Over the past couple of months, our Production Department welcomed exchange interns from Bilbao, Spain – Jon Goikoetxea Otaola and Unai Fernández. They joined Teletek Electronics in Sofia to gain hands-on experience in a real manufacturing environment.
As their exchange internship in Bulgaria comes to an end, we asked them to reflect on what they learned, what surprised them most, and how the experience helped them grow both professionally and personally.
Turning Engineering Theory into Reality
One of the most valuable lessons Jon and Unai shared was discovering the connection between engineering theory and real-world manufacturing. The duo shares that working directly within production gave them a deeper understanding of the precision, coordination, and planning required to create reliable security solutions used around the world.
“I would say the most valuable thing I learned at Teletek is how a factory operates, and how many different processes need to work smoothly together in order to produce a product properly.”
-Jon
Understanding the Importance of Quality
The interns were especially impressed by the scale of operations and the role of Quality Assurance in the manufacturing process. As they put it, “In university, you usually build a single working prototype. But in a real production environment, every component and process must be optimized for mass production without compromising reliability.”
Knowing that the systems they worked on are designed to protect people and property added an entirely new level of responsibility to their experience.
Becoming Part of the Team
Beyond the technical knowledge, they highlighted the support they received from the Teletek team throughout their internship.
“The team was incredibly welcoming and patient from day one. Senior engineers always took the time to explain complex testing protocols or manufacturing steps to me. They didn’t treat me just as a temporary intern, but as a real part of the department.”
-Unai
Discovering Sofia and Bulgarian Culture
Outside of work, Sofia also left a strong impression. From exploring the city and tasting traditional Bulgarian food to weekend hikes on Vitosha Mountain, the interns embraced the opportunity to experience a completely new culture and environment. They shared with us that they loved the contrast between the vibrant city life and having nature right next door.
Advice for Future Exchange Students
When asked what they would say to other students considering an internship abroad, their answer was clear:
“Absolutely go for it and don’t let the fear of the unknown hold you back. It pushes you out of your comfort zone in the best way possible and gives you an international professional perspective that will be a huge advantage for your future career.”
-Unai
“I would tell them to fully experience it. In fact, this year I’m taking another course, and at the end of it, I’ll have the opportunity to do Erasmus again. Without a doubt, I would repeat the experience. I truly believe it is something everyone should experience at least once in their life.”
-Jon
We’re grateful for the energy, curiosity, and enthusiasm they brought to Teletek Electronics over the past months, and we wish them every success in their future careers.
Thank you for being part of our team and safe travels back to Spain!
Want to be part of the Teletek team?
Check out our careers page – your next adventure awaits!
