What it’s really like to intern at Qonto
Are you finding it tough to find the right internship? You want a role that values your potential, challenges you to grow, and offers real-world experience. But the search can be frustrating: you spend hours scrolling through job listings, you face months of unanswered applications, automatic rejections, and uninspiring interviews. What makes it even harder is not knowing what being an intern is really like at different companies. I can relate, as I was in this exact position not so long ago.
That’s why I’ve decided to write this article. As a current Qonto intern, I’ve gathered insights from my own experience and from other interns to give you a clear picture of what it’s like to be an intern at Qonto, including the interview process, day-to-day work, and potential career paths. I hope that these insights can help you, a budding professional, decide if Qonto is a good fit for your career goals and learning needs.
Before delving into the details of the internship experience, I want to thank my fellow interns — Ghita, Émilie, Simon, Martina, Lara, Bruna, and Tom — whose contributions were invaluable in crafting this article.
Interviewing as an intern at Qonto
When discussing our interview experiences at Qonto, my fellow interns all found that it was more refreshing than the other interviews we had gone through. Qonto’s interviews focus more on your motivations and aspirations rather than the typical corporate questions about our “three biggest weaknesses” or highly technical questions.
Bruna, an iOS intern, summed it up well: “Something that I feared about the interviews for my internships was that everything was going to be so technical. And it wasn’t like that. I really liked how the hiring process was very focused on experience and potential, and not only about technical skills. Of course, technical skills are important, but they were really looking for someone who had potential and would want to learn.”
Many of us remarked on how two-way these conversations felt, giving us ample opportunity to ask questions and get a real sense of the company culture. We all got the impression that Qonto was more interested in our growth, understanding how we think and solve problems, rather than just ticking boxes on a skills checklist.
Simon, an Android intern, mentioned his experience with the technical test: “Even though I made mistakes in my technical test, they just pointed them out and helped me improve. In the end, that’s how you work during your internship.”
Marjorie (Talent & Culture Director): At Qonto, we recognize that our interns are here primarily to learn and grow, which is why our hiring process emphasizes their willingness to learn, motivation, and cultural fit above all else. While it might be simpler and more comforting to select candidates with the exact experience we’re looking for, we believe that identifying potential is far more rewarding. Our recruitment team is dedicated to discovering individuals who, through their eagerness and alignment with our values, will thrive and contribute meaningfully to our dynamic environment. This approach not only enriches the learning experience for interns but also enhances our organization’s growth and innovation.
Onboarding and the Qonto Community
From the excitement of receiving our goodies to the surprise when we saw the CEO taking the time to talk to every cohort, the onboarding process is something that every intern talks about enthusiastically. From the moment we stepped through the doors, we could feel that we were a valued part of the company. We quickly found ourselves participating in onboarding sessions alongside full-time employees, immediately immersed in our teams and the company culture.
Martina joined Qonto over a year ago as a PR intern and has now become Global Communication Manager. Her comment captured this sentiment perfectly: “It’s not a company where you feel like just a number or that you don’t matter. It truly feels like you are part of something you’re building alongside everyone else, and your actions and presence matter.”
While we were integrated in the same manner as permanent employees, we could tell that Qonto still recognized our need to foster connections with other interns. We were integrated into a supportive intern community where we could share experiences and learn from our peers. Thanks to this community, we didn’t feel like individual interns scattered across different departments; we were part of a cohesive group with shared experiences and challenges.
Previously an Onboarding intern and now Onboarding Specialist, Lara’s experience highlights this community-building aspect: “From the start, we had different events to get to know each other, and it was super interesting to meet interns from different teams. The community is organized by some interns and apprentices in the People Team, so they always introduced the new interns and it was nice to have lunches together to catch up. Towards the summer, we also had activities where we played games and gathered ideas for the community. It was really fun.”
Marjorie: Our onboarding process is designed to send a clear message: interns are integral members of the team, not sideline employees. We enforce this principle from day one by onboarding interns alongside full-time staff, so that interns immediately feel like they are valued as part of the team. At the same time, we recognize the unique position of interns so we try to create an independent space for them to organize their community as they see fit.
Intern responsibilities and mentorship
When sharing experience about our work as interns, we all mentioned our surprise at the level of responsibility we were given. Rather than being confined to observing or handling minor tasks, we were quickly entrusted with significant projects, making us feel like important contributors and accelerating our growth. As Tom, Back-End intern, noted, “They almost didn’t see me as an intern. It was like I joined as a regular employee. Of course, I was slower, but I had similar tasks to full-time employees.”
This is also something I feel personally. Alongside other one-off projects, my routine work includes taking charge of the weekly internal newsletter, The Qontoer Journal, shared to over 1,700 Qontoers. While it was initially daunting to produce work that ends up being visible to the entire company, the validation (and hype) from my team gave me the confidence and passion to continue working on challenging projects. I still remember the pride I felt after being applauded by everyone in my department as my first edition arrived in their inboxes.
In the Tech team, interns like Simon and Bruna were entrusted with designing features throughout their internship. Meanwhile, Émilie was encouraged to participate in Tech forums and present her learnings to her department, including more experienced employees. Moreover, everyone, including interns, are also encouraged to branch out and propose projects. Even though I joined Qonto as an Internal Comms intern, I am often offered various opportunities to get involved in other projects that might interest me, such as employer branding (like this article that you are reading). These experiences not only boosted our confidence but also gave us real-world skills that we can carry forward in our careers.
This autonomy didn’t mean we were left to fend for ourselves, though. As interns, we experience just the right balance between autonomy and support, being able to experiment independently without ever feeling lost. Everyone remarked on how the robust support system of guidance and mentorship allowed us to tackle new challenges without the fear of making mistakes. Bruna shared her experience, saying that, “I’m usually the person who has a lot of questions, and having someone to ask was very important for me. My mentor and manager were always available for help.”
Ghita’s comment captures this feeling of ownership: “The autonomy they give you from the start was crazy to me. You are told to just go ahead and do it. It’s not what I’m used to in an internship because, when you are an intern, they generally give you a to-do list and check to see if you did everything correctly or if you made mistakes. But here, you create your own to-do list and work on it yourself. The trust that my manager had in me was amazing, but she also always made herself available to support me and answer any questions I had.”
Marjorie: Our approach to intern responsibilities and mentorship is based on the belief that interns bring a fresh perspective and that learning happens best through doing. Instead of observing from a distance, we trust interns to take ownership on significant projects to learn and grow. We also understand that interns don’t yet have a clear idea for their professional pursuit, so we also try to provide opportunities for them to explore a variety of missions. We recognize that interns cannot be expected to navigate their roles with the same autonomy as established professionals, which is why we try to provide as much support as possible, creating a safe space for interns to challenge themselves.
Extending the journey
As our internships progressed, many of us felt a genuine commitment to helping us shape our future careers, from our managers and our teams. Throughout our time here, we’ve received consistent support and guidance aimed at helping us grow into equipped professionals. It felt like we were valued not just for our current contributions, but for our future potential at Qonto as well, if the opportunity arises.
Martina, who transitioned into her full-time position as Global Communications Manager after showing significant growth in her role, perfectly illustrates this commitment: “My manager’s support was really valuable in this process because she told me what I needed to improve in order to be successful in a permanent position. It took a lot of mentorship and a lot of hard work, but it was also really rewarding because as long as you are curious and eager to learn, you can grow a lot.”
Our internships feel like more than just temporary positions. Instead, they’ve acted as launch pads for our professional lives, giving us the skills, confidence, and experience to take our next steps. Whether those steps lead us to permanent positions at Qonto or to opportunities elsewhere, we feel well-prepared for the challenges ahead.
Martina continues, “When the time came to actually confirm the position, I was thrilled to hear that my integration with the team had been so well-received and that they wanted to offer it to me. I’m so proud to see how much I’ve grown in those six months. It was the combination of my attitude towards the experience and their teaching that made sure that I was able to land this job.”
Marjorie: Our strategy is to nurture our interns into permanent roles whenever possible, reflecting our commitment to growth and sustainability as a company. We believe that after their internship, they possess a deep understanding of their position and our unique environment and culture, making them ideal candidates for long-term contributions. Even when immediate opportunities aren’t available, our goal is to equip interns with the skills and experience needed for their next professional adventure. Besides, in the future, they might choose to rejoin us, and we remain open to welcoming them back with their enriched perspectives.
When asked about what qualities an intern would need to truly benefit and succeed from an internship at Qonto, everyone that I chatted with brought up similar points: autonomy, teamwork, curiosity, adaptability, and proactivity. These are qualities that come up in a Qontoer’s everyday, and are essential for thriving in such a dynamic environment. An internship at Qonto is not just a stepping stone in a career but a transformative journey that helps shape who you are as a professional.
Qonto provides a nurturing environment where your efforts are recognized, your growth is encouraged, and your ideas can flourish. If you’re considering an internship here, be ready to dive in at full throttle, and you’ll leave with invaluable skills and experiences that will benefit you throughout your career.
About Qonto
Qonto makes it easy for SMEs and freelancers to manage day-to-day banking, thanks to an online business account that’s stacked with invoicing, bookkeeping and spend management tools.
Created in 2016 by Alexandre Prot and Steve Anavi, Qonto now operates in 4 European markets (France, Germany, Italy, and Spain) serving 500,000 customers, and employs more than 1,600 people. Since its creation, Qonto has raised €622 million from well-established investors.
Qonto is one of France’s most highly valued scale-ups and has been listed in the Next40 index, bringing together future global tech leaders, since 2021. Interested in joining a challenging and game-changing company? Take a look at our job offers.
Illustration by Karina Pasechka
