Just like the company Bllush wants you to “Delight your shoppers”, I am here to delight you readers with my internship experience in Israel.
After taking part in a semester study abroad, I decided to continue my journey outside of Europe and take part in an Internship in Tel Aviv. I wanted to immerse myself in the working environment of a somewhat different culture. I did so by working as a content marketing intern at the company Bllush. Bllush is an international company working in the e-commerce B2B market, providing content for online retailers.
Entering a New Culture
Before the start of the internship I was unsure of what I was getting myself into, what tasks I will actually be doing, how my studies actually give me a professional edge and a profession that is needed in a company, as well as what it is like working in a different country and culture outside of Europe. And, what I can tell you now is that by the end of the first day of my internship all my uncertainties went away. The first day began by everyone introducing themselves and offering any help I needed, which was followed by a lunch with all colleagues immersing me into the team. As such, by the end of the first week I already felt comfortable and part of the team. It quickly became clear to me that I was an integral part of the company and my knowledge and experience where essential for the tasks I performed.
Adapting During Covid-19
When the pandemic hit Israel, much changed across the country as well as companies. Bllush was no exception. Whilst the small size of the company made the transition to a work-from-home environment easier, it also made the company more vulnerable. It was a difficult time for the company to withstand. My main tasks were to conduct research related to e-commerce and marketing, which then shifted to include trends in fashion e-commerce related to Covid-19.
I find that much can be said about a company, looking at how it reacts in times of crisis. The team was open and supportive through it all, making sure everyone was alright during the lockdown both mentally and when it came to have all the resources. Never a moment of unsureness. Despite living alone and working from home, I never once felt left out. We communicated periodically and kept each other updated on the best techniques to stay focused during work-from-home.
Internship Research
As part of my internship semester, I conducted a research related to Bllush. I chose to conduct an experimental research on the product that the company offers to clients, that being user-generated-contents of social influencers on online stores product pages as a ‘complete your outfit’ section. Whilst the findings did not show these to have a more positive effect on attitude towards a product or purchase intention, one thing became clear. That is, that there is still much unknown on the topic and needs be studied further.
My Overall Experience
I could not be more grateful for choosing Bllush, not only do I feel I was able to contribute to the company but that I myself was able to grow. I cannot say that the tasks I performed are necessarily what I want to specialise in in the future, but I can say that stepping outside my comfort zone was a step in the right direction. I now feel I have a more take-charge attitude and feel confident in adapting my skills in practice.