Intern Review

I loved my internship at L'Oreal - everyone was so friendly and interested in you, it was a great environment to work in. There are so many interns working there which puts you at ease as everyone is in the same boat. There were lots of opportunities to get involved in. The only criticism is that the year went too quick!

Throughout the year I became very close to my team. I was made to feel like a valuable asset to the team, and felt I was appreciated and respected right from the start. I was frequently congratulated and thanked for my efforts - I wasn't given menial tasks just because I was an 'intern'.

I was given a lot of support - especially at the start to incorporate me into the team and role, and near the end of the year when I was considering future prospects. My manager was very supportive regarding my uni work - I was allowed time within work hours to catch up on work, and was offered guidance on how to improve it.

Leading up to an event or project launch it got very busy, but on the whole the level was good. At times I had lots of ongoing projects so I had to learn to prioritise and manage my time effectively. Each day was different, but it definitely got busier as I was given more responsibility.

At the start I was given ad hoc and more admin-based tasks, to ease my into the company and to understand how the team worked. However as I gained more experience and confidence I worked on (and ran) more long-term, company-wide projects. At times I was the only member of my team in the office/country, and so was given a lot of trust and responsibility.

I learnt so much during my placement, it was an invaluable experience. My actual role was not linked to my degree directly, however the life skills I learnt working in a corporate environment in London will be valuable to me beyond my degree. There are loads of optional training opportunities to upskill and benefit you personally, you are not just limited to learning the skills needed for your role.

The office is so friendly - it is always buzzing with lots of people around. Although it is a corporate environment it seems quite relaxed. The majority of employees are quite young. There are always events going on, like staff sales and product launches. There are also perks like early summer closing hours, and flexibility to work from home too.

Overall the internship was organised well. New interns have a hand-over with the current intern on their team, which helps you settle in and get to grips with the role. The HR team are very helpful and available throughout the year if you have any problems or questions. Interns have many different points of contact within HR, your division and the intern committee.

The company invests a lot in you, and you are treated as another employee as opposed to an intern on work experience. There are lots of compulsory trainings for your role, and optional ones you can attend if they interest you. You have reviews with your manager at different stages to assess and plan oyour development.

For interns the main employment prospect is a graduate scheme, which many interns apply for. There are other opportunities for entry-level jobs after you graduate too. During the internship you are exposed to many current employees who have been through the internship themselves, who offer advice and guidance particularly on applying for the graduate scheme.

There are socials organised by the intern committee every few weeks which you can get involved in if you want. Within my division there were not many organised social events - but I know there are a lot more within other divisions. However my department was quite social, we would often go for drinks and lunches out. It depends on your team and division.

Living and working in London was very expensive, more than I originally expected. But compared to other companies the interns get quite a high salary, so it was manageable. I found the more you wanted to socialise and meet people, the more expensive it was. Any travelling is expensed, and events organised by work are subsidised or free.

There is not much nightlife in Hammersmith - there are a few pubs and bars, and lots of restaurants. But the office is right next to the tube station so if you travel into Central London there is loads to do. The office is a 20 minute walk to the River, where there is a few pubs which was good to go to after work in the summer.

Within my division there were limited opportunities of activities organised by work. But I know that other divisions are a lot more social and put on different events for employees to get involved in. There are opportunities to get involved and meet other interns, organised by the interns like sports clubs.