Scientific Intern Review

Reviewing claims which includes liaising with my marketing contacts in my brand teams as well as effectively communicating with the appropriate laboratory contact to ensure that claims had the right substantiation before approving. Discussing new topics (or the renovation of an exisitng product) and assets that need reviewing with the wider team. Working alongside different departments such as the regulatory, legal and consumer insights team. Staying up to date with green claims and other statutory requirements within the beauty industry.

I have been fortunate enough to learn many different hard skills throughout my internship, for example, becoming a more proficient user of Microsoft Office, including Microsoft Teams. This has been incredibly helpful in my day-to-day work allowing me to communicate and collaborate with colleagues more easily. I have built on my analytical and data interpretative skills for both instrumental and consumer-based reports. This has been invaluable in assisting me in making informed decisions on claims. On the soft skills side, I had the opportunity to help establish a community within the business for people of a particular ethnic background reaching out and liaising with all departments within L’Oréal and it has been wonderful to see how this has brought people together and provided a safe space for networking and support.

During my internship, I was entrusted with a lot of responsibilities that challenged me in many ways. I was given artworks to review for new product developments, making sure that they complied with certain regulatory codes before they could be put on the market. Compiling dossiers involved substantiating data to support innovative claims put forward by a brand. One of the most daunting tasks was presenting these dossiers to the authorities who had the power to deny our request to put an advertisement on TV. It was definitely a lot of work and new ground that I had not covered before and a huge learning curve that I was exposed to, however, it was refreshing to talk with my team who could offer advice and support.

During my internship, I was fortunate enough to be part of a team that, not only supported each other in their work but made me feel an integral part of their team. I had the opportunity of working with different managers with very different management styles. The initial immensity of the work I was exposed to, was daunting and as an intern I would have benefited from a degree of guidance, however the experience has reinforced my independence and resourcefulness in completing tasks within my job role.

I really enjoyed working in this company because of the team-oriented and collaborative culture. There is willingness to help each other out and work together towards common goals. The general atmosphere was positive and upbeat, which makes it easier to stay focused on productivity and getting things done efficiently. As a result, I felt as though I always on track with projects for my brands and was able to complete my tasks within their given timelines.

Despite the workload, I thoroughly enjoyed my placement; I was given the opportunity to develop my skills and pick up additional ones that will last a lifetime and that I will be able to carry into my career in the future. I highly recommend an internship to any university student no matter their degree. It is a great way to gain practical experience in your field of study and to network with professionals in your industry.

Yes

My advice to anyone starting an internship within L’Oréal is to prepare yourself mentally for the amount of work that may be expected of you. As someone who has gone through the internship experience, I can attest to the fact that the workload can be overwhelming especially if you are being newly exposed to the field of corporate work. With dedication and hard work, you will come out the other side having gained invaluable experience.