They learn. They contribute. They drive Soitec forward.
Nearly 100 work-study students and interns are currently growing across all company sectors: R&D, human resources, communication, finance, sustainability, manufacturing… Everywhere, they hold real responsibilities and contribute fully to Soitec's projects.
As an Internal Communication Specialist within the People & Culture Communications team, Sofia Turchi looks back on her journey-from Tuscany to Grenoble-and on a rich work-study year that helped her grow.
Sofia: a dream of France come true
Since childhood, Sofia has nourished a passion for the French language. Born and raised in Tuscany, she began learning it at the age of 8, almost as a hobby. Every Wednesday afternoon, she took fun lessons with the French mother of a classmate.
This weekly appointment quickly became much more than a simple extracurricular activity.
“Ever since I was little, I always dreamed of living in France.”
Over the years, Sofia continued learning French through middle school, high school, and university. She then chose a bachelor's degree in translation and interpreting in Italy, with French as one of her main languages alongside English and Russian.
From Tuscany to Grenoble
In the third year of her bachelor’s degree, an Erasmus exchange brought her to Grenoble. Having fallen in love with the city and its culture, she decided to extend the adventure. She enrolled in a Master's degree in Trilingual Negotiation and International Business at Université Grenoble-Alpes (UGA). For her second year, she chose the work-study path (alternance) and joined Soitec in September 2025 as part of the People & Culture Communications team.
Telling the company story, creating connections, and measuring impact
At Soitec, Sofia discovered internal communications in all its diversity.
She writes articles for Yuzit on local or corporate topics, in both French and English. To create them, she meets with teams, gathers testimonies, and makes sometimes technical subjects accessible. She also designs posters and visuals, including the banner images that illustrate her articles.
She contributes to organizing and communicating key internal events: conferences, Town Halls, Strategy Talks, and Midis Soitec, from preparation to smooth execution on the big day.
« Our department is there for others. Whenever a team has a communication need, we are ready to help. »
Finally, her role includes tracking and analysis. Sofia handles reporting on the department’s activity, particularly through Yuzit’s performance indicators, monitoring publications, portraits, and major communication projects. These metrics help better understand engagement with the content and guide future actions.
Her greatest source of pride? Two projects managed from start to finish: creating the monthly internal newsletter “Corporate Insights,” sent to all Group employees, and producing this portrait series dedicated to work-study students and interns.
« These are two projects I was able to lead almost autonomously. Seeing them come to life brings immense satisfaction. »
Gaining confidence through connections
The size of the company could have been intimidating for an international student who had never worked in a large corporate environment before. However, the warm welcome from her team and colleagues quickly facilitated her integration.
This highly relational role pushed her to reach out to others and assert herself:
« Colleagues are always very kind and enthusiastic about participating in our projects. I learned not to hesitate when approaching people. That was a real key takeaway for me. »
She also holds fond memories of more informal moments, such as the Christmas sweater contest or team photos during events.
“I really enjoyed all those shared moments. In a company of this size, such participation and friendliness aren't always a given.”
Discovering work-study, still a rare concept in Italy
Reflecting on her experience, Sofia sums up her year at Soitec in one word: « educational. » This first corporate experience taught her how to manage priorities, acquire a truly professional mindset, and assert herself.
« I’ve grown enormously. I don't feel like the same person I was last year, both professionally and personally. »
In Italy, this model combining education, corporate work, and a salary does not exist.
“When I talk about it back home, people find it hard to imagine working, getting paid, and continuing to study at the same time. It’s an incredible opportunity.”
This program allowed her to learn a profession while remaining supported, bridge theory with real-world practice, and better understand what she wants for the future.
Dare to try, even when you come from elsewhere
Following her year at Soitec, Sofia is preparing to join a new school in Paris and wishes to continue her path in a work-study scheme, this time in another field:
« It’s the ideal opportunity to test out new roles without immediately facing the pressure of a first permanent job. »
Building on her experience, she shares an encouraging message with international students who might hesitate to apply due to the language barrier:
« If a company chooses you, it’s because they identified skills and qualities you can bring to them. Teams also appreciate differences in culture and ways of thinking. Don't hesitate: you have to dare! »
