Postgraduate: JJ Gracey's International Business Intership, Red Bull, London
Meet JJ Gracey, an MSc International Business student who undertook his international internship with Red Bull, London
For my final semester of my MSc in International Business, I chose the International Internship Pathway, which allowed me to either take up a placement found by the QUB Careers Team or source my own. I decided to find my own opportunity, and after scouring the internet, I came across Red Bull’s internship programme, which offered various roles based either in the field or at their UK Head Office in London.
After completing a quick application and a HireVue interview, I was invited to their London office for an in-person interview, which can I say was already an awesome experience to see inside the office, and was later offered a position as the Wholesale Intern for the Red Bull SPAR team. I started alongside nearly 30 interns spread across different departments, and we were told that there had been over 15,000 applications in total. Therefore, while luck can play a small part in landing an internship with a major company, thorough preparation for every stage of the application process is what truly gives you the best chance at securing your place.
During my internship, I can honestly say I had the best experience, both personally and professionally. In my role, I worked closely with the Account Executive and Account Manager for SPAR, which offered a great balance between office-based work and field experience. A personal highlight was attending trade shows representing Red Bull, where we engaged with retailers and buyers, showcasing our new Red Bull editions, and selling them in bulk throughout the day. I also gained valuable analytical experience by creating dashboards to track Red Bull’s performance across SPAR stores, which I know will help me in whatever role I end up at in the future.
The internship also gave me a broader understanding of how a business like Red Bull operates as I had the chance to spend time in the field with Regional Managers and take part in various promotional days, seeing first-hand how Red Bull maintains its leading position in the energy drinks market.
My time at Red Bull has had a huge influence on my future career. Coming from an accounting background, I once imagined I’d end up working behind a desk in a traditional firm. However, this experience has opened my eyes to working for more recognised companies specifically in brand management, and I’m now motivated to pursue a career with multinational brands, staying close to the market, engaging with buyers, and being part of a fast-paced, dynamic industry.
