How I Got My First Internship

In my third year of university, I got my first real internship.

It did not happen by luck, and it definitely did not happen quickly.

From the first day of my degree, I had this constant urge to do more than just attend classes. I wanted to build things on my own, find clients, and start working as early as possible. It was never about escaping university. I just had that internal drive to test myself outside the classroom.

Even in first and second year, I was already checking job boards all the time. Sometimes I did not apply, but I still watched closely. I liked imagining myself in a near future where I was working somewhere I respected. That habit helped me understand what opportunities existed and what kind of path I wanted.

Looking for Internships in Barcelona

By third year, internships were mandatory in my degree, so I had to search seriously.

Barcelona had everything I wanted: amazing studios, great agencies, and a strong design scene. But that was also the problem. The bar was high, and competition was intense. There were many design schools, many talented students, and many self-taught creatives trying to break into the same market.

I focused on the platforms that worked best in Spain at the time. Domestika was the main one for design internships. I also checked InfoJobs, but I felt that the studios I admired most were less likely to post there.

So I spent weeks applying to many listings on Domestika.

Most of the outcomes were exactly what you would expect: rejection or no response.

The One Agency That Said Yes

Only one agency gave me a real chance: Kolaps ↗.

For some reason, they saw potential in me. I believe my portfolio and personal website helped them picture where I could fit.

They also offered EUR300 per month as an internship stipend. At that point in my life, that mattered a lot. It could almost cover a room rental, which made the opportunity financially realistic.

At the time, I was obsessed with studios like Vasava ↗ and Toormix ↗, where Alex Trochut ↗ had worked. He was a huge inspiration for me, not only because of his style and illustration work, but also because he had built an international career through top studios.

Kolaps was not exactly that dream path, but it had something that pulled me in.

Why I Chose That Internship

Kolaps was not just a traditional graphic design studio. It was a hybrid agency/studio doing branding, product design, UI, and UX. That made it feel closer to the technology side of design, which I was increasingly interested in.

The team was also international, which made the role even more attractive.

At that moment, I could read and understand English fairly well because most of what I consumed online was in English: tutorials, design resources, social media, and articles. I had also done a short trip to London, so I had some exposure.

But doing a full internship in English was a very different level.

I still remember being nervous before the interview because it was all in English. I do not remember every detail now, but I clearly remember the pressure.

In the end, it worked.

I got the internship, worked in English every day, and learned far more than I expected.

What I Learned

Looking back, this was one of my first big professional turning points.

It confirmed something I still believe: growth usually comes from putting yourself in uncomfortable situations on purpose. I call it getting into "good trouble."

That mindset helped me get my first internship, and it has shaped my career ever since.

Before I close, I want to thank Hassan, the founder and director of Kolaps, for giving me this opportunity when I was still very young and early in my career. He welcomed me into the team for a couple of months and gave me the chance to see how everything worked from the inside. I am deeply grateful that he chose me at that stage of my life, so many years ago, and I truly wish him all the best.