How to find an internship in Belgium ?

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You’re applying, waiting, and hearing nothing back? You’re not alone. The problem isn’t you; it’s the path. Job boards are roundabouts where everyone goes in circles. They’re okay for a quick look, but that’s not where you’ll stand out. At Meetern, we start from one idea: internships are human encounters. We look at your curiosity, your attempts, your way of speaking to others. In short, People over paper.

Here’s the simple, effective plan. First, we set your compass. Then we build a profile that tells your story better than any CV. Next, we activate Meetern and a light network, send personalised messages that spark conversations, treat the interview as a conversation (you’re choosing too), and run clean follow-ups. You’ll leave with a seven-day action plan. Ready? Let’s go.

Set your compass: avoid scattering your efforts

Before you chase “internship search”, clarify what you want to learn and what you can already bring. Write one sentence about your objective (“Understand and launch a local Instagram campaign”, “Set up a tracking sheet for a data project”). Add the role (marketing, design, dev, HR…), the sector (culture, mobility, social, tech…), the period and days/week, the city (Brussels, Liège, Namur, Antwerp, Ghent…), and the languages you’re comfortable with (FR/EN/NL/others).

Your mini-pitch fits in four lines: who you are (degree/studies), what you want to learn now, what you can deliver in the first month, and your availability (dates + rhythm). This text feeds your Meetern profile, your messages, and your interview intro.

Authentic profile > CV: what recruiters really look at

Keep your CV (one clean page), but stop expecting it to do everything. Recruiters want to feel potential and picture what you can deliver. That’s why concrete proofs help: a well-explained class project, a simple benchmark, a Figma mock-up, a test landing page, a small script, a Google Sheets tracker. You don’t need a “big project”; you need readable traces of how you learn and act.

That’s the spirit of Meetern: a space where your profile tells more than stacked lines. Show your developing skills and tie soft skills to examples (e.g. “reliable” because you kept a club calendar on track; “pedagogical” because you led review sessions; “curious” because you tested one tool a week and documented your method). A 30–45s video (recorded quietly) can change everything: who you are, what you want to learn, and what you propose to deliver in 30 days. Short, human, memorable.

Your Meetern profile (stronger than a CV)

On Meetern your profile isn’t a disguised PDF. It’s a living portrait that helps an organisation picture you fast.

Write a bio like you speak: 3–4 lines are enough to say what drives you, what you want to learn now, and what gets you moving. Skip jargon and decorative lists. Make your soft skills speak through stories: “I ran ticketing for a student gala → I learned rigour and communication”, “I kept a weekly association column → I learned consistency and editing”. Pick one or two projects that feel like you. They don’t need to be perfect: give context, what you tried, what worked, what you’d change.

Show your availability (dates, days/week, locations), and add one or two references if you have them (teacher, tutor, association lead). The whole thing should make people feel they already know you a little. That’s the link you’ll send.

Side note on LinkedIn. Keep it clean (good photo, clear headline, 2–3 media items). Share what you learn from time to time. LinkedIn stays useful, but Meetern is your base and your “trust link”.

Activate Meetern + a light network: open the right doors

Your profile is live; now put it in motion. Map twenty organisations that resonate with your goal: SMEs, agencies, associations, startups in Brussels if you’re there, otherwise near you. On Meetern, spot active teams, those viewing profiles like yours, those whose activity or content column speaks to you.

You’re not “applying everywhere”; you’re starting conversations. Write to people: a comms lead, a PM, a designer, HR. Send a personalised message that starts with them (one true detail you noticed), then propose two simple things you could deliver in 30 days. Offer two time slots for a 20-minute chat and add your Meetern profile link.

In parallel, activate a light personal network: an alumnus, a lecturer, someone you met at an event. Don’t ask for “an internship”; ask for a view on your profile or a precise tip. Five real exchanges beat fifty blind applications.

Apply smartly

When an organisation interests you, send a targeted application. If there’s a form, fill it properly. Also send your personalised message to the most relevant person, with your Meetern link. If there’s no open role, your message is a speculative application and often gets read because it’s about them and value.

A good message takes 6–10 lines. Say where you are in your studies, what you want to learn, what you can deliver quickly, and propose a real next step (“I can show you how I’d approach it”, “I can send a draft on Wednesday”). This is not a cover letter; it’s a note to a person to help them decide if a chat is worth it.

The interview: not an exam, a two-way meeting

Remember: you’re choosing too. An interview isn’t a quiz; it’s an alignment. Prepare three short STAR stories (Situation, Task, Action, Result): how you defined content for a small project, how you managed your time in a busy period, when you showed motivation beyond instructions. It’s not about “shining”; it’s about showing how you learn.

Ask questions that help you project yourself: who will be your mentor, what deliverables are expected in month one, how feedback works, which tools are used, what days/week matter on-site. Close with a simple 30-day plan. If they expect you “to do everything” without a frame, listen to that signal.

Follow-up and nudges: elegance wins

After sending a message, note the date and plan a D+7 follow-up. Following up isn’t pestering; it helps decisions. An elegant follow-up says, “I haven’t forgotten, and I’m already bringing something”: three quick ideas, a draft calendar, a basic tracking sheet. Ten lines, max.

After an interview, send a note the next day. Sum up the priorities you heard, say what you’d do first, and propose a next step (48-hour test, mock-up, query). Your reliability and ability to keep your word are visible even before signing.

Belgian specifics (with a Brussels zoom)

In Brussels, languages matter. Often FR + EN are enough; NL opens extra doors (public sector, retail, large groups). The city is full of NGOs, associations, institutions, agencies, startups. Events are frequent: one hour at a meetup can beat ten applications. Beyond Brussels, Liège and Namur are very concrete fields (industry, services, public sector, non-profits), while Antwerp and Ghent are lively in logistics, design, and tech. Everywhere, be clear early about your on-site days/week and rhythm.

Apprenticeship or “classic” internship?

Apprenticeship gives you depth: longer time, growing autonomy, a project over months. A shorter internship bets on speed: learn fast, deliver fast. Both are valuable. In your messages, stress either duration & progression (apprenticeship) or a first result in 30 days (short internship). Be clear and make it easy to say yes.

7-day action plan

• Day 1 : Write your four-line pitch. Open Meetern, draft a plain-spoken bio, pick three credible skills, add one or two projects (even imperfect), and if you can record a 30-second video.
• Day 2 : List twenty organisations that fit. Learn one true thing about each. Pick five to start with — where you feel you could add value quickly.
• Day 3 : Write five personalised messages. Each starts with them, proposes two simple deliverables for month one, offers two time slots, and links to your Meetern profile. Goal: open conversations.
• Day 4 : Create a small public project linked to your target (mini-analysis, rough visual, tracking sheet). Add it to your profile.
• Day 5 : Send five more messages. Ask an alumnus/lecturer for one specific tip.
• Day 6 : First reply arrives. Offer two slots. Follow up two people with a tiny add-on (three ideas, a sheet, a sample). Tweak your profile.
• Day 7 : Rehearse for interviews: one STAR story on content, one on time management, one on motivation. Write three questions you’ll ask for sure.

Common mistakes (and how to avoid them)

You think you lack experience? What you already have is enough to start. Turn a class, lab, volunteer work, or privateproject into a proof: what you tried, what happened, what you learned. You don’t need fifty applications; ten excellentones win. Don’t send a cover letter; send a message to a person, with a concrete proposal and time slots. Aim for clarityand reliability, not perfection.

Two message examples (adapt, don’t copy)

Agency in Brussels

‍Hi [First name],

I’m a [field] student looking for a [x-week] internship in Brussels from [month]. I liked your “before/after” series for [client] — useful, clear, human.

In the first 30 days, I can update a content calendar and set up a simple tracking sheet to see what works.

If that resonates, I can show you how I’d approach it. Available [slot 1] or [slot 2].

Feel free to check my Meetern profile (bio, projects, video).

Best,

Cultural non-profit in Wallonia or Flanders

Hi [First name],

I’m writing a thesis on [topic] and I’m looking for an internship to learn how to mobilise a local community. Your behind-the-scenes column made me want to reach out.

I could document one rehearsal/workshop per week for your socials and launch a mini “behind-the-scenes” newsletter.

Up for a 20-minute chat? [slot 1] or [slot 2].

Feel free to check my Meetern profile (bio, projects, video).

Thanks!

FAQ

Do I still need a “cover letter”?

No. Write a short message to a real person, with a concrete proposal and your Meetern link. If they want a PDF, paste your message into it.

How many messages per week?

Ten to fifteen well-targeted ones. The goal is conversations, not quotas.

What if I have “no network”?

Your network begins when you write to one person respectfully. Ask for a specific tip, say thanks, give an update later.

What about LinkedIn?

Keep it tidy and low-noise. Your priority link remains your Meetern profile — that’s where people really get who you are.

What Meetern brings

Meetern puts the person at the centre. Your profile (bio, projects, skills, video, references) gives more useful signals than a CV. Organisations see how you learn, express yourself, and organise work. They can write to you directly, react to your proposals, and ask for a next step. You save time; so do they. Most importantly, you start the relationship on a sound, human basis.

Conclusion — You don’t need to be perfect, just true and clear

Finding an internship in Belgium  in Brussels or elsewhere isn’t a keywords contest. It’s a method: set your compass, build a Meetern profile that breathes, write messages that speak about them and propose simple value, treat the interview as a meeting, and follow up with elegance. Start today: update your profile, pick one person, send your first message. You’ve entered the good circle the one where conversations lead to real internships. People over paper.