Looking to land an internship in Florence as an international student? You’re not alone! The historical city is a target destination for many other students from all over the world.

Although it may seem like Italy is all about the laid back lifestyle that’s full of fine winning-and-dining, you should be aware that landing an internship here is no easy feat!

Keep reading to find out about

• The industries and companies working in Florence
• Getting an internship in Florence
• What to expect working as an intern in Florence

A thriving mix of industries

Considering Florence’s rich cultural past, the creative industry makes up for the majority of the businesses in the city. From museums and galleries, all the way to restoration workshops and fashion houses, you’re in luck if you're looking to be an intern in the artistic field!

The architectural scene is also very present in the city. Florence offers a mix of two fields to choose from - architectural restoration and urban design. This means that Florence is the perfect place for you regardless of whether you want to bring the old beauty back or contribute to creating the new.

Looking to gain traction in the business sector? Florence is becoming a modern business hub at a steady pace, with companies such as Apple, General Electric and some consulting firms having offices in the city.

Typical duration of internships in Florence

There is no set duration when it comes to the length of the internships offered in Florence.

Depending on your agreement with your employer, your internship may last from a couple of weeks to a full semester or even a full year. It is often the case that interns get their contracts extended by several weeks if specific training is required for the job you’ll be doing.

Good performance goes a long way, since making a good impression on your boss will likely result in an extension offer!

Have the right documents with you at all times

As a non-native interning in Italy, your boss and the authorities are going to expect you to be on top of the documentation you’ll have to handle before and during the period of your internship.

Internship offer letter

Make sure you have all of the documentation associated with your internship and the company you’ll be working for. This is necessary since the police have the right of requesting such paperwork during a routine stop.

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It’s standard procedure for authorities to demand foreigners to present different documentation. Remaining calm and cooperating is your best bet!

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To avoid any trouble, it is strongly advisable that you have a copy of your job offer or a detailed description of your job in your wallet at all times.

You may also have to present your official job offer upon entering Italy. Besides that, you’ll have to share it with the immigration authorities when applying for your Italian work visa.

Having a Work Visa is a hard requirement for all Non-EU nationals looking to work in Italy.

Work Visa

As a Non-EU citizen, you’ll have to sort out your work visa before being permitted to enter Italy.

Sending the right documents to the authorities is a must in order to avoid a lengthy work visa application process.

Always have a confirmation of the validity of your Italian Work Visa on you.

Codice Fiscale

Applying for and receiving your Codice Fiscale (Personal Tax Identification Number) is the last step in your journey to becoming a legal resident in Italy. Having a Codice Fiscale will help you receive payments, open a bank and get your own Italian SIM card.

Things to consider

As with every decision you take, there're some important things you must consider before making the final decision on your Italian internship adventure.

Be prepared to work for free

Working at one of the historical epicentres of Italy, of course, comes at a price in some cases. You must be ready to pursue an unpaid internship. So you should definitely not be shocked when you see the plethora of unpaid internship vacancies out there.

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The monthly expenses in Florence can cost about €1,200.

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In the rare cases when the internship is paid, you can expect your salary to be a minimum of €300 per month. If you don’t have any other means of sustaining yourself, you’ll have to find a second job to generate the necessary income. Make sure to ask every prospective employer about the possibility of a paid internship.

This is less of a factor for those of you who are already studying in Italy since you’re aware of the financial arrangements for a comfortable life in Italy.

The language barrier is present

Even though there are enough internships for English speakers to go around, a basic understanding of Italian can give you an advantage over other internship candidates.

You may often find yourself in the company of an Italian colleague whose mightn't be fluent in English. This is especially true for the older generations, from which your boss is likely to be.

There're plenty of options you can choose from in your efforts to learn Italian. Some of the options are signing up for an Italian language buddy program or a simple course before and during your stay in Italy.

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Showing initiative and taking up learning Italian, even if it isn’t a formal requirement for your job, can get you a long way in and outside of the office.

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Be ready to apply your soft skills

It's crucial to understand the importance of interpersonal communication skills across Italian offices.

Anyone you ask about this will tell you the same thing: “The backbone of Italian businesses is centred around personal relationships”. This is so because it is often the case for businesses to hire family or friends, which makes the importance of fitting in greater.

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Make sure that you don’t only get along with your colleagues as co-workers, but also as friends. You never know what might come out of it!

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Fluctuating work hours

With family being an integral part of the Italian culture, many of your colleagues are going to be heading home to have lunch with their families. Due to that, the lunch breaks typically last from 12:30 pm until 3-3:30 pm.

As a result, you should expect the office to close later, at 7:30 pm, in order to compensate for the long lunch break.

With that being said, it is important to note that those work hours fluctuate, so you ought to be prepared to showcase flexibility when needed.

The laidback culture doesn’t exist behind the office door

It is a common pitfall for incoming interns to assume that La Dolce Vita exists both in and outside of the office. This, however, is far from reality.

The Italian office is not different from that in any other country. You’re expected to show professionalism at all times and approach all your assignments with a go-getter mindset.

Italians are not afraid to speak their truth

Expressive, both verbally and with gestures, Italians don’t shy away from expressing their opinion. This doesn’t only apply to your day to day life but to your office experience.

It won’t be uncommon for your colleagues to raise their voices in meetings. You should be prepared to look past the noise and understand what is actually being communicated to you.

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You must keep your cool at all times and not take everything personally. Things are almost never as harsh as they may come across.

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Tips on landing your dream internship

Now that you’ve gotten an overview of the things to keep in mind when applying for an internship in Florence, there’s only one thing left for us to share: Tips for your job search!

It is best to start looking for an internship as soon as possible to make sure you have enough choice!

Besides the websites of the companies that are present in the area, many of the available internship listings on the following portals:

• Internships-Italy
• Study Abroad 101
• Go Abroad
• Go Overseas
• Glassdoor

Now that you've got some information on the internship scene in Florence, it's time to move onto the rest of the items on your relocation checklist for Italy.

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