Internships and job orienteering
WHO ARE THE CAREER ADVISERS
Career Advisers support students in identifying career paths that best match their inclinations and talents and provide them with the tools and skills to create action plans for achieving their career goals.
Career Adviser supported courses are preparatory to curricular training, but do not guarantee preferential access to internship positions. Internship proposals are reported by Career Advisers through a weekly newsletter or are found independently by trainees on the recommended platforms.
WHAT ACTIVITIES DO CAREER ADVISERS PERFORM
Career Advisers
- offer consultancy in the field of on/off-line personal branding;
- support students in the construction and development of theri career path;
- provide advice on the different forms of CV writing (resume, video CV,...), on the drafting of cover letters, on the most appropriate ways to face a selection interview (simulation of interviews in presence, blind interviews, through online interviews, through project development);
- together with the University's Stage & Placement Office, provide support in the placement phases: they promote meetings with companies (roundtables) and events to orient students to the professional field (career paths, speed interviews, workshops on employment contracts, entrepreneurship, and the creation of start-ups);
- develop the soft skills needed to enter the professional world;
- offer an up-to-date overview of the main trends related to the professional world through the recommendation of specific readings (sector and news articles);
- provide information on open internship positions through a weekly newsletter;
- assist in the identification of possible companies for students’ internships.
HOW TO CONTACT CAREER ADVISERS
Communication with Career Advisers takes place through 3 channels:
- Mailing list: students regularly enrolled in the degree programme will receive communications from Career Advisers regarding internship offers, events and orientation initiatives. Students are requested to read their mailbox @icatt regularly.
- Blackboard: notices, documents, forms required for the various practices, presentations and tools are available on the Blackboard internship page; students are invited to register at the same time as enrolling.
- Meetings: Career Advisers receive upon appointment; requests should be sent by e-mail to stage.cimo@unicatt.it by Friday of the previous week. Please remember to indicate in the subject line of the email the surname of the Career Adviser you would like to speak to.
Unless otherwise announced, the meetings with the Career Advisers will start on 1st October of each Academic Year and will end at the end of July of the same year.
Meetings are by appointment and ON LINE.
CIMO's Career Advisers are:
- Dr Alessandra Olietti
- Dr Deborah Paola Gaudio
- Dr. Giorgia Bresciani
TIMING AND SERVICE STANDARDS
Career Advisers can be reached by e-mail from the 1st of September of each Academic Year to the end of July of the same year, at the official e-mail address stage.cimo@unicatt.it. In August, the service is inactive. Students are requested to forward to the Career Advisers communications and documents relating to the recognition of work activities carried out or requests for formalisation of internships, taking into account this timetable.
Students are requested to use the above email address only. Communications sent to other addresses will not be processed.
Students are invited to read the regulation and FAQs.
CURRICULAR INTERNSHIP
The graduate degree programme in Communication for business, media and culture foresees 10 ECTS of internship and placement activities. The internship experience is mandatory to the didactic and seminar activities of the degree programme, an extension of the simulations and projects developed in the courses and laboratories, and an opportunity to measure oneself against the professional challenges posed by the world of communication today. The minimum duration of the internship is 270 hours. In order to be able to submit internship applications and activate the curricular internship with ECTS, students must have taken part in the 'Self branding and Job positioning' workshop.
TYPES OF CURRICULAR INTERNSHIP
The 10 ECTS for the curricular internship activities of the graduate degree programme in Communication for business, media and culture may be acquired by students in the following ways:
(A) Internships proposed by companies and available on the https://step.unicatt.it/index_en.html platform (English version) and internships recommended to students by the degree programme Career Adviser (proposed internship)
(B) Internships proposed by the student (self-proposed internship), based on personal contacts with the institution or company
(C) Recognition of professional activities carried out by the student in fields recognised as valid by the Career Adviser
The following will NOT be recognised as valid:
- all professional activities carried out within bodies or companies in which persons related to the candidate by any degree are employed;
- any internship activity that has already produced ECTS for an undergraduate programme and/or a graduate programme;
- all internships activated as 'curricular with zero ECTS'.
To activate the curricular internship with ECTS, you need:
- To have gained a minimum of 24 ECTS during the student's career (through passing exams or seminars);
- To take part in the 'Self branding and Job positioning' workshop.
Information on internship offers and any training sessions will be sent by email by the Career Advisers of the degree programme; students are therefore advised to check their email regularly.
RECOGNITION OF CURRICULAR INTERNSHIP (with ECTS)
Curricular internships of type A and B (see “INTERNSHIP TYPOLOGIES”) must be activated on https://step.unicatt.it/index_en.html as curricular internships with ECTS. The procedure is explained in detail at the following link
All information on internships (procedures, regulations, etc.) can be found here.
INTERRUPTION OF CURRICULAR INTERNSHIP (with ECTS)
Those who have serious and justified reasons for interrupting their internship must have their company reference person contact the Stage & Placement Office (patrizia.carnelli@unicatt.it) by copying the internship tutor (stage.cimo@unicatt.it), specifying the reasons for the interruption. Degree programme Career Advisers will assess whether to recognise part of the internship ECTS.
Please note that the Curricular Internship Commission may proceed to end the internship activity and cancel the ECTS in case of proven non-compliance by students.
EXTENSION OF CURRICULAR INTERNSHIP (ZERO ECTS)
It is possible to extend the internship activity in the form of a 'curricular with zero ECTS' internship. At the end of the training project with ECTS, students must contact the Stage & Placement Office and request the activation of a new training project without ECTS.
RECOGNISATION OF CURRICULAR INTERNSHIP (with ECTS)
TYPE A and B INTERNSHIP
Type A and B internship recognition will follow these steps:
- since the end of the internship, the company will be invited (by communication from the Stage & Placement Office) to fill in an online questionnaire on https://step.unicatt.it/index_en.html in order to assess the internship carried out;
- the company will be able to access the platform using the same credentials provided during registration and used to activate the internship;
- the company can fill in the questionnaire from 5 days before to 20 days after the end of the internship;
- only after a positive assessment by the company it will be possible to proceed with the recognition of the internship and the related ECTS;
The company has not completed the questionnaire, Career Advisers will contact the company contact person indicated in the training project and send him/her the evaluation questionnaire in Word format. This questionnaire must then be returned to the Stage & Placement Office, which will manually upload it onto the portal.
TYPE C INTERNSHIP
For type C internships, the student must present the work contract, specifying the tasks performed, and an identity document. Please note that the work activity must be inherent to the Degree Programme and will be subjected to evaluation by the Technical Committee. In such cases, the procedure will take longer. Students are asked to take this into account and to complete the procedure well in advance.
CAREER REGISTRATION
The registration of the ECTS gained through type A, B and C internships takes place once the above described procedures have been completed.
Registration of the internship are taken only at the appropriate call (as for the exams).
Call dates for the registration of internships can be found on the following page https://docenti.unicatt.it/ppd2/en/docenti/73786/deborah-paola-gaudio/didattica and are updated by the offices periodically. The last available call will be 15 days before the chosen graduation session.
It is up to the students to register on the most appropriate date according to their career path. Please note that before registering for the call, you must ask the company to complete the evaluation questionnaire on your internship. If the questionnaire is not completed with a positive evaluation, the internship cannot be approved.
INTERNSHIPS ABROAD
Communication for business, media and culture Programme encourages students to attend their internships abroad. A number of study abroad options are available:
(A) internships offered within the framework of agreements activated by the UCSC International network and present on the student portal - experiences abroad
(B) self-provided internships.
In both cases the internship must be formalised as follows:
- the company must register (if not already done) on https://step.unicatt.it/index_en.html;
- students must compulsorily activate the internship by following the 'Student Access' path on https://step.unicatt.it/index_en.html;
Upon activation of the internship by the students, the company will receive a notification inviting them to confirm the activation of the internship, also on the portal https://step.unicatt.it/index_en.html;
The start of the internship is subject to the approval of the Career Advisers;
Upon completion of the procedures outlined in steps 1-4, trainees will receive two documents (the Trilateral Agreement and the Indemnity Agreement) by email, which must be signed and emailed in advance to the following address wea@unicatt.it. Trainees will be responsible for handing over the originals of the two documents to the International Relations Office (Via Carducci, 28/30, Milan) upon their return from mobility.
How can I access internship offers related to my programme?
Internship proposals are available on the https://step.unicatt.it/index_en.html portal. Career Advisers can also send proposals directly to your @icatt mailbox via a weekly newsletter.
How does the procedure for activating the curricular internship with ECTS take place (once the 24 ECTS have been reached)?
The internship must be activated through the https://step.unicatt.it/index_en.html portal. If the company is not affiliated, it will have to proceed with the registration phase through the indicated portal and follow the instructions that will be sent by email from time to time. Only once the agreement has been activated will the company be able to activate the training project, which must be approved by the student and the Career Adviser, indicated during the activation phase. The complete procedure for activating curricular internships with ECTS can be viewed here.
I did not attend the 'Self branding and job positioning' workshop, can I activate the internship (curricular with ECTS)?
No, you cannot activate the curricular internship with ECTS if you have not taken part in the 'Self branding and Job positioning' workshop.
How to obtain recognition of ECTS?
Validation of the internship follow the appropriate call (analogous to exams). There is only one call per session and it is up to the students to register for the most suitable date according to their career path. Before registering for the call, trainees must ask the company to complete an evaluation questionnaire on their internships. If the questionnaire is not completed with a positive evaluation, the internship cannot be approved.
The last available call will be 15 days before the chosen graduation session.
The call dates for internship registration can be found at this page and are updated by the offices periodically.
What is the procedure that the involved company has to follow to approve my activity?
The company can complete the internship evaluation questionnaire from 5 days before to 20 days after the end of the internship. When the questionnaire is completed the Career Advisers (in case of a positive evaluation) can approve it.
The steps to proceed as a company:
- Access the https://step.unicatt.it/index_en.html portal with your company credentials
- In the Internships and placements box, click on "CONSULT INTERNSHIP HISTORY"
- In the list, find the name of the trainee and click on 'EVALUATE INTERNSHIP'
How can I have a business approved?
In the case of a professional activity (INTERNSHIP C), as indicated in the Regulations, the student must present the employment contract to the Career Advisers. It has to contain the dates of employment and the performed tasks. Submission deadlines are communicated by Career Advisers at the beginning of the Accademic Year by email. The recognition of ECTS is possible through registration for the appropriate call.
What is the average duration of a curricular internship with ECTS?
A curricular internship with ECTS lasts, on average, three months in a full-time option or six months in a part-time option. Students are invited to carefully examine the duration of the internship. In any case, at least 270 hours of internship must be completed for ECTS to be recognised.
Is it possible to suspend an internship if it does not meet our expectations?
The suspension of an internship and the consequent cancellation of the training project must be authorised by the Career Advisers to verify the reasons for the interruption of the internship with all the involved parties. If the company positively assesses the activity performed by the intern, the internship hours actually performed can be recognised and a supplementary activity can be agreed with the Career Adviser to cover the missing hours. The suspension request must be sent by the company to the Stage & Placement Office (patrizia.carnelli@unicatt.it)
Can I extend the curricular internship with ECTS?
Once the curricular internship with ECTS has been completed, it can be extended as a curricular internship with ZERO ECTS by following the procedures at https://step.unicatt.it/index_en.html or contacting the Stage & Placement Office directly (stage-mi@unicatt.it). Career Advisers are contact persons for curricular internships with ECTS only.
If I have already obtained ECTS for curricular internship activities, can I still use the internship mentoring service offered by the Career Advisers?
The service is aimed at first- and second-year students in debt of the curricular internship with ECTS. Students who have already carried out this activity can refer to the University Stage & Placement Service.
Is it possible to acquire internship ECTS in foreign companies or corporations?
Yes, it is possible. The procedures for setting up an internship abroad are described in the Regulations. Please note that the Stage & Placement Office provides forms in English for non-Italian-speaking institutions.
Where can I find training offers for internships abroad?
Internship abroad proposals can be searched on the https://step.unicatt.it/index_en.html portal or on the UCSC International website.
Does the Stage & Placement portal also offer internship positions abroad?
Yes, it does. In order to locate internship positions abroad more quickly, it is advisable to scroll through the online internship advertisement board, then click on 'search foreign advertisement'. Warning: before leaving for any destination, do not forget to check the Farnesina website http://www.viaggiaresicuri.it/.
Where can I find internship offers abroad on the UCSC International website?
You can get all the information about the internship abroad here https://studenticattolica.unicatt.it/studenti-international-experiences
All companies involved in an internship agreement have to register on the https://step.unicatt.it/index_en.html portal. This procedure must also be carried out in the case of companies already present on the UCSC International portal. The company carries out the registration procedure, entering its own data and the student's training project, following the pathway "Curricular internship with ECTS". Registration on the https://step.unicatt.it/index_en.html portal is essential for the internship to be approved for curricular purposes (i.e. to produce ECTS). The entire procedure must be completed before departure.
How do I get my abroad internship ECTS recognised?
The recognition of internship ECTS follows the same procedure as for curricular internships with ECTS in Italian companies. Following the company's positive assessment, the ECTS recognition follows the registration at the appropriate call (similar to exams). There is only one call per session and it is up to the students to register on the most appropriate date according to their career path. The last available call will be 15 days before the chosen graduation session. The call dates for internship registration can be found at this page and are updated by the offices periodically.
Is there financial support for curricular internships abroad?
Students can apply for a scholarship. Once the convention has been activated (see Regulations), you can contact UCSC International to acquire the necessary documentation to apply for financial support. Please note that the request for financial support can only be considered if the registration procedures on the portal have been completed https://step.unicatt.it/index_en.html.
Through the Self Branding and Job Positioning workshop, participants will be trained to become more aware of their skills, and to clarify their professional goals; tools will be provided to train students in writing a CV (Resume) and creating a video CV according to the current HR requirements; participants will be supported to set up their professional communication online (LinkedIn) and offline; tips on how to perform at their best during an interview (through digital platforms and in-person) will be shared.
N.B. To start their internships, students have to attend this workshop. It will take place in both the first and second academic semester. Groups will be formed at the beginning of the year. Students may request, for justified reasons, to attend a different edition than the one assigned.
The workshop is structured in 3 meetings/modules:
Module 1 (2.5 h): Self Branding, with practical exercises to raise awareness of one's capabilities and clarify professional goals
Module 2 (3h): How to write a CV in Resume format, how to create your own video CV, how to open your own LinkedIn prifile
At the end, students are asked to upload their CVs (complete with a link to their LinkedIn profile) on the dedicated Blackboard page. This work will be evaluated for workshop approval
Module 3 (2 h): practical guidance on placement, interview tips (on online and face-to-face).
The workshop provides 2 ECTS.
Throughout the year, opportunities are created with partner companies that allow students to put into practice the skills learnt during teaching. For more information on the Smart Goal project click here.