Retail & Merchandising Intern Review

The placement at L’Oréal was the best experience at learning about how to work in a large company and gain knowledge first-hand. I met have met some inspirational people who have taught me about how to be successful in my career. I have been worked on a project from the planning stages through to its successful execution which is definitely a highlight.

I felt very valued by my team throughout my placement. As a placement student, you are given a high level of responsibility and your colleagues recognise this. I felt like I contributed towards the projects within my team and they appreciated the time and effort I would put into them.

Due to the level of responsibility given to the placement students, you are always busy. It can be challenging at first to manage the workload as you're often juggling a variety of projects. But over time, you get better at time management and knowing what to prioritise. I thrive when I'm busy, so personally it worked for me. You do have to put the work in, but the rewards are worth it.

From the first couple of weeks you are thrown in! L’Oréal are amazing because the interns aren't treated any differently from permanent employees. You're given a lot of responsibility which makes you feel empowered in your work. You can see how your work builds the project and share the successes of them.

I have learnt so much during my placement year. From how to present myself during meetings, to managing my time, to dealing with stress. I think I'll be more focused when returning to university, and have new skills to bring to my future career. The experiences I've had this year are invaluable.

It's well organised. I think they match you to a role which is suitable for your skill set and interests. I wasn't sure what to expect from my role as it's not with one of the brands, but it's been exactly what I would have chosen. The placements are well established at L’Oréal.

Some training is compulsory and really helps with general areas of personal development. However, what's really good is the additional training courses you can book yourself onto. You can sign up to training on improving your presenting skills or building confidence. You get a lot of opportunities to grow in your role.

They offer two options for when you finish your placement. You can either join onto the graduate scheme or 'talent track'. The graduate scheme is great if you want to try out different rotations and gain a breadth of experience in different teams and divisions. Talent track is ideal if you want to go straight into a graduate-level job in a specific area.