Testimonial of Internship at Institute of Project Management (IPM)

Internship Context

From 22 July to 29 August 2025, I had the opportunity to complete a six-week internship at the Institute of Project Management (IPM). This internship represented my first immersion into the professional world. Passionate about project management, I was eager to discover from the inside how an organisation specialised in this field operates. From the very first day, I was warmly welcomed by the team. John Naughton, CEO of IPM, and Roberto Castillejo, my supervisor, ensured that I had all the support I needed to start under the best possible conditions. 

Welcome and Integration

Integration at IPM was made easy thanks to a working environment that was both friendly and professional. The corporate culture instilled by John Naughton, based on knowledge sharing and collaboration, could be felt from day one: every colleague was kind and available to help me. Roberto Castillejo (PMO & People Manager), who was my internship supervisor, played a key role in introducing me to the team and familiarising me with ongoing projects. Thanks to this careful onboarding, I quickly felt comfortable and ready to contribute. 

Tasks and Tools Used 

During my internship, I worked on a variety of assignments that allowed me to develop new skills. Among my main tasks: 

• Recruitment Support: Participating in drafting job offers, screening CVs, organising interviews, and communicating with candidates, which allowed me to become familiar with the recruitment process and human capital management. 
• Project Tracking: Utilising this project management tool to organise tasks, monitor project progress, and facilitate team collaboration. 
• Office Support: Creating tracking spreadsheets in Excel (applications, budgets, etc.) and writing reports in Word, which strengthened my mastery of the Microsoft Office suite. 

Skills Developed 

This internship proved to be very enriching and allowed me to acquire multiple skills: 

• Technical Skills: I improved my proficiency with office tools (Excel, Word) and freelancing software. 
• Interpersonal skills: I learned to communicate effectively within a team, gained professional confidence, and benefited from constructive feedback from my supervisor to improve. 
• Business Awareness: By observing John Naughton’s leadership and participating in internal processes (such as recruitment and project management), I gained a concrete understanding of how an international organisation operates. 
• Autonomy and Organisation: I learned to manage my time and organise my tasks independently to meet deadlines and objectives. 

Supervision and Work Environment 

Of course, becoming familiar with new tools and working methods represented a challenge at the beginning. However, the guidance at IPM quickly helped me overcome this stage and greatly contributed to the success of my internship. Roberto Castillejo proved to be an exemplary mentor: he answered my questions, gradually entrusted me with responsibilities, and supported me with regular follow-ups. The team also included me in progress meetings and project discussions, which allowed me to understand the coordination between different departments. Moreover, the entire squad maintained a collaborative atmosphere in which everyone felt valued, making the daily work environment both pleasant and stimulating. This culture of continuous learning also left a strong impression on me: I was encouraged to take online courses and consult internal resources to deepen my knowledge of project management. 

Conclusion and Acknowledgements

In conclusion, my internship at IPM was an extraordinarily positive and formative experience. Although relatively short, this internship allowed me to strengthen my practical skills, discover new tools, and concretely apply the concepts I had learned in class. I am leaving with a better understanding of how a company specialised in project management functions, as well as with reinforced motivation to pursue this professional path. 

I sincerely thank the entire IPM team for their warm welcome and constant support. Special gratitude goes to John Naughton for his inspiring leadership and to Roberto Castillejo for his attentive supervision and valuable advice throughout the internship. I wholeheartedly recommend this experience to any student wishing to train in a professional environment that is both stimulating and supportive. This internship will remain a milestone in my professional journey. 

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