Dear fellow students,
The past six months I had the opportunity to intern at Avery Dennison, a global leader in material science and digital identification solutions. At least that is what I knew about the company from their website. Zero expectations in mind, apart from a pleasant interview process. Little did I know that this internship would be one of the most challenging but yet rewarding experiences. Making my first steps into the corporate world, my journey was filled with learning, growth, and exciting new challenges that pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me discover my true passion for marketing communications. Get a glimpse into my experience as an intern at Avery Dennison, and how this experience has shaped my career goals.
As a Marketing Communications Intern for the Graphics Material Solutions department, I supported both the Automotive and Architectural segments across the EMENA region. This involved promoting innovative films for diverse applications, ranging from vehicle wraps for cars, trucks, and boats to architectural films for walls, glass, floors, and furnishings. I was in a world of colorful films, luxury cars, photoshoots and real-life application trainings, in which I even participated. My responsibilities involved digital marketing activities such as web content management, SEO&SEA campaign monitoring and social media account management. On a larger scale, I was involved in several product launch communication campaigns, stakeholder engagement programs and events. As a result, my internship allowed me to have a 360° view on the communications profession and explore where my true interests lie.
As the first day of my 9-5 internship began, I was not prepared for the amount of information I had to comprehend about a company with such a diverse and sophisticated structure and portfolio. As part of a large corporation, I was exposed to a truly international environment and had the chance to collaborate with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and expertise levels. Thanks to this, I was able to build a good network of professional connections that will prove to be useful in my future professional development. This experience was invaluable in developing my teamwork, time management, and communication skills. While transitioning from academia to the corporate world presented some challenges, I learned to adapt to team dynamics, manage deadlines, and handle a demanding workload.
Avery Dennison truly fostered a culture of growth and development. From day one, I felt like a valued member of the team and was given numerous opportunities to contribute and learn. Their dedication to my development was evident through a comprehensive internship program, covering diverse topics from job application strategies to time management skills. The mentorship program also provided me with personalized guidance, helping me strengthen my skills to confidently navigate the corporate world.
Reflecting on my six-month internship journey, I am filled with gratitude and excitement for the future. The experiences, lessons, skills and professional relationships gained at Avery Dennison have laid a solid foundation for my future career path, igniting a passion in me for marketing communications that I am eager to continue exploring. Having made those first steps into the corporate world, I am equipped with the necessary confidence and competence to tackle new challenges and pursue my professional goals with determination. To my fellow students, I would recommend following your intuition when choosing an internship as you never know the opportunities that await you just around the corner!