Internship at Difrax: A creative adventure
Hi everyone! My name is Imane, an enthusiastic second-year commercial economics student at Utrecht University of Applied Sciences. I've been interning with Difrax's marketing department for the past six months. I'd love to share my adventure with you at Difrax!
Task package
For creative freedom, Difrax is the place to be. I was given the opportunity to delve into the fascinating world of social media. I was responsible for creating posts and stories for Difrax's social media channels. I also liaised with celebrities to send them special VIP packages and initiated collaborations with relevant influencers to promote products like the Difrax S-bottle, cups, or pacifiers.
But my responsibilities were even broader than that. I was involved in writing blog posts and learned step-by-step how to make the text SEO-friendly. Another interesting aspect of my internship was creating a marketing guideline for distributors (an information booklet to help distributors get started with things like advertising, trade shows, social media, and so on) and conducting research into the search behavior of (new) parents and the channels they used to find information about parenthood and products. It gave me the opportunity to be involved in the international side of the company while simultaneously developing my analytical skills. This way, my internship was full of variety and I was never bored.
Flexibility
What struck me during my internship at Difrax was the incredible flexibility the company offered. I had the opportunity to flexibly schedule my workday. I could come in between 7:30 and 9:30 a.m., allowing me to tailor my day to my needs. For example, I always made my schedules in Trello, a tool I used to manage my projects. This helps me organize the tasks I'm assigned. I always felt supported and valued, and there was room for my personal needs. For example, I was given the opportunity to take five minutes for prayer. This allowed me to return to my work feeling completely zen.
Warmth in the team!
Difrax is a warm and close-knit company. There's no real hierarchy. Even with former CEO Vivienne van Eijkelenborg, communication was quite informal. As an intern, you're also welcome to share your opinions at meetings. At Difrax, I was encouraged to share my ideas and contribute creatively. My opinion and input were always valued, regardless of my role as an intern. The departments work closely together, and no one is a stranger. As a team, we go for a walk almost every day, and lunches were organized regularly. This gave us a better opportunity to get to know each other and, of course, enjoy the friendly atmosphere.
Looking back
Looking back on my internship at Difrax, I'm glad I had the opportunity to gain experience at such a great company. The 20 weeks flew by, and I experienced a period of growth and learning opportunities. I truly learned a great deal from my supervisors, Debbie and Linda, and I'm incredibly grateful for that. My internship at Difrax also inspired me. I now know that marketing is my greatest interest. I can confidently say that my internship at Difrax was an experience I'll never forget.
My adventure at Difrax is certainly not over yet because I am allowed to work extra at Difrax during the summer period!
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The first weeks of my internship by Marita