Gabriel Raad's placements with EI- Technologies (France) & OVUM (London)

This is a guest blog article from Royal Holloway BSc Management with Marketing (YIB) student, Gabriel Radd, who is spending his placement year doing 2 placements, in EI- Technologies (France) and OVUM (London).

Students are typically advised to undertake a single 12 month placement to maximise their learnings and responsibility within one company. There are occasions though, particularly with overseas placements which are often shorter, when students may complete their Year in Business in 2 different companies. We are delighted to hear how well Gabriel is getting on with his 2 different placements.

Gabriel writes: "Prior to this 3 month internship, I have done two summer internships of around a month each. Although relatively rewarding, I was not able to fully immerse myself within the organizational culture and to actually fully understand exactly what I was doing and why I did it. However, the YIB 3-month internship at EI-Technologies, a French IT consulting firm, allowed me to properly immerse myself. I learned how to use Salesforce and worked on my first project with ENGIE, a French energy and gas company.

I was placed in a team of 4 and we equally allocated tasks and I was regarded as a junior consultant although I was officially an intern. Things started slow, as I had to learn how a project works and how to competently utilise the weeklong Salesforce training session to my advantage. This internship taught me the importance of listening. Since I did not have a large amount of experience, I had to listen and learn about how organizational culture works and how a project is successfully executed. 

Of course, I made several mistakes before understanding certain things but it is important to be rigorous even if the problem you are faced with does not seem to have a solution. Additionally, I learned that the informal aspect of the firm is more important than I thought. Successfully integrating oneself is important as it allows one to make connections/network and feel comfortable at work. Although I learned a lot while working on the project and visiting the client, speaking to different people in an informal setting proved to be essential. It is very easy to get lost in dry and technical areas, and talking to different people within an informal setting lets you understand organizational culture allowing you to receive a 360 view on why an organisation does what it does.
 https://www.ei-technologies.com/fr/home-page/

 When I completed this internship, I moved to London and started another one with OVUM for 6 months. Ovum sells research/data for technology companies and are also specialised in IT consulting. I am in the marketing department and I am glad as it has nothing to do with my previous internship. I think that it is important to vary as much as possible to see what you enjoy/don’t like. I learned that when you get older, it is less appreciated by employers to see someone who constantly switches jobs. The time to experiment is now! Since this internship is longer, I will gradually obtain more responsibilities and OVUM is investing in me to equip me with skills that will allow me to perform well during these 6 months. 

I think that it is very interesting to do two placements in two different countries because it allows you to gain experience in different markets and that looks good on a CV. Additionally, I’ve noticed a huge cultural difference in the workplace between these two internships. They are professionally and socially dissimilar as people have different thought processes and do things quite differently. Personally, one of the most interesting parts of this YIB is to experience different things (professional and informal) and to see how different cultures react, perform and work together in the workplace.
 https://ovum.informa.com/about/about-us

Moreover, I am officially admitting that I have utilised contacts to obtain these internships. Yes, I know, some people will look down on you and tell you that it’s the “easy way out” and I absolutely see where they are coming from. However, using contacts is something that is essential both professionally and socially. If I am lucky enough to have certain contacts that can assist me then why not take advantage of this? Networking and utilising contacts is an essential part in obtaining an internship, and my piece of advice for the YIB application process is to apply to MANY placements, and to not be afraid or embarrassed to utilise every contact that you can think of."

See link to previous blog article about the value of networking: http://yearinbusiness.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/networking-guide.html

Shuvangi's placement with designs codes in India

Shuvangi Sen Chaudhury is studying BSc Management with Accounting (Year in Business) and is currently spending her placement year working for designs codes in Kolkata, India.  

designs codes is a professional web design company which provides clients with solutions for their digital requirements from web development to digital marketing.

Shuvangi started her placement at the end of August 2016 and in this blog article she shares her perspective on Year in Business and how her placement is going to far.

How did I find the application process?

-Initially I found it difficult, but after seeking help from Emma Baker and the careers department, the application process seemed easier. Filling out the application form is the most important part, especially the questions such as "Why are you applying?" or "what motivated you to apply?". It feels difficult and stressful in the beginning but with continuous applications, the application questions became much easier to answer. 

What recommendations would I make to those Year in Business students starting in their 1^st year at Royal Holloway and their 2^nd year?

-To the 1st years I would say that they should get involved in voluntary work and societies. Get involved with group work within the university. Communication and inter-personal skills develop when you get involved in such work. Also the experience you gain is a great reference when going in for interviews.

-To 2nd years I would say start applying from the beginning. Don't wait until December or January to apply. The faster you apply, the better chances you have to secure an interview. Take your time with the application questions. Don't put the same answers for each application. Re-write your cover letter and tailor your CV according to each job specification. Make the most of the 1:1 sessions with Emma Baker (Careers)

What is my job title and what projects will I be working on?

-My job title is Marketing intern. I am currently being trained on Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and Social Media Optimisation (SMO). I will be given my personal projects after two months of training where I directly communicate with the client and learn about their requirements and work accordingly. 

How have my first few weeks/ months been on my placement?

-The first few weeks of my placement was a bit stressful. Settling down, getting to know the work environment, and also getting to know my colleagues. However, my manager and colleagues helped me a lot. I have now settled in well. I also got to know what is expected of me and how my placement will progress. 

What has been the best thing so far about my placement?

-The best thing about my placement so far has been the fact that I am able to actually apply the knowledge I gained at university workshops and lectures. Being able to use that knowledge, change them accordingly, and knowing and learning the difference between theory and practical. 

What else would I like to say about the Year in Business programme at Royal Holloway?

-I would say that the programme is extremely helpful. Even though I am on overseas placement, the university has always been supportive and helped me throughout. The programme lets the student explore opportunities and learn about the obstacles that can arise during an interview or even applying for a role, and also how to overcome it. The university provides a number of services, which if used, can help a lot during the search for a placement and securing one. 

Hong Kong placement position for student Iris Pilement

Iris Pilement is studying BSc Management with International Business (Year in Business) at Royal Holloway. For her third year she secured 2 placement positions. Iris spent 6 months working in Paris with Publicis as a Marketing and Promotion placement student. She is currently working in Hong Kong on the second of her placement positions as a Sales and Marketing intern with start up company Vines and Terroirs.

In this blog article Iris writes about her time with Vines and Terroirs.

After a few months already spent in Asia I still feeling thrilled to live in such a cosmopolitan city as Hong-Kong where so many opportunities of business growth are showing here. The culture here in Hong Kong has left my mind swept with ideas especially as the culture of wines and spirits has developed so much over the last five years. Along with the high pace of modernisation, the knowledge in regards to wines and spirits has moved a long way partly due to the availability of online articles informing past and current trademarks, appellations, grape varieties. It is fascinating to see how quickly they learn and adopt these information available to them. 

My main focus as a Junior Business Manager in Hong Kong for Vines and Terroirs is to work so as to expand and support the growth of the business. The philosophy that my managers and myself have implemented is ‘try before you buy’ enforcing a trusting nature in a luxury sector that is run on flavors, sensation and discovery. Baring this in mind and focusing on our target audience we organize wine tasting events in the form of dinners, parties and exhibitions. A recent example out here was the ‘French Gourmay’, exhibiting our French winemakers and wines to the local audience and public, introducing brand names and providing a good opportunity to make valuable connections. 

The wine sector is a forever growing global industry especially out here in Hong Kong. With a proud history and heritage, the city boasts a title for being the Centre of International trade encouraging business in all sectors. Many would consider the wine industry to be thriving due to the removal of duty-related customs in 2008 and the strong business ties with the Chinese mainland market. However the Hong Kong wine market keeps different attributes and its specificities due to British governance and rule here throughout the 18^th and 19^thcentury.

While Hong Kong has a well-established professional system with few regulatory constraints on importing goods, its market shares in China and Thailand have considerable room to grow. These countries are still very difficult to access despite more focused government efforts. With these larger markets at the back of our mind, we spend some of our time in preparing ourselves for these strategic future opportunities. As already mentioned, my main expansion focus lies here in Hong Kong, however I believe once we have mastered the market here expansion will follow suite.  

My company and my clients have now been on the Hong-Kong market for a length of 6 years, being faced with many challenges along the way. This gives us the experience and expertise into key success factors enabling a small business to perform in the Asian market.

As part of the current trend, it is to be noticed that some high end specialty stores, aiming to increase their share of “grand crus”, are focusing on higher margins rather than higher volumes. The company I work for solely focuses on core products for which the quality and the taste are offered for good value. For instance, this could be a niche wine from areas such as the Rhone Valley with a price range between 60 and 600 HKD (approximately between £10 and £ 60).

In Hong Kong the current demand is still running mostly towards red wines (80% share of the market). Despite numerous attempts to introduce rosé wine, consumption has only seen its early days here in Asia. Using England as an example, “Rosé season” only lasts a few months throughout the very short summer time period. On the contrary, the Rosé wines can be enjoyed throughout the whole year in Hong Kong. This gives strong emphasis to suggest why the development of rosé wine is currently our major focus. As an example, we launched two weeks ago the first “Rosé Corner” in a trendy bar named  “Azure Slash Bar” , located in one of the most popular districts in Hong-Kong. The “Rosé Corner” gathers one of the largest selections of rosé that a can be found on the Asian Market. Indeed, as of today Vines & Terroirs is the largest importer of rosé wine in Asia.

To expand our business, a strong distribution network is required, but innovation is key. Vines and Terroirs has recently launched the production of Luminous Magnums. This is the first time such an innovation has taken place on the global market for rosé wines. Vines and Terroirs is the first company to offer a bottle equipped with a micro-fiber label that lights up like a bulb designed for the Asian market. The Midnight Rose marketing strategy is moving closer to the one followed by Champagne Houses and this is beginning to have a strong positive impact on the business generated.

Innovation, variety along with a strong presence in Hong-Kong (through corners, exhibitions, tastings or social media networks) has allowed Vines and Terroirs to work with the following major luxury hotels and restaurants: Robuchon, Peninsula, Ritz-Carlton, Mandarin Oriental, Shangri-La, The W, Intercontinental. Their wines are also distributed in smaller family restaurants.

My day-to-day work: 

● Sales Assistant Manager

● Manage promotional strategy and provide marketing support to drive sales and growth in both B2B and B2C levels

● Events Assistant Manager

● Increase brand awareness (social media presence, website development, digital & print media, event  sponsoring 

● Monitor market trends and research competitors’ activities to identify opportunities and key issues

● Brand design: conceptualization and design of the wine catalogue, promotional offers, flyers etc.

● Preparation of invoices and guest/Company billing

● Room inventory management, room allocation and rate yielding

We are pleased that we have been able to use skype to connect with Iris during her overseas placements and find out more about her daily activities.