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A CHAT WITH OUR ALUMNI: ITL Group meets Asselya Sekerova

Asselya Sekerova

Today we share with you another episode of our series of interviews with ITL Alumni. Today we meet Asselya Sekorova, intern during the spring of 2021 in Marketing. Claudia Lupoli, current intern in the same business area, moderated the interview, together with Irene Pepe Marketing and Communication Manager at ITL Group.

A Chat with our Alumni: ASSELYA

Born and raised in Kazakhstan, Asselya now lives in Marino, Rome. In this interview, Asselya shared her experience as an intern, her projects for the future, and her views on being a freelancer.

CLAUDIA: WELCOME ASSELYA! CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF?

ASSELYA: “I’m thirty-three years old I lived and worked in Kazakhstan but the last 10 years before coming to Italy I worked as a Marketing Project Manager for mobile and web project, as part of creative ad technical teams. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Computing and Software and although I have never worked as a programmer it was very useful to know the type of language used by my colleagues from the IT department. 

I also worked freelance as a marketer, but then I decided to move to Italy! I decided to work on my English and I enrolled in LUMSA, a private University in Rome where I recently graduated with a Master’s Degree in Marketing and Digital Communication with a thesis on “Nostalgia Marketing and Consumption”, a topic that is very recurrent in modern marketing. 

Now I’m looking for new job opportunities in Italy or remotely!”

CLAUDIA: WHEN DID YOU DO YOUR INTERNSHIP?

“I started in March of 2021 and finished in May, so three months.

Because of the pandemic we were working remotely, but it was a really nice experience! I was already used to following my University course remotely, but I would really feel disconnected by the whole experience…This didn’t happen while doing my internship! Although the situation was the same, I quickly felt part of a group! “

claudia: WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE SKILLS YOU LEARNED DURING YOUR INTERNSHIP THAT TURNED OUT TO BE USEFUL IN YOUR JOB?

“The skill that was the most import for me to develop is communication.

Even though I was used to studying in English because of my Master’s, using the language with a team on skype, or when you meet a person for the first time is not the same as following a lecture. It was very important for me to develop the skills necessary to communicate efficiently with the others in the team, and to get my ideas across. Even more important for me was the written language. I’m passionate about writing in Russian, as it’s my mother tongue, and it was a bit difficult for me to mirror my abilities in English.

IRENE: “If I may interrupt, I think you did a wonderful job! You managed to communicate proficiently in English. We really appreciated your analytical skills, and working in team with you was always a pleasure!” 

claudia: MANY YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY YOUNG GRADUATES, WISH TO START WORKING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT DO YOU THINK TAKING THE TIME TO DO INTERNSHIPS IS IMPORTANT?

I think we should consider the specific needs of the student…If the student needs to start working- in payed position, then it’s one situation..but I think that it’s crucial to have an internship experience while in University, since it’s a great opportunity to put into practice the things you learn. Of course when we are in University we focus on studying, and preparing for exams, but when we are on the field we really put our hands on it. 

Also, doing an internship can be a great opportunity to see from up-close the field we are specializing in, and decide in which specific area we want to go deeper!

Marketing itself has many different areas, so it’s interesting to find what really fits you, and who knows? Maybe it’s the job of your life! 

CLAUDIA: Asselya, you told us you had experience working as a freelancer. Since our platform ITL ALUMNI was created with the intention of creating a bridge between generations in the job market

DO YOU THINK THAT YOUNG GRADUATES SHOULD CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE JOB STYLES? LIKE Freelancing or remote working?

ASSELYA: “Maybe I have a bit of an old style opinion, but I think it’s really important for those who start working to have the “office experience”, to meet people. I really stress the importance of communication, and the best option is to physically meet your colleagues, and work in the same environment. Then, of course, you can organize your abilities, become comfortable in the skills you need for the job and put yourself in remote, or as a freelancer!

claudia: I WOULD LIKE TO FORWARD THE SAME QUESTION TO IRENE, SINCE YOU TOO HAVE EXPERIENCE WORKING AS A FREELANCER AND AS A DIGITAL NOMAD.

IRENE: “I definitely agree with Asselya. I think it’s important to start in the office: you can learn how the company works, how to interact with clients and it also gives you an opportunity to make future comparisons with other work environments

In my experience, I was able to become a freelancer because I managed to gather enough hands-on experience volunteering for years in a no-profit organization as a Communication Manager. Without forgetting my two internships- one in Italy and one in New York, where I developed even more skills that I then put to use in my freelancing job.

But of course it’s not mandatory: people can start their freelance career as soon as they finish their degree…but if they can choose, before putting themselves out on the market, I think it’s easier to feel a bit stronger about their skills, how to prepare a business proposal, the budget… “

CLAUDIA: I think I can agree with both of you: having the experience in the office has a great value in growing as a professional, but I still think that other more modern approaches to working can become an interesting alternative for those entering the job market. Being able to work remotely means being able to move around, travel, and even from an economical point of view it can hold a lot of potential…Maybe you agree with me on this point, Irene..

IRENE: I really do…I think it’s a great opportunity, and I think it’s interesting to see that “thanks” to the pandemic we have seen some changes made in regards to the tax system and health system for remote workers and now it’s a conversation that many companies are having. I think it’s an opportunity for those who can and like to travel, and I understand why it would be appealing for the younger generation, as it was for me a few years ago! 

ITL ALUMNI: LOOKING FOR NEW OPPORTUNITIES!

IRENE: ASSELYA, YOU MENTIONED YOU WERE LOOKING FOR NEW JOB OPPORTUNITIES! WHAT JOB POSITION ARE YOU AIMING TO? 

ASSELYA: “Thanks to my experience in this field, I have learned that the area that I’m most interested in is Product Marketing. I’m very passionate about the creation of the product from scratch, focusing on user experience…

Of course even after graduating I haven’t stopped studying! I’m upskilling in Agile Framework, a very useful approach, especially as a project manager. I have also been renewing my Google Ads and SEO certificates, in order for recruiters to have proof of my competences, since my portfolio is mostly in Russian or Kazakh. Also, now that I live in Italy I’m working on my Italian, since I would really like to find new job opportunities here”.

CLAUDIA: TO FINISH OUR INTERVIEW, ASSELYA, DO YOU HAVE ANY TIP FOR US CURRENT INTERN AT ITL GROUP?

The hands-on practical knowledge that you are obtaining now is crucial! But it’s also very important to study! Learn as much as possible from your academic background, because it really is applicable in your future jobs!

Asselya Sekerova

Article by Claudia Lupoli, intern at ITL Group

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