Giuliano Graniti

• Age: 20 years old
• Degree program: Law
• Internship period: June 2022 – December 2022
• Host organization: Supreme Court of Cassation - CED
   

Tell us about your internship. What were your main tasks and activities?

The internship gave me the opportunity to work with the judges at the CED, the Electronic Documentation Center, an autonomous unit that reports directly to the First Presidency of the Court of Cassation. One of the center’s key institutional responsibilities is to provide legal professionals with digital access to archives of national and supranational case law and legislation. The center ensures these archives are up-to-date and comprehensive, often with the help of interns like myself. 
My role was to help compile the database, accessible via the ItalgiureWeb platform, which contains the case law of the European Court of Human Rights. Specifically, I worked on translating the press releases for the Court's judgments, which are issued in English or French and briefly outline the facts and the legal principle the Court applied in its ruling. In addition, for each press release, I identified the relevant case law precedents that the Court used as the basis for its decision. This work thus enables legal practitioners to find the key elements of the Court's decisions summarized in a document spanning just a few pages.

What did you learn?

This work allowed me, first and foremost, to understand the actual nature of interactions between national and supranational courts, as well as the influence of the ECHR provisions on our legal system. This includes not only their textual form but, more importantly, how the Court of Strasbourg interprets them. Secondly, I had the opportunity to delve deeper into supranational law across a wide range of subjects, from tax law to international security and family law.

How did your university education help you navigate this experience?

The theoretical knowledge I gained in the university classroom was crucial. In particular, my prior knowledge of how the ECHR operates and its role within national legal systems allowed me to complete my internship with a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of my work. Understanding the core mechanisms of international law also made it easier to grasp the content of the various judgments assigned to me. But above all, the comprehensive legal knowledge I gained at university allowed me to ensure each press release was clear and precise, using the technical terms required for each case.

Did this internship help you better define your next career goals?

Completing the tasks required by the internship gave me the opportunity to use the tools that a practicing lawyer inevitably interacts with. Reading court rulings and, above all, personally drafting legal documents confirmed my strong interest in pursuing a career in the legal profession.

Which services did you use from the Luiss Career Service?

The Luiss Career Service has proven to be an invaluable bridge connecting me to the world of work. As a student with no prior work experience, I felt a bit lost right after accepting the internship offer. The support I received in completing the procedures and establishing contact with the organization was crucial in allowing me to approach this pivotal moment in my career with confidence.

Which Luiss Career Service events did you attend, and how did they help you?

Among the many events organized by the Career Service, I found the meeting held at Luiss with the prestigious law firm Bonelli-Erede particularly helpful. During that session, I had the opportunity to hear directly from the employer about the essential requirements for joining a leading law firm.

What are your professional aspirations and expectations for the future?

Personally, at this stage while I'm still in college, I'm trying not to rule out any career options. Of course, I'm most interested in a career at a law firm, but I recognize that the job market offers many equally interesting opportunities. So, right now, I'm trying to build a university career that's as rich and varied as possible, with experiences and projects that will help me figure out which path is best for me.

Do you have any advice for those looking for an internship?

Our advice to anyone considering an internship for the first time is to not hesitate to seek support from those with more experience. Tutors are important figures from whom you can learn new dynamics and knowledge to perform your work at your best. It’s also crucial to have support—whether it’s the career service or someone you know who’s already working at the host organization—during the onboarding phase, as this can sometimes be a source of concern.
 

Camilla Costanza Patitucci

• Age: 24
• Degree program: Economics and Finance, major in Banking and Financial Intermediaries
• Internship period: October 2022 – March 2023
• Host organization: Investment Banking, Equity Capital Markets at IMI Corporate & Investment Banking – Intesa Sanpaolo
   

Tell us about your internship. What were your main tasks and activities?

<p > As an intern in the Equity Capital Markets desk, I participate daily in the definition, execution, and aftermarket phases of deals related to raising capital to meet client needs. This includes initial public offerings (IPOs), capital increases, accelerated bookbuilding processes, tender offers, and the creation of equity-linked instruments like convertible bonds. The desk also gives me the opportunity to interact with other teams, including M&A, Sales & Trading, and equity research analysts.

What have you learned?

I’ve learned—and am still learning—how to interpret and analyze financial market trends. I also have the opportunity to improve my valuation and modeling skills, using applications and software like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Factset. The opportunity to work in a dynamic and highly demanding environment is also teaching me how to manage my time efficiently and set priorities.

How has your university education helped you navigate this experience?

My degree program has equipped me not only with all the qualitative and quantitative skills and knowledge, but also with the curiosity and ambition needed to tackle the world of Investment Banking.

Has this internship helped you better define your next career goals?

The experience I’m gaining has definitely shaped the career path I want to pursue after graduation: investment banking. I particularly hope to grow and learn more in the Equity Capital Markets field.

Which services provided by the Luiss Career Service have you used?

The opportunity to speak with a career advisor specializing in investment banking was definitely a huge help to me at the start. They guided me in my search for an internship in a highly competitive field and helped me tailor my profile and skills to what employers are looking for.

Which Luiss Career Service events did you attend, and how did they help you?

The Career Days organized by the university aren’t just great opportunities to meet companies and learn more about employers; they’re also chances to network, share ideas and resumes, and prepare for interviews by meeting with recruiters.

What are your professional aspirations and expectations for the future?

After graduation, I plan to continue my professional career in investment banking and capital markets. I hope to be involved in transactions that will broaden my knowledge of the sector as much as possible, and to work with professionals who have diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Do you have any advice for those looking for an internship?

Curiosity and passion are key drivers: every experience is another chance to improve and broaden your skills and to figure out which work environment might best align with your goals, expectations, and abilities. Also, never pass up new opportunities to expand your network.

Giovanni Petruccio

• Age: 22
• Degree Program: Policies and Governance in Europe; Major in Economic Governance and Market Regulation
• Internship period: September 2022 – March 2023
• Host Organization: Canadian Embassy in Rome
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Tell us about your internship. What were your main tasks and activities?

Working in the Canadian Embassy's Commercial Office, my main focus is collaborating with Canadian companies to help them enter the Italian market and partner with Italian companies. While this personalized approach means no two tasks are alike, I'm often asked to produce specific market reports for Canadian companies looking to expand into Italy, or to select and contact Italian companies that might be interested in working with a Canadian company.

What did you learn?

Having previously completed similar internships at the Embassy of Colombia and the Ministry of Economic Development, the main thing I learned was how to work within a large team like the one at the Canadian Embassy. The Commercial Office is made up of about ten people who often have to work together to achieve a common goal. Therefore, rather than working alone and keeping things to yourself, success also involves sharing practices, work, and resources.

How has your university education helped you navigate this experience?

While my university education provides the foundational knowledge to better understand what I'm doing and why, it's not as essential as one might think. In fact, in all the internships I've done in the past, education has rarely been more important than factors like the willingness to learn and to tackle tasks with a positive, hard-working mindset. That's because work is different from studying; above all, it calls for versatility and adaptability.

Did this internship help you better define your next career goals?

Yes. I think everyone in college should try to get as much work, internship, or volunteer experience as possible. In fact, even if we might already have a career path in mind before starting our studies, this could be more of an idealized concept than reality. Gaining experience in the type of career you're considering can help you figure out if it's actually a good fit for you and whether you'd like to pursue it in the future.

Which services from the Luiss Career Service have you used?

<p > Above all, the most useful service is the “Job Opportunities” section on Job Teaser. That's because it's often packed with great opportunities for internships or work experience. While you shouldn't overload yourself with work during your time at university, I've noticed that the more substantial your resume, the easier it is to find a job afterward. Indeed, employers appreciate the commitment of individuals who haven’t neglected professional experience during their studies.

Which Luiss Career Service events did you attend, and how did they help you?

I attended the Luiss Career Service event on finding internship positions within the EU (both the Parliament and the Commission). This was really helpful, as I imagine other similar events are for different career paths. It gave me the know-how, tips, and tricks I needed to boost my chances of securing an internship or job opportunity at a prestigious institution like the EU.

What are your professional aspirations and expectations for the future?

For now, I aspire to become a diplomat. It's something I've always wanted to do. Working at the Canadian Embassy (and before that at the Colombian Embassy) has made me certain that this job is right for me, as it's challenging and dynamic enough. However, I've recently developed a strong interest in lobbying as well (and I'm looking for an internship in that field too). Most of all, as I imagine is the case for many of my colleagues, I find it a bit challenging right now to envision pursuing a single career path throughout my entire professional life.

Do you have any advice for those looking for an internship?

Start early and apply for everything that interests you. The sooner you enter the job market—whether through internships or temporary work— the easier it will be later to compete for a job you truly want. Likewise, don't hold back when looking for an internship. I've often heard my colleagues say they didn't apply for certain positions because they didn't feel prepared enough. Never do that, because it's impossible to know what the employer is looking for or needs.

Balkiss Tekaya

• Age: 26
• Degree Program: Data Science & Management
• Internship period: April 2022 – September 2022
• Host Organization: Fater: Advanced Analytics Department
   

Tell us about your internship. What were your main tasks and activities?

As an intern Data Scientist in Fater's Advanced Analytics department, I consistently worked with data and generated data insights. During this experience, I also had the opportunity to contribute to building descriptive models for the HR department.

What did you learn?

I learned to work within a team to develop professional and real-life projects. Working under the guidance of industry experts also made it easier for me to improve my technical skills. Finally, I developed my problem-solving skills by coming up with creative solutions through constant brainstorming within the team.

How did your university education help you navigate this experience?

As a student enrolled in the master's program in Data Science & Management, I had previously worked on real projects with major companies like Terna, NTT, Microsoft, and others. With that prior exposure to real data and a solid theoretical background, I felt comfortable working with large data sets and Data Science tools. During my internship, I focused on improving these skills and finding solutions through problem-solving.

Did this internship help you better define your next career goals?

My internship at Fater helped me understand the skills needed to grow and improve, so that I can be a Data Scientist in a professional setting. Additionally, working closely with experts in this field has helped me enhance my understanding of the industry.

Which services from Luiss Career Service did you use?

I met with one of the Career Service advisors to get help preparing for the interview.

What are your professional aspirations and expectations for the future?

I aspire to become a Data Scientist working on a variety of real and stimulating projects, in an environment where I can apply everything I've learned at Luiss to make a valuable contribution to data-driven decision-making processes.

Do you have any advice for those looking for an internship?

I always recommend checking the Career Service page for opportunities and news. Try to attend as many events as possible and build your network. You can also reach out to Career Service advisors for support and advice on how to prepare for interviews or to have your CV reviewed. Good luck, everyone!

Sara Vaccari

• Age: 23
• Degree Program: Management – Major: International Management; DDIM with Fudan University.
• Internship period: Summer 2023

• Host Organization: McKinsey & Company​​

Tell us about your internship. What were your main tasks and activities?

<p >Hello, everyone! My name is Sara Vaccari, and I'm currently in my second year of the Master's program in Management at Luiss Guido Carli. As a student nearing the end of my academic career, I know all too well that these final moments are marked by a strong desire to understand who we are, what we want to do, and, most importantly, who we want to be in the near future. A future that, however, is beginning now. I took one of my first steps toward this new path last summer when I had the fantastic opportunity to explore and fully immerse myself in the world of strategic consulting while working at McKinsey & Company. During my two-month internship, I had the chance to work alongside an amazing team, gathering and analyzing information from market experts, formulating hypotheses, and providing recommendations for the client. I had the chance to enhance my analytical and soft skills, but above all, to truly grasp what it means to be a consultant.

What did you learn?

Where to start...! I won't lie and say that it was only afterward that I truly realized how much I had grown and how much I had learned during those weeks. I'm not just talking about technical and analytical skills, but about personal growth in every aspect. In fact, being immersed in a dynamic, stimulating, and inspiring environment allowed me to step outside my comfort zone, challenge myself, learn from the best, address my weaknesses, and improve day by day. It's a fact: the learning curve is one of the aspects I admire most about this company, along with the team spirit in tackling every challenge.

How did your university education help you navigate this experience?

My university career has always been primarily focused on economics and management studies. Over these five years, exams and extracurricular activities have allowed me not only to pursue my personal interests, but also to develop the hard and soft skills needed to succeed in the workplace. Examples include leadership, time management, problem-solving, and communication.

Has this internship helped you better define your next career goals?

Strategic consulting is a field that has always intrigued me. This internship allowed me to experience what it truly means to be part of that world. I’ve always promised myself that I’d be surrounded by a stimulating, dynamic, and inspiring environment—one where personal development is at the heart of the company’s work, where you can learn from top experts in the field, tackle new challenges every day, and grow while having fun. These are all reasons why I'm considering a future career in this field.

Which services from the Luiss Career Service have you used? Which Luiss Career Service events did you attend, and how did they help you?

As you may have gathered from my previous answers, strategic consulting has always been my primary goal. Over the past two years, I've attended numerous events and intensive preparation courses organized by the Luiss Career Service. These have allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of this sector, its culture, and its key players. Plus, I had numerous CV review sessions and very long phone calls with industry experts!

What are your professional aspirations and expectations for the future?

During this experience, I had the opportunity to work with a wonderful group of people who taught me so much in just a few weeks and who always pushed me to give my best. They were mentors and a constant source of inspiration. I don't know where I'll be in the near future or where my professional career will take me, but I'm certain about my values and how I'll work.

Do you have any advice for those looking for an internship?

Once you figure out which sector might interest you the most, ask current employees questions. Find out if you could enjoy the environment and if you see yourself working there in the near future. If the answer is yes, then get ready and go for it—your future awaits.