Graphic Designer 6 months' Internship

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer (Internship)
Company: Hitachi Solutions
Location: Porto, Portugal
Job Type: Internship
Category: Creative & Design / Marketing Operations
Date Posted: September 29, 2025
Experience Level: Internship / Entry-Level (0-2 years)
Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This internship focuses on supporting the marketing and sales teams by creating visually engaging collateral and templates, enhancing brand positioning.
• The role involves working with industry-standard design software and adhering to company brand guidelines for cohesive outputs across various marketing materials.
• It offers an opportunity to gain practical experience in digital marketing trends from a creative perspective and contribute to high-priority assignments within the Design Team.
• The position requires strong communication skills to collaborate with diverse, cross-country teams and a dedication to producing high-quality, organized design files.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the provided input specifies "Graphic Designer," this enhancement positions the role within a broader "Marketing Operations" context due to the emphasis on creating collateral for marketing and sales processes, which is a core function of Marketing Operations. The internship nature also places it at an entry-level within this domain.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and create professional, visually exciting collateral templates for use in marketing and sales processes, ensuring alignment with brand guidelines.
• Design marketing and sales collateral templates that may be industry-specific or in line with overall brand positioning, capable of handling repetitive tasks.
• Plan and execute the creation of new creative collateral and templates for marketing campaigns, including internal PowerPoint presentations, one-pagers, case studies, brochures, infographics, and images.
• Maintain clear and effective communication with marketing and sales teams across Europe, adapting to country-specific needs and brand nuances.
• Stay updated on the latest digital marketing trends from a creative standpoint to enhance the organization's online positioning.
• Organize and label design files meticulously, ensuring easy accessibility for future reference and editing by the Design Team.
• Provide valuable assistance to the Design Team by prioritizing and contributing to high-priority assignments, demonstrating a proactive and supportive approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities have been expanded to detail the types of collateral and the strategic importance of design in marketing and sales, aligning with typical operations expectations for such roles. The emphasis on cross-country communication and trend awareness is crucial for a global consultancy like Hitachi Solutions.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• A recent degree in Graphic Design or Communication is required.

Experience:

• This is an internship position, ideal for individuals with 0-2 years of experience or those currently pursuing their degree and seeking practical application.
• Experience in creating marketing or sales collateral, even through academic projects or personal portfolios, is beneficial.

Required Skills:

• English Fluency: Essential for communication within a diverse, international team.
• Microsoft Office Suite: Proficiency in PowerPoint and Word is critical for creating presentations and documents.
• Adobe Creative Suite: Strong skills in Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop are fundamental for design work.
• Digital Marketing Landscape Understanding: Ability to grasp how creative marketing contributes to brand positioning and perception.
• Interpersonal Skills: Excellent ability to collaborate effectively within a diverse, cross-country team environment.
• Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to design to ensure consistency and accuracy across all outputs.
• Adaptability: Proven ability to be a fast learner and adapt quickly to changing business priorities.

Preferred Skills:

• Motion Skills: Experience or aptitude in creating animated graphics or motion design elements.
• Video Editing Skills: Familiarity with video editing software and techniques for multimedia content creation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Key Competencies" have been translated into "Required Skills" and "Preferred Skills" for clarity. The "Key Outputs" were integrated into the "Primary Responsibilities" section to avoid redundancy. The education and experience requirements are tailored to an internship level, emphasizing foundational skills and a willingness to learn.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a range of design projects demonstrating proficiency in creating marketing and sales collateral, such as presentations, brochures, and infographics.
• Include examples that highlight adherence to brand guidelines and the ability to adapt design styles for different purposes or industries.
• Present projects that illustrate an understanding of visual hierarchy, typography, and color theory in a business context.
• Demonstrate the capability to produce clean, organized, and easily editable design files.

Process Documentation:

• While not a primary focus for an internship, understanding the workflow for receiving design briefs, iterating on designs based on feedback, and delivering final assets is crucial.
• Familiarity with version control or file organization systems for design assets will be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: For an internship, the emphasis is on demonstrating foundational skills and potential rather than extensive process documentation. The portfolio requirements are geared towards showcasing practical design abilities relevant to marketing and sales collateral creation.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• As an internship position, this role is expected to offer a monthly internship grant. Based on Portuguese labor laws and common internship stipends in the IT/Consulting sector in Porto, a range of €600 - €900 per month is anticipated. This range accounts for the limited experience typical of interns and the specific "Monthly IEFP internship grant" mentioned.

Benefits:

• Career Development: Assigned a personal Career Development Mentor (CDM) for guidance and support.
• Flexible Work Environment: Hybrid work model promoting work-life balance.
• Public Transport Allowances: Assistance with commuting costs.
• Monthly IEFP Internship Grant: A structured stipend provided through official internship programs.
• Global IT Consultancy Exposure: Opportunity to be part of a leading global digital, data, and technology consultancy.

Working Hours:

• The standard working hours are estimated at 40 hours per week, typical for a full-time internship. The hybrid model offers flexibility in how these hours are structured between remote and office-based work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary information was not provided, so an estimated range has been generated based on typical internship grants and cost of living in Porto, Portugal, for the IT sector. The "Additional Information" section was used to populate the benefits and working hours. The "IEFP internship grant" is a specific indicator of the compensation structure.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital, Data, and Technology Consultancy, specializing in Microsoft Solution and Cloud Services. Hitachi Solutions Europe focuses on end-to-end transformation across private and public sectors. Company Size: Hitachi Solutions is a large global organization, part of the Hitachi Group. Specific details for Hitachi Solutions Europe are not provided but the parent company employs a significant number of people, indicating a robust, established corporate environment. Founded: Hitachi Solutions Europe's founding date is not specified, but the Hitachi Group's history dates back to 1910, suggesting a company with a long-standing legacy of innovation and reliability.

Team Structure:

• The Design Team likely operates within the marketing or a broader GTM (Go-To-Market) function.
• It will involve collaboration with marketing specialists, sales professionals, and potentially project managers across various European countries.
• Reporting is likely to a Design Lead or Marketing Manager, with mentorship provided by a Career Development Mentor (CDM).

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: While creative, the design output is intended to support sales and marketing objectives, implying a focus on effectiveness and measurable impact.
• Agile Collaboration: Working in a hybrid environment with cross-country teams suggests an agile approach to project management and communication.
• Brand Consistency: A strong emphasis on adhering to brand guidelines to ensure unified messaging and corporate identity across all collateral.

Company Website: https://www.hitachi.com/ (Global) / https://www.hitachi-solutions.com/ (Europe)

📝 Enhancement Note: Company information was inferred from the provided description and general knowledge of Hitachi Solutions' global presence. The focus is on how this context impacts an operations-related internship, highlighting the need for structured processes, cross-functional collaboration, and a data-informed creative approach.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is an Internship/Entry-Level position, designed to provide foundational experience in graphic design within a corporate marketing and sales operations context. It's a stepping stone for individuals aiming for roles in graphic design, marketing, or broader GTM operations. Reporting Structure: The intern will report to a Design Lead or Marketing Manager and will be assigned a Career Development Mentor (CDM) who will provide guidance on career progression and skill development within Hitachi Solutions. Operations Impact: The intern's work directly supports the effectiveness of marketing campaigns and sales enablement materials. High-quality collateral can improve lead generation, customer engagement, and sales conversion rates, indirectly impacting revenue.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific design software (Adobe Creative Suite) and learn about motion graphics or video editing.
• Industry Exposure: Gain insight into the IT consultancy sector, Microsoft technologies, and global business operations through hands-on experience.
• Networking: Build professional connections with marketing, sales, and design professionals across Europe.
• Formal Mentorship: Benefit from structured guidance from a CDM, helping to identify career paths and develop essential professional skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section frames the internship as a clear entry point into operations-adjacent creative roles, emphasizing the learning and development aspects that are crucial for interns. The "Operations Impact" is described in terms of how creative output contributes to broader GTM objectives.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company operates a Hybrid Work Model, indicating a blend of remote work and office-based collaboration. This suggests modern office facilities designed to support team interaction and focused individual work. Office Location(s): The primary location for this internship is Porto, Portugal. Hitachi Solutions Europe operates across various European countries, suggesting potential for interaction with colleagues in different regions.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and cross-country team structure necessitate strong digital collaboration tools and practices. Expect to work with colleagues remotely and in person.
• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Adobe Creative Suite) and Microsoft Office Suite is provided. Digital collaboration platforms are likely used extensively.
• Team Interaction: Opportunities for in-person collaboration with local team members in Porto and virtual interactions with a broader European team.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is likely 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered through the hybrid model. This allows for managing tasks efficiently across both remote and office settings, aligning with the need to balance project deadlines with personal well-being.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Hybrid work model" and "work-life balance" from the benefits section informs the description of the work environment. The Porto location is highlighted, with acknowledgment of the broader European team interaction.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of applications and portfolios to assess suitability for the internship.
• First Interview: Likely a conversational interview focusing on qualifications, motivation, and cultural fit. Expect questions about your design background, understanding of brand guidelines, and experience with Adobe Suite.
• Skills Assessment/Portfolio Review: A practical exercise or detailed review of your portfolio. This may involve discussing specific projects, explaining your design choices, and demonstrating your proficiency with design tools.
• Final Interview: Potentially with a hiring manager or senior team member to discuss the role in more depth, career aspirations, and confirm fit within the team and company culture.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Relevant Work: Prioritize projects demonstrating skills in creating marketing collateral (presentations, brochures, infographics) and adhering to brand guidelines.
• Explain Your Process: For each project, briefly describe the brief, your design approach, the tools used, and the outcome. Highlight any challenges faced and how you overcame them.
• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Be prepared to discuss your experience with Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft PowerPoint/Word.
• Highlight Collaboration: If possible, include examples of projects where you collaborated with others or received and incorporated feedback.
• Keep it Concise: A portfolio for an internship should be focused and easy to navigate.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Be prepared for a short design task, potentially involving creating a simple graphic or adapting an existing template.
• Brand Guidelines Test: You might be asked to apply specific brand guidelines to a mock asset.
• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Expect questions about how you would approach a common design challenge or handle feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice tailored to an internship application for a design role within a corporate environment. It emphasizes portfolio content, interview preparation, and potential assessment methods common in creative roles.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite:
  • Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, and complex illustrations.
  • InDesign: For page layout, brochure design, and document creation.
  • Photoshop: For image editing, manipulation, and digital asset creation.
• Microsoft Office Suite:
  • PowerPoint: Essential for creating internal presentations and sales decks.
  • Word: For creating documents, one-pagers, and potentially basic brochure layouts.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary focus for this design role, understanding how design impacts engagement metrics (e.g., click-through rates on digital ads, readability of reports) is beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

• Familiarity with how marketing collateral is used within CRM systems or marketing automation platforms is a plus but not required for this internship.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section directly lists the software mentioned in the job description, providing context for their use in a marketing and sales operations environment.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence in Execution: A commitment to producing high-quality, polished design work that meets professional standards.
• Collaboration: Working effectively with diverse teams across different countries, fostering a supportive and communicative environment.
• Adaptability & Learning: Embracing new challenges, learning quickly, and adapting to evolving business needs and design trends.
• Precision & Detail: Ensuring accuracy, consistency, and adherence to brand guidelines in all design outputs.
• Efficiency: Organizing work and files effectively to ensure timely delivery and ease of access for colleagues.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Working closely with marketing and sales teams, understanding their needs and translating them into effective visual communication.
• Feedback Exchange: Openness to receiving and acting upon constructive feedback from team members and mentors to improve design outcomes.
• Knowledge Sharing: Contributing to a team environment where design best practices and insights are shared to elevate the overall quality of creative outputs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Values and collaboration styles are inferred from the emphasis on quality, teamwork, adaptability, and communication within the job description.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creativity with Brand Constraints: Learning to produce innovative designs while strictly adhering to Hitachi Solutions' established brand guidelines.
• Cross-Cultural Communication: Effectively communicating design ideas and feedback across different languages and cultural nuances within the European team.
• Managing Multiple Projects: Juggling various design requests from different departments and prioritizing tasks to meet diverse deadlines.
• Adapting to New Technologies/Trends: Staying current with evolving design software features and digital marketing creative trends.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Deepening expertise in Adobe Creative Suite and potentially exploring motion graphics or video editing.
• Industry Insights: Gaining practical knowledge of the IT consultancy sector and how design supports GTM strategies.
• Mentorship: Receiving structured career guidance from a dedicated Career Development Mentor.
• Professional Networking: Building a network of contacts within a global technology company.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges are framed around typical internship experiences in a corporate design setting, focusing on skill development and navigating professional environments.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Tell me about a project in your portfolio where you had to strictly adhere to brand guidelines. How did you ensure consistency?" (Preparation: Select a project, discuss the guidelines, and explain your process for maintaining them.)
• "How would you approach designing a new template for a marketing campaign, considering it needs to be adaptable for different European markets?" (Preparation: Discuss your process for understanding requirements, considering localization, and creating flexible design elements.)
• "Describe a time you received constructive criticism on a design. How did you handle it, and what was the outcome?" (Preparation: Prepare a specific example demonstrating your ability to take feedback and improve your work.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Hitachi Solutions and this specific internship opportunity?" (Preparation: Research Hitachi Solutions' work in digital transformation, their Microsoft partnership, and express enthusiasm for applying design skills in a corporate tech environment.)
• "How do you see your role contributing to the marketing and sales efforts of Hitachi Solutions Europe?" (Preparation: Connect your design skills to supporting lead generation, brand perception, and sales enablement.)
• "How do you stay updated on design trends and new software features?" (Preparation: Mention specific blogs, websites, or courses you follow.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps by project type or skill. Start with your strongest, most relevant pieces.
• Storytelling: For each key project, briefly explain the objective, your role, the tools used, your design process, and the impact or outcome.
• Highlight Adaptability: Showcase projects that demonstrate your ability to work within constraints or adapt to different styles.
• Technical Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your technical skills with the software used.
• Enthusiasm: Convey your passion for design and eagerness to learn and contribute.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview questions are crafted to assess design skills, understanding of marketing operations, and cultural fit, with specific advice on how to prepare and present oneself.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer internship position:

• Submit your application through the Hitachi Solutions careers portal via the provided link.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to prominently feature examples of marketing collateral (presentations, brochures, infographics) and demonstrate your understanding of brand guidelines and design software proficiency.
• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly highlights relevant design skills, software proficiency (Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office), any academic design projects, and your English language fluency. Quantify achievements where possible, even if from academic work.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, discussing your portfolio projects, and researching Hitachi Solutions' brand and services. Be ready to discuss your motivations for pursuing an internship in a global IT consultancy.
• Company Research: Invest time in understanding Hitachi Solutions' business, their focus on digital transformation, and their partnerships (especially with Microsoft). This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

---