Editor’s Note: If you have an intern you think deserves to be nominated for ITC’s Intern Pick of the Week, then email molly@inthecapital.com or DM her at @mollygreenberg.
Interns come and go, but if one stands out, then you make sure to hang on to them like your life depends on it. They are the diamonds in the rough, one of the most valuable members of your company. Though they may be looked at as temporary figures, their contribution to your business is one that cannot be replicated by any other college student, no matter how good their resume may appear. Here at ITC, we want to highlight the rarities, the interns you simply could not live without. Thus we bring you ITC’s Intern Pick of the Week, Chris Fuccillo.
Keeping it in the family is common with the royals, but turns out it's just as true in the startup world. Chris Fuccillo, a freshly minted graduate of Catholic University, scoured the wanted ads, searched through Craigslist, and even hit the pavement, but with no immediate employment opening sparking his interest he decided to head back to his roots, acquiring an internship with his very own cousin.
Though he aspires to be a financial analyst sometime in the near future, Chris' experience interning for Trustpages has been eye-opening, altering his perception of the fledgling business world. He's grown to understand how certain entities in the venture realm work, acknowledging the invaluable opportunities arising with technology's ever growing role in business. Even while interning for Merrill Lynch last summer, Chris garnered a great understanding of the intersection of software and service. Clearly, there is an advantage to working for a startup. Chris put it best, "your responsibility curve is very steep."
His time at TrustPages has paid off, gaining the respect of his superiors as he exceeded goals set out for him when he first hopped on the startup bandwagon. Connecting with clients while also independently taking on business outreach, Chris wears many hats at the local business. And, for an intern just out of college, he has proven himself, going leaps and bounds beyond what was initially expected of him.
At the moment, Chris is enraptured by the selling side of TrustPages, persuading companies of the value a smart business card can bring (think business cards for your mobile phone - then think of everything that could be possible connecting the two). Exclaiming the positives of such an investment is more difficult than you may think, especially with technology always on the rise and the next generation right around the corner. However, Chris takes on the job without fear, smoothly convincing clients of TrustPages worth.
His commitment to family values, thirst for knowledge, and relentless attitude are all reasons as to why we at ITC have determined Chris Fuccillo our newest Intern Pick of the Week
When did you acquire your first internship?
My first internship was at Merril Lynch in the summer of 2011.
What does your current internship entail?
At a startup everyone seems to wear a lot of hats and it is no different for the interns. My two primary responsibilities have been business outreach and user experience.
What's the coolest part of your internship?
Talking with different business owners is by far the coolest part. Growing up in a family of small business owners it’s great to hear stories about the successes and struggles of other small businesses. I’ve talked with some very hardworking people and definitely learned a great deal from them.
Why did you choose your current internship?
Even as an intern at Merrill Lynch you could see the growing importance of technology in business. I wanted to have an experience that helped me better understand the basics of technology, while honing my business skills.
How did you find your internship?
My cousin Dom founded the company and I have worked with him in the past on a couple other of his startups. I always enjoyed talking with him about entrepreneurship and it has been great to be able to participate in one of his companies full time.
What could you not live without at your internship? (tech, coffee, music, etc.)
Stephen Conley, a co-founder and the man in charge of business outreach. He has been a great mentor and a ton of fun to be around. In terms of inanimate objects probably my wireless mouse – if you are still scraping the laptop pad to move the cursor it’s the best investment you can convince your firm to make on you.
If you had to change one thing about how your university helped you with internships, what would it be?
Honestly, my only complaint is they have the process a little backwards. First you get together your resume and then you see what jobs are available. As a result I spent a lot of time putting together a resume for every job vs. the jobs I wanted.
