Marketing Intern Review

A topline overview of my role on a day-to-day basis involves localising packaging artworks, ensuring that renovations can be released according to deadlines, storyboarding upcoming media and assets, ensuring stock requests are fulfilled for events, and periodically refreshing the skincare data share-tracker and providing an analysis of our performance against the market.

In terms of technical skills, i have learnt how to pull and analyse data, and have strengthened my ability to provide context on the peaks and falls of sales and market share, areas that were previously weaknesses at University. In terms of interpersonal skills, my ability to problem-solve, self-motivate and be proactive in periods of high-intensity has grown massively since starting the placement.

I was pleasantly surprised in the level of responsibility expected of the intern population within the teams. In my first month, i was directed to lead and execute the brand's presence at an external pride festival, designing the installation concept and running the stall. Day to day, i was handling the packaging artworks and communicating with other countries for their translations. Being trusted with so much responsibility strengthened my confidence.

I felt heavily supported by my line manager, with weekly 1-2-1s, and i always felt there was someone to go to in my team in times of stress or uncertainty. I also felt that i had the opportunity to speak up if i was overwhelmed, and always knew i could be supported on a task that was not familiar.

The culture and general atmosphere in my division felt comfortable - i felt that i could show up as myself, without judgement, and i always looked forward to seeing familiar faces day-to-day. I felt there was a lot of recognition of the team's successes, celebrated both in work hours and in offsite days, and many times interns were publicly commended for their efforts in team meetings.

Due to my team and my division, i thoroughly enjoyed my placement year, and felt the opportunities presented to me were incredibly formative for my development, both professionally and personally. I can think of countless moments where i displayed a much more positive, much more confident version of myself compared to when i was at university, and i feel this was largely due to the experience of a placement year.

Yes

Be prepared to be a proactive member of a team - taking on opportunities without direction from your line manager, and opting into challenging experiences are incredibly worthwhile, not just for your career but for your personal development. As much as you are still a student in the company, this is your year to prove that you could be a permanent employee, and to broaden your skills so that your post-uni career is off to the strongest start possible.