Human Resources Degree Apprentice Review

I am the degree apprentice in the emerging talent recruitment team. We manage the 360 process of the early careers application process. This involves going on campus attending university events, employer branding, managing the recruitment for all interns, grads and apprentices and then assisting on the onboarding activities once they join.

Yes, throughout my time at L'Oreal I have developed a variety of skills. From presenting at large events improving my confidence, presentation skills and communication to collaborating with external providers and other teams within L'Oreal. My manager has been exceptional for making this happen, where we have regular catch ups to identify any areas I wish to focus to improve on and then creating a plan with targets for me to develop them.

I always knew I wanted to do a degree apprenticeship as it is such a good programme to get your degree while working, building your cv and coming out with no uni debt, but working for L'Oreal has been an absolute dream come true. I have met so many incredible people and have been so supported by my team I recommend a degree apprenticeship at L'Oreal to everyone I speak to who may be interested!

The programme is extreemly well structured with a specific person we can reach out to with any queries and weekly coffee catch ups to clear up any concerns. we are all aware of how the programme will work year by year due to these regular catch ups as well as having a peer-mentoring system in place to gain any extra support from people who have gone through the process too.

I feel extreemly supported by my employer. I have daily meetings with my manager to discuss any concerns. I have weekly coffee-catch-ups with our programme manager. A peer-mentoring system to speak with people in the year above with any university concerns as they have only just completed our modules so can really help. As well as termly calls with my university and my manager to ensure I'm on track from a uni sense. Any areas I have ever felt like I'm struggling or need more support, I have always had someone to reach out to and when I have asked they have been extremely supportive and the relevant steps have been put in place to develop my skillset to cope and succeed.

I would say from the training provider the support is varied. We switched providers at the start of the programme and it wasn't the smoothest transition from the university side and structurally there has been a lot of changes with different lecturers leaving or being swapped. I would say initially there was a lack of support but it has gotten smoother as the programme has developed, now having more regular catch ups, people onsite to clear up any concerns and lecturers having a growing awareness that our programme is more intense than a normal university programme as we are managing full time work as well, so expectations are more realistic now in terms of time expected to spend on each module.

I would say that my degree works hand in hand with my role and I feel that I can apply the work covered from the theoretical side at university to the practical side at work. It has allowed me to fast track my knowledge at work and I feel this has allowed me to perform better at work

Yes we have a huge next gen committee at work where all the current apprentices and interns can come together to work on projects for charities, sports teams and social events. With separate pillars for each specific area with a lead on each pillar. Last year I had the chance to lead one of the pillars and it was a great opportunity to build my cv and expand my network. From a social sense, we have regular events at work, I'm not a part of the social leads but attend all of their events such as quiz nights, putt shack, scavenger hunts and they have been so much fun and have allowed the whole of next gen to connect and meet in an informal setting

Yes

I have felt so supported throughout my time at L'Oreal. They have given me incredible opportunities to expand my skill set, meet new people, go to new places, learn new things and attend great events! I feel valued, with great benefits such as being included in the private healthcare scheme, pension and amazing staffshop discounts on the products! I started working at L'Oreal the week I turned 18 and since then I have matured tremendously and feel like a really valued part of the team!

To do well in the application process I always say to be yourself, be authentic and allow your passion for the company to shine through. They know that you are only at the start of your career so don't expect you to have a polished off CV with tons of work experience, they are looking for passion and someone who is willing to learn! Try hard in the online tests as this is where you will show off and what will get you a place at an assessment centre. And in the assessment centre do your own research, find out about the different brands, divisions and company compitencies and think about examples of where you display them to show how you would be a great fit. In the case study think outside the box and try to showcase how you are different to the other candidates and where you stand out. So to summarise: be yourself, be authentic, do your background research and stand out!