Abigail’s Adventure: How an Apprentice Makes a Difference
Going to university straight from school wasn’t an option that Abigail took, and she has reaped the rewards of an Apprenticeship programme because of it.
As a Visual Merchandiser, she gets to see all her hard work on shelves, in store and experience all the fun of working for one of the biggest companies in the world.
We joined Abigail to have a chin wag about her career so far.
So Abigail, you’re part of the Apprenticeship Degree Programme. How did you find out about that?
Obviously I knew about L’Oréal but when I really began to search for careers, it was only when I signed up to the Pearson College London mailing list on their Business School that I discovered this opportunity.
That, and of course being a user of our products!
Ah great, so you came through the Pearson route. How did you know that L’Oréal was the one for you though?
Firstly, L’Oréal is the No1 cosmetics company in the world! Wow!
“The thought of becoming an apprentice at this cosmetics company would really be an honour”
I knew that I would gain invaluable experiences, ones that I would not have been exposed to if I went down the more generic university route. This opportunity I thought would allow me to work and learn at the same time; what a fantastic combination!
Sounds kind of hard to juggle so much though! How do you do it?
I love how friendly everyone at L’Oréal have been. Our community spirit encourages a positive working environment which is an absolute win, and I love the opportunities that I am presented here.
“I am able to present and discuss any ideas I may have to my team, and as I am a Visual Merchandiser my designs can be seen nationally”
Oh, and I love the coffee breaks to socialise with apprentices at the office as well!
Haha, that’s always important! What kind of advice were you given when you started?
Oh there’s been so much valuable advice so far. However, I remember being told: ‘Be yourself’. This may seem cliché, but I believe ‘being myself’ helped me become successful in my application! I am now more confident in my meetings with other colleagues and it’s really an environment where authenticity is valued.
That’s solid advice to be fair! What are you going to do with that advice in the future though?
I would love to work with L’Oréal full time and continue to gain experience working the different brands within the company.
“I have already gained a vast array of knowledge and valuable skills despite only working for the company for a few months”
To be honest, it would be pleasure to continue learning from a prestigious company who puts their employees first.
Oh and did I mention that the products are amazing?
We’ve heard some rumours about these amazing products, Abbie!
We run our degree apprenticeship programme through Pearson College so you can find out more details on our page.
