Michael Centanni '17
Majors:
International Business, Italian
Outcome Opportunity:
I got a job!, Internship
Position:
Director of Language Services
Company/Organization:
Eterpreting
Briefly describe your position.
"I work for a small company that provides interpreters/translators for firms (medical, legal, educational, etc.) that have non-English speaking clients or individuals requiring interpretation services (patients at hospitals, deponents involved in legal matters, students and/or their families who may not speak English). My role as Director of Language Services is one that holds much responsibility. Since this is a small business, all of us at Eterpreting have a hand in each element of the business, from its daily operations to its development. I am responsible for corresponding with both our clients who require interpreters as well as the interpreters themselves and ensuring that these subcontracted interpreters represent our company in a professional manner when we send them to assignments."
How did you get connected to this opportunity?
"I perused the SJUcareers website during my junior year in search of some type of internship. In short, I stumbled upon Eterpreting and thought that the language industry seemed interesting and applicable to my studies. So, I reached out to them and was soon offered an internship. This internship continued for 3 consecutive semesters before the company offered me an opportunity of full-time employment after graduation."
How did your SJU education impact your professional goals?
"Both of my majors helped me immensely in pursuing my professional goals and marketing myself in the professional world. Studying Italian at SJU taught me many soft skills; leadership confidence, communicating and listening well, a strong possession of insight into others (respecting others' values and different points of view), empathy towards my colleagues, critical thinking, making connections across complex ideas, etc. I was exposed to a multitude of topics about the culture and language that opened my mind to a whole new school of thought. My International Business major gave me raw skills that I could confidently market in interviews and now in the professional world. I have a much greater understanding of the various elements that go into the operation of every type of business, from the smallest of firms to the "giants" in the business world. My IB studies specifically taught me the importance of cultural awareness/sensitivity and how some Multinational Corporations have gained colossal success because of their keen cultural awareness."
Did you participate in any experiential learning activities while at SJU?
"I studied abroad at the Università del Sacro Cuore in Milan during the Fall 2015 semester. I chose this program, with guidance from my Italian professors, because I was given the ability to take all of my courses in the Italian language with Italian students. It was extremely challenging, but undoubtedly one of the most gratifying experiences of my life. I took courses with Italian culture subject matter as well as some International Business classes. I was able to analyze the Italian educational system and compare it to the way things are done in the American university setting, all while staying in the beautiful and vibrant city of Milan."