Choosing to dedicate one year of my life to enroll in anInternational Master in Tourism & Hospitality Management at EADA is a huge milestone for me.This journey didn't start in a classroom, but years ago in the Rhodope mountains in Bulgaria.
From Mountains to Management
I grew up in a family-run hospitality business, combining a hotel in the woods and an urban pastry shop. From an early age, I experienced both the beauty and the challenges of the industry, including moments of crisis that taught me resilience and adaptability.
I worked in the patisserie for about 3 years and in the Sales & Marketing Department in the hotel for nearly 3 years more. I had the hands-on experience and the grit, but I realized I lacked the formal tourism education to truly transform our business. My background was in economics, but if I wanted to fulfill my dream of building Bulgaria’s First Regenerative Premium Resort (my current final project in EADA).
I needed a bridge. I needed a school that would give me a broad perspective and the depth to navigate into this complex industry, and I needed to make the right connections with people that will believe in this project, and invest in it. That’s what brought me to EADA Business School in Barcelona and its International Master in Tourism & Hospitality Management, a program known for its practical approach and strong connection to the industry.
The "Hidden" Job Market Struggle
Coming to EADA, I had a clear goal: get an internship at a prestigious hotel chain to see how the big players operate while seeking investors and partners in the meantime. But I quickly hit a wall. In my talks with alumni and HR friends, I heard the same thing over and over: the market is flooded with qualified people, but job offers often disappear into the black hole of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
It felt like a paradox. You can be the most qualified person, but if AI doesn't like your keywords, you're out. I realized that the Case Study methodology we use at EADA makes us experts at solving business problems, but we still needed a way to get in the door to show that expertise. Left this alone, most of the nice internship offers were internally allocated.
Finding CareerOS
Through the EADA Careers department and chatting with friends from another top business school in Barcelona, I heard about a startup called CareerOS, an innovative career management platform increasingly used by top business schools to help students navigate today’s competitive job market.
I haven’t started school yet, so I had more time to research and prepare for what’s coming. It wasn't just another AI tech startup - it was a platform that helps you build ATS-friendly CVs and, more importantly, helps and organizes your contacts effectively so that you can track your progress while establishing a connection with people that could help you getting "internally accepted" before a job even hits the public market.
I did my research and was blown away. This startup had already been adopted by more than 70 leading business schools across Europe and beyond. It had just won a $1.2 million pre-seed round (and high honors in major startup competitions). When I finally had a class at EADA where the CareerOS team presented, I knew I had to be part of it. I didn't just want to use the tool - I wanted to help lead it.
Becoming the Strategist
I applied to become the CareerOS Strategist for EADA because I genuinely believe in the product. It’s Student Obsessed, just like the founders say. Shortly after, I was chosen for the role!
My first mission? To bridge the gap between our students and this amazing technology. I visited their head office in Diagonal, and the vibe was exactly what you’d hope for in a top-tier startup: the sweetest dog in the office - Coco, a big family feel, chill rooms, and a kitchen that would make any hospitality student jealous (with an incredible view of Barcelona, of course). Visiting the CareerOS team reinforced my interest in innovation and entrepreneurship, and motivated me to take a more active role within the EADA community.
To make things more exciting for my fellow EADA students, I decided to push my own boundaries. I actually learned how to code to build a custom website for our event applications. I even integrated AI into the form to make it more interactive and fun. I plan on organizing chill social gatherings throughout the year with my classmates where we could exchange networking tactics and build ATS-friendlier CVs.
The CareerOS Networking Event at EADA
All of this led to our first big milestone: the CareerOS Networking Event held on 20th January 2026 on the 8th-floor rooftop of EADA.
There’s a reason the CareerOS team chose a Hospitality student! To show them what I’m made of, I decided to make a branded statement - a batch of custom-made cookies. They turned out perfect, proving that whether it’s a hotel or a tech startup, the personal touch always wins. We had a warm and a fresh start from the Winter Holidays with some other snacks, coffee and some time where we could all bond and talk about our future challenges, goals and ideas and see how we could combine our experience and grab the opportunities for us.
Innovation & Sustainability at EADA
Standing there, looking out over the city, I realized how much EADA Business School and CareerOS have already changed my path. Through CareerOS, I found my own mentor who is guiding me through every step of my career, internship, connections & business. More importantly, I’m using everything I’ve learned from EADA and all the interesting people I meet and exchange experience, ideas and knowledge to complete my final project in EADA: a roadmap for my family's hotel back in Bulgaria. We are moving away from just "Eco" toward "Regenerative." It’s about giving back more than we take, and thanks to this community, I finally have the tools to make that mission a reality.
Learning beyond the classroom
EADA inspired me to dream big and showed me - not only through classroom learning, but also by how sustainability and innovation are implemented on campus. From a highly digitalized system where paper is unnecessary - to the clean, peaceful, and welcoming environment designed to encourage collaboration, the school’s culture is tangible in everyday life. It really makes you motivated to stay, connect, and grow and not want to leave after classes - it feels like home.
I’ve also realized that being uncomfortable is part of the growth process. Getting back to the classroom and providing argumented opinions during heated case discussions, presenting, researching, networking, multitasking and trying to connect with people you don’t know could be overwhelming, but will reward you afterwards. It could be very intense, but will equip you with confidence and knowledge to adapt easily in diverse environments. Stepping out of your comfort zone and challenging yourself by moving and studying abroad will change your perspective.
Looking back, I realize that even with prior experience, there was still so much to learn - and that is where the real value lies. Choosing to study abroad and challenge myself in a dynamic, international setting has been one of the best decisions I’ve made so far.
And now straight to the point - stop waiting for the job market to find you. If you want the dream job, you have to knock on the door yourself. But entry is only half the battle. When you’ve done the work and built your expertise, you won’t just stay silent - you’ll know exactly how to stand out from the crowd.
That is why I chose EADA Business School. Here, proactivity is encouraged, innovation is part of everyday life, and opportunities are created - not waited for.
Author
Nicole Burdzhieva
Participant - International Master in Tourism & Hospitality Management 2025-2026