A CHAT WITH OUR ALUMNI: ITL Group meets Giulia Pozza

Today we share with you another Chat with our Alumni. 

This time we meet Giulia Pozza, who was an intern in ITL Consulting during the spring and the summer of 2019, where she worked on finance and controlling. Brunilda Qushku, trainee in ITL Marketing in 2020 moderated the meeting. Sheila Moriconi, Head of ITL Consulting, Finance Manager at ITL Group, and Giulia’s tutor during her internship also attended the meeting, together with Irene Pepe, Marketing and Communications Manager for ITL Group.

A Chat with our Alumni: Giulia

Giulia graduated from the University of Trento where she followed a Master in Economics and Business Legislation. Back in Trento after her traineeship, she started working as a controller, a position that she was happy to cover after the experience she gained in ITL Consulting. 

Brunilda’s question on the gap between education and employment didn’t discourage Giulia, who happily answered “despite what many may think, in my case I found a good enough correspondence between what I studied and what I am putting into practice in my daily tasks at work!”

“Giulia, what are your strong suits?” 

“What is the difference between studying and working abroad?

“They have been two wonderful experiences that would recommend to anyone who has the opportunity because they have been very enriching. My previous Erasmus Study in Poland in 2017 certainly made it easier for me to do my internship in Hungary two years later. It allowed me to have an idea of how to find my way in a country I did not know. Nonetheless, doing an internship abroad has some additional challenges, because when you are a student you still feel the safety and comfort of the University environment.”

“One last question Giulia: What advice would you give to other young people and recent graduates?”

“Put yourself to the test: embark on an internship experience to put into practice theoretical notions without fear of making mistakes.“

“ Sheila, what are the advantages for a company to host interns?”

“I have been a controller at ITL Group for many years, and since I started hosting interns to support me I realized how beneficial it could be for me and for the company. Once I overcame the “fear” of having to put too much energy into training interns with no professional background and that would only be around for a few months, I realized that they all compensate for their lack of experience with their dynamic energy and motivation. Their attitude gives a boost to their tutor, and surely to the company as a whole. 

We don’t always underline this point enough, but students will feel motivated if they are included in the process. We don’t think that a trainee should be put next to the copy machine: he or she should be free to share their ideas, and even their critics! In my experience, it has always been a pleasure working with them!” 

“Irene, I’d like to ask you a question. In your opinion, when I talk about the differences between studying and working abroad, is there a different evaluation of experiences in a curriculum?”

“Given that I am an expert in HR, over the years I have found myself choosing resumes for collaborators and trainees. I have always given priority to experiences abroad and extracurricular activities because I think they create the soft skills that make the difference in a candidate.

Having to choose between two identical curricula, where one has work experience and the other an international experience in a company, I would choose the one with the internship abroad, because – and I agree with Giulia on this point, there is the added challenge of lacking a reference network as strong as the one of an Erasmus student, and this leads you to develop even more problem-solving skills. 

After my Erasmus in Spain and before moving to Budapest I did a short period in Ireland for my thesis, an internship abroad in New York, a period as a digital nomad mainly in the Netherlands and then I worked full-time in Malta. In all these new places I didn’t know anyone before moving, nor I had professors or classmates to turn to if I needed: these experiences put me to the test on so many different levels. 

In particular, carrying out an internship allowed me to see how you are supposed to work in an office, more than in any other study experience. I learned how relationships with colleges can change in different cultures, where tones, attitudes, and the appropriate ways to discuss different topics change.”

Original article by Brunilda Qushku former intern at ITL Group and moderator of the interview. Translated by Claudia Lupoli, intern at ITL Group.

Watch the full interview on YouTube!