The future is shaped by those who seek growth and take initiative. That’s why we’re empowering the next generation of all-star talent with active, immersive learning. The Oracle NetSuite internship program is a hands-on experiential learning experience for students who want to kick off their career with a global technology leader.
Program participants hit the ground running, tackling real problems alongside NetSuite team members. Our interns have a vast range of skills, interests, and backgrounds. What they all share, though, is a drive to embrace challenge—a drive that took Simone Ianniello across the world.
A long way from home
Born and raised in Italy, Simone had always considered working for a Fortune 500 company to be an unreachable goal. Oracle felt too big for a kid from Pisticci, who attended a small, local high school. Then, he had a realization.
“I understood that it is not about where you start, but about working to get where you want to be.”
In 2019, Simone left everything he knew behind and flew 8,000 km to Canada to pursue his dreams at the University of Guelph’s Lang School of Business.
“Since day one, I’ve worked endless hours, developed meaningful relationships, and prioritized my growth. It was a challenge against myself every single day,” he says.
Simone Ianniello
By the last few months of 2021, Simone was eager to apply his classroom education in an internship setting. That’s when the NetSuite internship program caught his eye. He recognized the name and brand, discovered what we do at NetSuite, and got excited.
“After years of hard work and dedication, I had the necessary qualifications for the job,” he tells us. “The posting outlined a very interesting and diverse set of tasks that interns were supposed to work on, which sparked my interest even more.”
Making the most of the experience
Simone first joined the internship program as a Functional Support Analyst (ERP) and was later rehired as a Learning Advisor Consultant intern. When asked what he enjoyed most about his experience, he cites two things: the learning opportunities and the people.
At the start of the program, Simone told his managers that he was determined to make the most of his experience. From January to August of 2022, he took the opportunity to fully immerse himself in the NetSuite organization. He particularly liked interacting with customers directly and developing and delivering training sessions for them.
The internship program also gave him the chance to get involved with a wide variety of projects. He helped create and run the NetSuite campus ambassador program, hosted fireside chats with Oracle leaders, [BW2] and more.
“I enjoyed these activities, as they have allowed me to learn new skills, connect with talented individuals, and grow both personally and professionally.”
Care and respect
Regarding the people, Simone says, “It is very difficult to find a place where everyone you work with has your success at heart, but I did at NetSuite. I felt respected and valued both as an employee and as a person.”
Over eight months, he changed teams and worked with many people, but the positive and motivating work environment was a constant anywhere he went. Colleagues were always ready to lend a hand in times of difficulty. People from different countries often connected and interacted as friends rather than as virtual co-workers. Furthermore, the culture of support was practiced by the entire community—even those at the top.
“Seeing how much directors and executives care about every single one of their employees had an extremely positive impact on my experience, and it is one of the reasons I decided to accept my full-time offer,” Simone shares.
A new comfort zone
With his iron will and unshakeable work ethic, Simone won the Student of the Year Award—an achievement he considers the summit of his university career. He notes that moving abroad was hard, and creating a new comfort zone so far from his original was his biggest challenge.
“Throughout the last five years, I have worked tirelessly, made sacrifices, and pushed myself daily,” Simone explains. “It was not about recognition, but about challenging myself to do better, be better, and make the environment around me better. I joined NetSuite, worked as hard as I could, made connections, jumped outside of my comfort zone, and tried to leave a longstanding impact on the organization.”
He adds, “This award is not just about my eight months as an intern, but it is about the work that I have put in over the last several years to become the person that I am, and I am happy that all my efforts have been recognized.”
Words of wisdom
For new students coming into the internship program, Simone has some words of advice:
You get what you give. You’ll have access to plenty of growth opportunities at NetSuite, so don’t underestimate how much you can achieve if you challenge yourself. Going the extra mile will bring you benefits that you cannot yet imagine. Ask yourself what you can do to get the most out of this experience.
Create connections that foster relationships. Your internship will last four or eight months—make sure that people remember you and that you connect with them. Your network is your net worth.
Seek discomfort. As an intern, most of the things you’ll be doing are not in your field of expertise. Do not be afraid to take something on because you’re not sure how to do it. Ask for support and work through it. Working through hard tasks is how you get better at what you do.
Are you ready to kickstart your career with immersive learning? Applications are open for Fall internships / co-op (Sep – Dec 2023) for business students (Class of 2024) in Toronto, Canada for the following roles: Learning Advisor Consultant Intern and Functional Support Analyst (ERP) Intern
The editorial team is comprised of members of the Oracle Talent Advisory group, with a wide-range of employer branding responsibilities. They partner with employees across Oracle to capture stories that showcase our company, culture and career opportunities, and help candidates envision their #LifeAtOracle.
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