We recently caught up with Preye Penawou, BA (Hons) Fashion Marketing student, as she reflected on her journey completing a placement year at The Walt Disney Company. Preye shares her highlights of working at an internationally renowned and innovative brand and reveals the skills and attributes she gained during her placement and how these skills can contribute to graduates' success in the workplace.
Hi Preye! Tell us about your placement at Walt Disney. What attracted you to the Company?
I decided to do my placement at the Walt Disney Company because I have always admired Disney. As a child, Disney provided me with comfort and entertainment through their TV shows and movies, visits to Disney parks, purchasing their merchandise, and dreaming of being on their TV shows. When I found out they were accepting interns, I was overjoyed at the opportunity to apply.
How did you prepare for the role?
To prepare for the role, I did a lot of research. I initially applied for a marketing intern role. To make my application stand out, I updated my CV and included keywords that matched what the company was looking for in a marketing intern. I also made my CV match Disney's style by using a dark and light blue colour scheme. In my cover letter, I showed that I understood the company by talking about my skills and by discussing previous marketing campaigns that Disney had done. However, I was interviewed for a merchandising intern role instead. This meant to prepare for my interview, I had to look further into how I could present the marketing skills that I had learned and transfer those skills to be suitable towards a merchandising role.
What was the application process like?
I found the internship through the Bright Network, applied in October 2022, and was offered the position of Disney’s Site Merchandising Intern after completing three rounds of interviews, including a Zoom call and a presentation on a SWOT analysis of the Disney store website.
In what way did the Graduate Futures placements team support you in being 'placement ready'?
I was informed that I got the role in January 2023, but my start date was in June 2023. The Graduate Futures placement team prepared me for the placement by providing information about the support I would receive. Between January and June, they lessened my worries through online sessions and by explaining the support I could expect during my placement year.
What do you feel you gained by doing a placement?
During my placement, I gained confidence in my professional abilities and became more independent. Before starting, I was unsure about my skills. I worried that I would not meet the role's expectations when applying for the placement. When I got the position, I was happy but also doubted if I was fit for the job. I felt the need to prove myself when I first joined. Throughout my internship, I faced new challenges that pushed me and at times made me feel overwhelmed. However, I gained valuable knowledge and learned how to develop new skills. I gained a better understanding of my capabilities and learned to be less critical of myself. Overall, I gained beneficial experience that will help me personally and professionally in my future career.
I learned how to adapt to a business environment and still maintain an essence of myself! This has helped me gain confidence in my abilities that I wouldn’t have had before that I can take to future job opportunities.
In terms of interpersonal skills, we know that these play a critical role in a work environment and are what can propel you ahead of other applicants, what key interpersonal skills did you learn during your time at Walt Disney?
During my time at Walt Disney, I developed strong communication skills. My internship required constant communication with various teams to fulfil my responsibilities and ensure the smooth running of the Disney store website for online guests. I built a close relationship with my manager, regularly updating her on my tasks and seeking help when needed. Prior to this experience, I hadn't been in a position where I had to follow up with others to complete my tasks, which made me nervous at first. However, I learned the importance of open communication and its necessity in achieving goals.
Communication is a skill that I have been able to hone and develop significantly during the placement.
It sounds like you have had an incredible experience. What would say were your placement highlights?
During my placement, I had two standout highlights. The first was working with the Disney Store merchandising and trade team. I was pleasantly surprised to form such strong friendships with the team and felt comfortable and happy working with them every day. This experience taught me the importance of working well with others in a professional environment. The second highlight was working with the Disney Diversity team, where I helped create a SharePoint to share information about cultural heritage months such as Black History Month, South Asian Heritage Month and Lunar New Year. Collaborating with other interns and Disney employees from different parts of the company to raise awareness about important social and cultural events within such a large corporation was an unforgettable experience for me.
Having that bond with all my co-workers and making friends with my fellow Disney interns has been a highlight. Without them, my experience would have been so different and for that, I’m incredibly grateful.
Finally, what advice do you have for students considering a placement?
I would say that doing a placement is an experience that will be extremely beneficial for you. It will give you a chance to boost your CV, make you stand out in competitive industries and allow you to acquire new skills, build confidence, and gain insight into the professional world before you graduate. I highly recommend it!