Erste Banka is offering two professional training programs this year for undergraduate and graduate students.

Its IT lab is for technical-school students, while general practice is geared toward economics majors.

The Youth Initiative, launched by the Croatian Employers Association and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, is also participating in the events this year to help those of employment age find viable work.

Students who apply for the IT lab will work in a department called Change the Bank, which develops software and digital banking solutions in Croatia. Students will also be paid for their work and have a chance to win additional scholarships. Training takes place for three months over summer. Those interested should send resumes to itlab@erstebank.com.

General practice has 15 openings, which include the opportunity to work with a mentor. In the two years this program has existed, many students have continued working for Erste Banka. Resumes should be sent to generalnaproba@erstebank.com.

“Professional training programs like these are necessary in today’s dynamic business world, while those who will be a part of this world in the future are helped to adopt certain rules and practices that await them," Maja Crnjak, HR director, said in an announcement. "This is in fact the aim of such programs – to allow students to get the picture of how business world really looks like, and this is best done with a good mentor and first small, but real responsibilities through which participants in the program are involved in day-to-day operations of the bank’s organisational units."