Want to know what it’s like working at e-commerce company eShopWorld?
Sometimes, the thoughts of entering the corporate world without warning can feel quite daunting. This is where the benefits of internships come in.
When you have the opportunity to work as an intern at a big e-commerce company, it can introduce you to elements of working life that education could never truly prepare you for.
However, the best internships not only prepare you for working life, but also give you a true taste of what your future career might look like.
Vaishali Nigam worked as an intern for eShopWorld, the fast-growing Dublin e-commerce company that announced 250 jobs earlier this year. Here, she details her experience with the company.
What are you studying in college?
I have completed my undergraduate from University College Dublin in statistics and economics.
What drew you to eShopWorld when you were seeking an internship?
The main attractions to eShopWorld were the exceptional growth potential and the culture.
Here, the employees have the licence to show off their brilliance; they make smart decisions and take responsibility for the results.
I also have a friend who raved about how well he is treated and that the company feels like a family, and I wanted to work somewhere where I could be that close with my co-workers.
What expectations did you have before you began your internship?
I expected working individually on projects in a fast-paced environment with guidance and support, and that is exactly what I received all through my internship.
What duties and responsibilities were you given initially?
As I was an intern in the field of data analysis, I was individually tasked with building a working model for monthly cost analysis for two of the biggest clients of eShopWorld.
Due to my background in coding, I was also given smaller projects from time to time to help automate small tasks for the finance department.
Did the scope of your work change as the internship progressed?
The scope changed constantly during my internship, which kept things interesting.
Although I started with a basic shipping-cost analysis, when I found errors, I was encouraged to discuss them with the operations team for clarification or optimisation of the costs. This gave me a deeper insight into the logistics side of the e-commerce business.
Can you describe a typical day in your role?
In my role as a data analyst, a typical day would involve working with a lot of raw data and bringing it together into a usable model for reporting purposes.
I would take the rates for shipping and monthly shipping revenue and costs, and analyse them to build a working model under the supervision of the financial controllers and the logistics team.
I also performed similar tasks for various banks involved in the checkout process.
What key things have you learned during this internship?
I learned a lot about the business as well as the etiquette of working life during my internship. I saw how the whole e-commerce business operated, from client onboarding to generating revenue and supplier onboarding.
I also gained insight into various shipping costs and fees, bank charges, taxes, customs fees and rules for various countries.
At eShopWorld, I felt easily able to balance my work and personal life thanks to flexible working hours, a work-from-home policy, benefits, an amiable environment and social events.
Has this internship made you feel as though you’re on the right career path?
I feel more confident that I am on the right career path as a data analyst, and am inclined more towards the financial and performance improvement side of the field.
Do you feel more prepared for working life following your internship?
I do feel more prepared for working life as my internship gave me confidence to commit to full-time working life. I was responsible for researching and taking responsibility for my own projects, and enjoyed discussing the outcomes with leaders who taught me the value of team work.
I also learned the etiquette of being on time, conversing with your seniors, taking a lunch break to cool down, and how to socialise with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
Why should someone take up an internship at eShopWorld?
As mentioned before, a growing business like eShopWorld is the place to be for a person who likes to learn but also wants to take responsibility for a whole project themselves.
The company offers you the ability to steer progress, which will keep you motivated and interested in your work, and makes you feel appreciated for your efforts.
All in all, it is a win-win for those who want to learn a lot in a short period of time before stepping into the big corporate world.
