Tell us a little about yourself and what brought you to CERN?

Ciao, I am Chiara, a Communication and Fundraising Officer at the CERN & Society Foundation, the philanthropic arm of CERN. With a Bachelor’s in international relations and diplomatic affairs and a Master's in fundraising, both earned at the University of Bologna, I embarked on my CERN journey in 2021 as my first work experience. I started as an administrative student, providing support to the CERN & Society Foundation in communication and fundraising activities. After one year, I transitioned to the role of Individual Giving Officer and Communication Manager, overseeing new interns and administrative students.

What do you do at CERN today?

First, let me provide some insight into the CERN & Society Foundation. The Foundation's mission is to support and promote CERN's goals and extend its benefits to the broader public. Operating nationally and internationally, the Foundation focuses on three main areas: Education & Outreach, Innovation & Knowledge Exchange, and Culture & Creativity.

As a fundraiser, my responsibility is to secure funds for the Foundation’s projects, contributing to their sustained growth and impact. In my role, I manage individual donors, overseeing the entire process ranging from prospect identification to reporting. This includes crafting compelling proposals and heartfelt thank-you letters to foster donors’ engagement.

Fundraising is closely tied to communication, so I also manage the digital presence of the Foundation through various channels such as social media, the website, newsletters, emails, annual reviews, and articles. Moreover, I strategically collaborate with various teams in project management, events, graphics, accounting, retail, translations, editorial, audio-visual, legal, and IT security, ensuring a cohesive approach to resource mobilization.

In conclusion, my activities are very diversified, and I never get bored!

Seeing the sparkle in the eyes of talented students from developing countries, whose high-level scientific education at CERN was made possible by the Foundation, makes all the work worthwhile.

What is working at CERN like for you?

Working at CERN is incredible. I appreciate the multicultural and easy-going environment. Despite being surrounded by Nobel Prize winners and high-level scientists, it remains open and inclusive. The friendly and approachable atmosphere provides a great opportunity for knowledge sharing, learning, and inspiration. People at CERN make it an exciting place to work.

Additionally, I will always carry the core values of CERN with me: integrity, commitment, professionalism, creativity, and diversity, and the application of its honourable origin as a place for scientific discoveries and peaceful collaboration.

What have been the main hurdles or challenges you encountered along the way?

Coming to CERN as a fresh graduate and transitioning from my student role to my current one was truly challenging. Starting my career at CERN provided motivation and enthusiasm even on difficult days, but I had to quickly learn a lot of different tasks not only related to fundraising and communication but also the technical and administrative procedures that a large organization like CERN inevitably requires.

After a year of practice and learning from senior colleagues, my role shifted, and I began training and supervising interns. This, along with new responsibilities, was initially tough to handle but turned into an incredible learning and growth experience. It made me realize how much more capable we are than we think.

What advice would you give potential applicants?

For potential applicants, I encourage you to actively seek opportunities at CERN. Stay alert to open vacancies and requirements. Motivation is key in this environment of inspired and dedicated employees, and we are eager to welcome individuals who are ready to collaborate towards the next groundbreaking discoveries for the benefit of society!

Inspired? Join CERN for an internship like nowhere else on Earth! Apply today to CERN's Technical Student Programme and embark on an incredible internship experience, exploring cutting-edge science and technology in the world's largest particle physics laboratory.

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