10 things I learned from interning at L’Oréal

I have had a desire to work in the fashion and beauty industry since I was 13 years old. When trying to get your foot in the door of such a competitive industry, persistence is key.

I applied to over 300 internships in college and that perseverance led to several opportunities, each one building on the last, leading to my summer internship at L’Oreal. Read on to find out 10 things I learned while interning at the world’s largest beauty brand for 10 weeks.

summer blog pitch jd fritzeen kodd magazine culture avis advice

• Your resume should be a visual representation of yourself. Spend time determining your personal brand and stick out!

• Do your research. L’Oréal owns 36 brands – get to know the brand you are working on, their portfolio, and their main competitors.

• Coffee chats are your new best friend. Networking is necessary to establish yourself at such a large and fast-paced company.

• Do not be afraid to ask for help. Interns are not expected to know everything; it is better to demonstrate teachability and curiosity.

• Always bring a smile to work. Positivity is infectious and people will notice it, trust me!

summer blog pitch jd fritzeen kodd magazine culture avis advice

• Feedback is invaluable. Your manager and team have probably been with L’Oréal much longer than you have; soak up all their advice and criticism.

• Detailed planning and scheduling is the key to time management, and time management is the key to success.

• Take initiative. This will show your manager that you want to add value to the team and it is an opportunity to demonstrate what you have learned.

• Keep a portfolio of all the projects you worked on and internships you did over the summer. This will show future employers what you are capable of.

• Apply yourself to the job. They hired you for a reason, so be yourself!