What degree did you study and where?
I studied English and Japanese Studies at the University of Naples L’Orientale in Italy, and pursued a Masters degree in Applied Translation Studies at UEA.
Tell us a bit about your Masters and what it involved.
After my undergraduate degree I knew I wanted to continue my studies in languages and specialise in intercultural communication for the English and Italian speaking audiences. For this reason, UEA's MA in Applied Translation Studies was the perfect fit for my academic background and interests. The course curriculum included:
- translation, localisation, dubbing and subtitling theory
- legal, scientific, technical, marketing, cultural and audiovisual translation training reviewed by professional translators
- professional training with computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools and subtitling softwares - Trados, MemoQ, OONA
- translation workshops and projects in collaboration with Norfolk County Council.
As an international student how did you find studying in the UK?
I always wanted to study in the UK, and I was super excited to start my Masters degree in Norwich.
As an international student, I found the topics explored in class fascinating but equally the coursework and academic referencing practices were quite difficult to adjust to. As a result, my very first essay was good in theory but weak in practice, with references all over the place. To understand the UK's academic referencing system better, I sought academic support from my professors and UEA's Learning Enhancement Team, who taught me how to reference correctly and I have had great results since.
What influenced you to do two internships?
I began to think about my future in my second semester, halfway through my Masters degree, and I was eager to get started in my professional career before graduating. In class I was doing pretty well, but I realised the job market demanded skills and knowledge that one can only learn 'on the job', and an internship seemed the best way to both learn and test myself in the field.
How did you find and apply for these internships?
I thought it would be harder for me to land an internship in the UK. Thanks to the UEA Careers team, who have done an incredible job supporting international students with career guidance and information, it turned out to be surprisingly easy (or easier than I thought at least).
I hopped onto MyCareerCentral, UEA's career platform, and applied for the internships whose objectives and values aligned the most with mine, mainly sustainability and inclusion.
I think I drafted my CV ten times, and I had a careers adviser check the applications a couple of times too because English CVs are quite different from Italian CVs.
When I landed the interviews I was scared and excited, and booked a mock interview with CareerCentral just to be sure. The interviews were a huge success, and sometimes I like to think that my Italian sense of fashion played a part in it.
What did your internships involve?
My first internship, parttime while studying, was as event coordinator for the 2024 UEA Green Film Festival. I supported the festival director for six months with:
- communications
- event stewarding for a four-day festival on sustainable filmmaking and films, with a focus on sustainable fashion.
- liaising with venues
- social media promotion.
My second internship, fulltime after finishing my dissertation, was as UEA progression partnership coordinator. In this role I led an employability project to support UEA graduates living with disabilities, mental health conditions and neurodivergence in transitioning from university to the workplace. The internship involved:
- initiating and managing relationships with over 50 partner organisations
- leading internal and external communications
- organising events, including two conferences on inclusion in the workplace.
What skills did you gain during your time as an intern and how did they help with your studies?
My internships gave me a solid opportunity to develop my skillset during and after my Masters. The work experience helped me enhance:
- communication skills
- editing and subtitling skills
- email and social media marketing
- event organisation and management
- time management.
As a result I could comfortably manage multiple assessments at once, my presentation skills in class improved dramatically and I used my time outside class more efficiently, resulting in a healthier study/life balance.
More importantly, I had the opportunity to work closely with film subtitling, which was a core part of my degree in translation.
How did you juggle studying and working as an intern? What were the challenges?
It really helped to divide my day in parts, and only study or work during a specific part of the day. In the morning I would focus on studying, starting at 9am in the library, then taking a break at 1pm and shifting to my work responsibilities until 4pm or 5pm. I also made sure to keep track of deadlines, checking every week that I gave myself enough time to meet them, and dedicating more hours to studying or working depending on the necessities.
Adjusting to the full-time internship was more complicated though, and it took a while before I felt like I had enough time to do all the things I wanted. It does get easier, it just feels very intense at the start, and with time it becomes more manageable.
Looking back, is there anything you wish you had done differently during your internship?
Although it sounds obvious, I wish I realised that you cannot approach the workplace in the same way you do with class. In a module, the knowledge and skills required to do well are fairly clear and stable. The workplace is a much more dynamic environment, which requires constant improvement and resilience. You have to develop the patience to deal with the unexpected and accept that there is always more to learn. I think this is what really makes you ‘grow up’ in the workplace.
Did your time as an intern help you get your current job at UEA?
Absolutely. Job openings in the current market are getting increasingly competitive and my internship gave me an opportunity to demonstrate my genuine commitment to UEA values.
In my applications and interviews, I had tangible achievements to showcase which proved my potential for success in the new role.
What are your career ambitions?
I always imagined myself flourishing in a communication role. During my internships, I had the opportunity to meet with many inspiring people in this field. At the time I was unsure if it was the right path for me, so I asked a very successful woman in communications how she knew it was the right career for her. Surprisingly, she told me maybe it was not, but it definitely was on her 'career bucket list'.
That meeting shifted my perspective in thinking about my future career, so now I have a list of things I wish to accomplish during my career. Some of my ambitions are:
- contributing to projects on sustainability, equality, and wellbeing
- organising events, conferences, festivals, exhibitions - especially for arts and science
- translating, editing and subtitling a diverse range of media in the creative industries
- working with universities, charities, local and international government bodies.
I am lucky enough to have already achieved some of these objectives, and I am hopeful I will cover most of them in my career.
What advice would you give to other students thinking about applying for an internship?
Based on my experience, there are three things that truly make a difference when applying for an internship:
- being resourceful
- being prepared
- believing in yourself.
Reach out to your professors, student services and career advisers, they will help you immensely as they have solid experience and knowledge you can count on. Even if you do not know specifically what kind of internship you would like to do, a conversation with your academic adviser is a great way to start.
When you find an internship, make sure you adapt your CV and have it checked multiple times, ideally with your university careers service. When you land the interview, research the organisation and prepare yourself to demonstrate why and how you care about what they do, and how your story matches their values and mission.
Lastly, you need to believe you are the best fit. Because if you know you have the skills and motivation to do it, you are the right candidate. And if you do not believe it at first, well, a good night's sleep before the interview and a well-put together outfit showcasing who you are through colours and details always help.
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