering the career path that really suits you—the intersection of your strengths, interests, and what the world needs. But how do you choose the right internship?

Don’t focus on the money—at least, not at the beginning. It’s natural to want financial independence, and yes, paid internships are important. However, the initial focus should be on the learning opportunities and long-term prospects. We’ve seen many young people who started with modest earnings but, due to the growth potential of their roles, were soon outpacing their peers in salary and career advancement.

Look at the future potential—both within the company and the industry. For example, a participant in our program began her internship as a designer with a low salary. However, she worked under top professionals and, after the internship, landed a job at another company with excellent career prospects. The experience she gained was invaluable in setting her on a successful path.

2. Starting salary of 2,500 EUR – myth or reality?

While it’s often seen as a myth, it’s not entirely unachievable. No, you might not reach a 5000 BGN salary in your first couple of years, but it’s possible with the right approach. Consider one of our early program participants who began his career in game design. Initially, he only took on unpaid internships. Eventually, he earned a scholarship to study in the Netherlands, participated in various projects, gained recognition, and now—can you guess? He owns a game testing and development company.

What’s the secret?

1. Understanding – for example, to become a regional manager at Lidl with a six-figure salary, you need to work through every position in the store for about a year. Yes, really!
2. Career planning skills –many young people don’t develop the ability to think long-term. This lack of foresight prevents them from recognizing opportunities that, although not immediately appealing, could be extremely valuable.
3. Endurance –the path to earning 5000 BGN a month isn’t achieved overnight. It requires patience and sustained effort.

3. You can’t make money from art—yeah, right.

One of the most persistent myths is that artists—or athletes—can’t make a living. Here’s a story from one of our workshops:

A young man shared that his parents insisted that art couldn’t be a viable career. Meanwhile, his aunt, despite having two university degrees, was earning a very low salary. Isn’t there a contradiction here? If degrees are supposed to secure a good income, how can someone with two struggle financially?

From our experience with over 1000 young people and more than 5000 adults, we’ve learned that a person can be successful in any profession if they:

Know how to meet market demand. Whatever you do, understand what people want and deliver it.

Master self-presentation and sales skills. These are learnable and essential skills for any career.

Build and maintain a strong network. Your network is your net worth, and these connections can be developed with effort.

Plan your career strategically. Knowing where you want to go and how to get there is crucial to long-term success.

Ready to Take Control of Your Career?

Don’t let uncertainty or myths hold you back from achieving your dreams. The Catapult Your Career program is designed to help you discover your passions, develop essential skills, and map out a clear path to success. Whether you’re aiming for a top-tier salary, a fulfilling creative career, or the right internship to kickstart your journey, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.