When I first started to look for internships for my Bachelor of Communication Science, I knew I wanted two characteristics to be present: digital marketing and fashion. I applied to several digital marketing agencies, such as Media Monks and Dept, big sporting companies, such as Adidas, and conglomerates like Coty. In the beginning, I was a bit unsure if my application tactics were going to work out. I mostly used Linkedin and immediately after sending my CV, I would email the recruiter trying to catch their attention. While many blogs and forums will tell you that that is what you should be doing, aimlessly bombarding people’s inboxes will not make them pick you. After 5 rejections, I started to reach out to other areas such as AI and tech start-ups. Then, interviews started to pile up and my spirits were lifted. But, still, even after having an internship proposal, I did not feel satisfied with it and decided to give it one more shot in the fashion industry.
On the previous weekend, I went shopping at Kalverstraat (if you know, you know), and I found the most amazing white jeans… It fit me perfectly so I decided to check the brand´s page to see if they had any vacancies open. I had no pretenses, truly, I was just curious and in my mind, it made sense that I could work in a place that made me feel so good about myself. Can you guess which brand it was? Yes, G-Star. When I first saw the opening there were over 100 applicants but I thought “ Hey! The “no” I already have”. So I applied for it and that was the best decision I could have made. Within three weeks, I had been offered the position of Affiliate Marketing Intern. The process of applying was really fast and easy, all I had to do was send my CV and a motivation letter via Linkedin. After that, a video call was scheduled with the HR recruiter and the Affiliate Marketing Lead. The meeting was followed by a second in-person interview, in which I was offered an internship. I was thrilled!
My first week was very calm and instructive. I was welcomed by the digital team marketing and they explained to me how to use platforms such as Partnerize and Google Analytics. The overall atmosphere within the team has always been of respect and mutual support, of course, a serious demeanor is expected when working but that does not mean that the office won’t be filled with joy. That being through the colorful decorations for someone’s birthday or the “Kevin elf hunt” Christmas Game. In retrospect, I believe I have learned a lot in the past six months. I have learned about discipline and routine, organization and planning, and most importantly, I learned how to be a functional part of a team. Yes, G-Star has a great infrastructure and a good reputation that will most definitely help you grow as a professional but that is not what makes it special, the Team is. The results that are achieved together and the satisfaction of doing a good job is. From day one I have been treated with respect and care. I think that many people fear when they start their first job or internship that they won’t be taken seriously or that their work won’t matter, but I have never felt like that at G-Star, quite the opposite, which is mainly because of my colleagues.
As I said, I believe I have learned a lot but I still have a long way to go. I think that at G-Star I will continue to develop my skills, thus I will remain in the company for another six months. The moral of the story: do not settle. If you have a set idea in your mind, go for it. Who knows how my internship experience might have been if I hadn’t been true to my goals?