Hi, I’m Oli and I’m currently on a placement year, here at Pernod Ricard UK as part of my university course. I study Marketing and Management at the University of Exeter, with a particular focus on leadership studies as well as branding. My work in social media, throughout the whole ecosystem from working freelance, as well as directly with influencers on their campaigns since a young age has continued to inspire my passion in the field and maintain my interest in the wider field of marketing. As well as this, I love to travel and am a huge foodie, so if you need any of the best spots to dine in Exeter, I’m the one to ask!
What is your role and how long have you been at Pernod Ricard?
I’m currently in the third month of my placement at Pernod Ricard, and I can’t tell you how quick the summer has flown by! I work as the Marketing Executive Intern for Jameson Irish whiskey. This involves many tasks, such as managing digital and eCRM content going out to our 70K person database, community management on our social platforms including Instagram and Facebook, event activations for festivals and representing all things Jameson! Being one of the biggest brands in the portfolio, I am learning so much about brand marketing on a large scale.
What inspired you to apply for this role / Pernod Ricard?
Since the start of my degree, I knew when it came to third year, I wanted to undertake a placement in marketing, and as my interest in branding grew, I knew a marketing placement was for me. When searching for opportunities Pernod Ricard stuck out to me, due to its emphasis on its strong company culture, as well as big names in the portfolio such as Absolut and Malibu, which I never thought I might get access to. As someone who values hard work, but also a social element, the job description Pernod laid out really ticked all the boxes, given their vision is to be ‘Créateurs de convivialité’
What has been the single most important thing you learnt so far in your job?
It’s hard to pinpoint one singular thing I’ve learnt so far as there has been so many important learnings each day of the job. Personal organisation in a professional setting is one aspect that I feel is vital at all touchpoints as it allows you to take the quality of work to another level. I’ve learned so many new digital skills, never thought I’d be building webpages and EDMs!
However, I think it is important to note that this comes with aspects of time-management, and it’s worth it as at Pernod, you do get rewarded for hard work!
What would a ‘normal’ day look like for someone in your role?
Working in marketing, there is never one day that is exactly the same. There are so many exciting projects constantly evolving within the wider Jameson brand, whether that be to do with Jameson Black Barrel, or our recent partnership with the EFL! Daily activities do usually include creating website and eCRM content, managing gifting to influencers and brand partners but often also include attending cool events at a variety of venues across London! I think my favourite so far was our Jameson Black Barrel Ignites media launch event…. the food was amazing!
What do you find most interesting with the sector you’re in?
One of my favourite things is the amount of people you get to meet, both inside and outside the company. I’ve been fortunate enough so far to meet a wide variety of people in the industry, from influencers, to agencies and editors for some big publications. It’s really cool to hear their background and what they do.
What is the culture like?
The company culture at Pernod Ricard is like no other. As a company we see ourselves as ‘créateurs de convivialité’ which translates to ‘creators of conviviality’. This means at all touch points of the business, through our brands, employees and other stakeholders, we come together to create joyful moments. This creates a form of togetherness within the company which is constantly experienced throughout your time in and out of office. With weekly bar takeovers on Thursdays (yes we have a bar in the office) as well as other company events such as the annual conference, where this year, we all travelled to Liverpool to celebrate the start of FY24 all together as one company.
Have you had the opportunity to get involved in any activities outside work?
The opportunities Pernod provide definitely go beyond the office. Just last week I spent a few days in the city of London activating Jameson Black Barrel at Meatopia food festival, where I got to eat lots of good food from steak, to chicken to burgers which was amazing! I’ve also got to attend a variety of events which have all been very cool and have even met a few celebrities along the way…
How did you find the application process?
The application process for Pernod Ricard was similar to others, starting with an initial application, followed by a pre-recorded video interview and then completing numerical and logical reasoning assessments. Following this stage, candidates were shortlisted, and we then joined a virtual assessment centre with managers from Pernod. A few days after the assessment I was contacted and offered the role in Jameson!
Finally, any tips for anyone who’d like to apply for a role at Pernod Ricard?
I would say it’s so important just to read up on the background of the company! We really value conviviality across the board, so even knowing what this is and what the company do on a wider scale to express this comes across very well. Ask questions in the interview stage, as this was help you learn more about the company and show a keen interest, and also start showing a convivial personality!