We Asked this Recent Grad How He Turned His L’Oréal Internship Into a Full-Time Job

What can make a great internship even better? Landing a full-time job at the same company after graduation. We love hearing about recent college grads who went from intern to employee, which is why we jumped at the chance to meet Kevin Katz.

Kevin is a 2016 Georgetown University grad who started his career at L’Oréal as a summer 2015 intern for the Garnier Skincare U.S. Marketing Team. Now, he’s working on the brand’s Digital Marketing Team. Here’s what he had to say about the experience:

How did your background and interests lead you to L’Oréal?

I was a marketing and finance double major at Georgetown. After listening to several consumer packaged goods companies talk on campus, I was interested to learn more. What set L’Oréal apart from other employers was its position as a digital disruptor and a global leader in product development. As a varsity tennis and crew athlete in college, I’ve always been passionate and competitive by nature, so L’Oréal’s fast-paced environment and commitment to excellence also caught my attention.

Describe your journey to your current role on the Garnier Digital Marketing Team.

I joined L’Oréal as a marketing intern in Garnier Skincare when the line was rebranding and relaunching. After my internship, I got an offer to return as part of the Management Development Program. The program gives you exposure to different roles, brands and categories of the business early on in your career. After completing my sales rotation in shopper marketing for brands like Maybelline, Garnier and Essie, I moved to my current role on the Garnier Digital Marketing team.

What surprised you most when you first joined?

How much L’Oréal values diversity. This isn’t limited to diversity of background and ethnicity, but also your unique voice. From a male perspective, it can be intimidating to join a company that sells products you aren’t instantly familiar with. Yet from day one, company leadership encourages you to share your opinions and makes it clear that your voice is heard.

For example, I met with the VP of my group who wanted to set up regular check-ins to make sure I can share my ideas and have the support I need.

How does L’Oréal foster an innovative and creative environment?

In just seven months, I’ve had the opportunity to work on four different brands and categories. I believe that the exposure has made me a stronger marketer. We have so many unique brands at L’Oréal, some of which compete with one another, but at the end of the day, we’re one big team. The spirit of competition and mobility fosters an environment that pushes you to think bigger.

Tell us about a favorite project that you’ve worked on.

My internship project was one of the highlights of my career so far. I worked on an advocacy plan as Garnier SkinActive was relaunched. This initiative was a testament to how cross-functional work gets done at L’Oréal. I collaborated with new teammates in PR, customer marketing, e-commerce, influencer programs and more. We also presented our project to the Senior VP of Garnier and the President of Maybelline, Garnier, and Essie.

Is there anything you know now that you wish you knew when you first started?

I was a bit shy when I first joined L’Oréal. As I’ve grown here, I’ve realized that no project gets done alone and it’s important to build your network. If I knew that earlier, I would’ve been more proactive about getting to know others outside of my direct team.

Confidence is also key. Nobody will listen to what you have to say if you don’t believe in what you have to say. Own who you are, be proud of where you’re working, and try to meet as many people as you can.

Want to join a company driven by teamwork, creativity, and healthy competition? L’Oréal is hiring now, so head over to WayUp and apply.