From Learning to Interning: The Voice of the Newly Hired

Successful organizations know that learning and development is not a trend – it’s a way of doing business. That was the message from Gajen Kandiah, Hitachi Vantara CEO, in his story The Value of Creating a Culture of Learning in May.

It’s a belief we’ve been cultivating here for years, from professional development to partner enablement and customer education, all the way to recruitment and selection. This includes our expansive internship program. While internships are typically viewed as ways to bridge the gap between academia and the “real-world,” we view them as the training ground for the workforce of the future, and quite possibly, the leaders of tomorrow.

In support of National Intern Day in the U.S., I took time to meet with a handful of newly hired Hitachi Vantara employees from around the globe – all people who spent time as interns with us before joining – for a glimpse into their experiences and expectations. The following are excerpts of our conversations:

 Patricia Paraschiv

Patricia Paraschiv joined our internship program last year after getting her International MBA from Anglia Ruskin University, and became a fulltime employee for our Digital Solutions, Consulting Advisory Practice.

What was your internship experience like at Hitachi Vantara?

 I joined the Hitachi family as part of a tremendously well-structured internship program that was aimed at building specialists in various areas of the digital consulting business, such as design thinking, business analysis, project management, and more. It gave me absolutely everything I could have wanted at the beginning of my career: training, mentoring, constant support from a people-oriented team, a full-time role in one of the biggest accounts of the company, and a senior team that guided and helped me develop much more in a year than I could have done in other environments.

What attracted you to Hitachi Vantara?

The culture and values of the company. I did my research when I found out about this position and discovered that the company fosters a diverse, rewarding culture that drives innovation and inspires others to do the same. I believe that it is crucial as an employee to find yourself in the values and principles of the company you work for, to believe in the mission of your organisation and share the same vision. In my opinion, if you work somewhere where the culture is a good fit, you’ll tend to develop better relationships with co-workers and be more productive.

What advice would you give to an incoming intern?

I would advise an incoming intern and future candidates to be confident and never say no to any opportunity that comes their way. I believe that there are so many opportunities to grow at Hitachi Vantara, you just have to want to get involved, be curious and dare to dream. Our development depends on us first, and then on the environment in which we operate. And I truly believe that the environment at Hitachi Vantara is favourable for growing both professionally and personally.

Vitor Cruz

Vitor Cruz works on our Finance Controllership team in the Lisbon, Portugal office. He joined Hitachi Vantara full-time in 2019 after his nine-month internship.

What advice would you give to an incoming intern?

Seeking new experiences and skillsets is what motivated me most as a new intern, so my advice would be to fully enjoy and embrace the opportunities you are given. It’s just the beginning, so try not to put yourself under pressure. Always take the initiative to learn new things even if they’re not related to your main responsibilities.

How did your internship experience help prepare you for your career?

As an intern, you need to be open to new challenges and ways of working. So, from the start of my program, I began developing resilience and adaptability, which ultimately helped me get through challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic. Another take-away from my internship that I’ve brought with me into my full-time role is always working with a culture of respect and sincerity.

What kind of company culture were you looking for? And what did you find here?

Hitachi Vantara has strong values in harmony and sustainability. As part of a younger generation that’s seeking new ways to guarantee a sustainable world, working at Hitachi Vantara makes us feel like we are going in the right direction. The people at Hitachi Vantara work with cooperation, empathy and unity, and bring respect for every culture.

Anu Chipurupally

Anu Chipurupally is an ERP Configuration and Implementation Associate working out of our Hyderabad office in India. She started the new role this month after a five-month internship program with us.

What attracted you to Hitachi Vantara’s internship program?

When I was studying as a college undergraduate, I decided it was very important to me to join a company with a supportive work culture and opportunities for growth. I started searching online and came across Hitachi Vantara. When I began digging deeper, I learned about their “Inspire the Next” message, which expresses Hitachi’s determination to breathe new life into the next era. The company’s culture and mission seemed to align with my values and my goal to join an organization that focuses on both the employee experience and making a difference in the world through innovative technology.

What was it like to be an intern at Hitachi Vantara?

It was wonderful. I discovered my strengths and interests, built my confidence, and most importantly, enhanced my leadership skills. During my first week, I attended orientations where I learned about things like effective communication, cooperation and collaboration skills, and time management. After that, my technical work with SQL, PLSQL, reports and shell programming started. Throughout the entire program, I received mentorship support from my manager and colleagues; they guided me through any challenges I faced, helping to prepare me for my current full-time position. The welcome kit I received to celebrate my new role re-affirmed my excitement to be part of the Hitachi family!

What advice would you give to an incoming intern?

Hitachi Vantara is an excellent place to start your career. It has a positive workplace culture and supportive leaders. My advice to incoming interns would be to be yourself – if you don’t know something about a particular topic, raise your hand and ask for help. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, as this is how you’ll learn and make the most out of your internship. Seize every opportunity that comes your way.

Anna Sito

Anna Sito is an Internal Auditor working in our Krakow, Poland, office. She started her new full-time position earlier this month after her ten-month internship ended.

What was your internship experience at Hitachi Vantara like?

As an intern on the Internal Audit team, I was engaged in helping experienced auditors with JSOX (The Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, the Japanese equivalent to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act) compliance activities as well as process audits for Hitachi Vantara. I had a great internship experience, and I owe it to the amazing people on my team. Since day one, I was assigned a “buddy” – an experienced member of the team who helped me with all the challenges of being a new joiner and guided me through the audit reality. I always received support when I needed it and was highly encouraged to ask questions.

What take-aways did you take with you from your internship into your full-time position?

I think the biggest take-away from my internship experience is that believing in yourself is key to growing. Over the period of my internship, I became more self-confident, which allowed me to engage in new activities and gain even more experience. I also learned to be proactive and avoid stressing about making mistakes or having it all figured out. Moving forward into my full-time role, I’ll continue to embrace my curiosity, creativity, and willingness to learn.

How important is company culture to you? What did you find at Hitachi Vantara?

Company culture is very important to me, as we spend most of our days at work; I cannot imagine working for a company whose culture I do not align with.

The culture at Hitachi Vantara is very attractive to me. I appreciate that I can approach anyone in my team; there are no formal rules regarding who I can have a chat with, regardless of their position. I believe that this kind of informal approach helps build better relationships between team members, and at the end of the day, makes work much more enjoyable and collaborative.

Interested in Hitachi Vantara’s internship programs? Join our Talent Community to stay up to date on all career opportunities.

Nicola Woods is Global Employer Brand Manager, Talent Acquisition, Hitachi Vantara.