We ask working professionals who worked abroad to share their experiences. A media professional who pursued a Master's degree in France recounts her internship with a French makeup brand in Paris.

Name: Prutha Narke
Age: 21
Where I studied: Ecole Supérieure de Commerce Rouen, France. I did a Special Master's in corporate communication after completing a BA in French Literature from the University of Pune.

In the picture: Prutha strikes a pose

What I am doing now: Looking for a job in Paris!
I interned at: L'Oréal Group, the French cosmetics giant.

IT happened by chance. I was looking for an internship, stumbled upon their web site and found an interesting opportunity there. I submitted my resume immediately. So being net-savvy helped.

I interned from April 2007 to October 2007. I earned about 1,250 Euros a month, which was more than what my friends back home were earning, then!

Designation and job profile: I worked as the International Communications and Press Relations Manager. I handled the conception and creation of press dossiers for all product launches.

The work hours were crazy, deadlines even crazier, especially for the marketing team who worked 12 hours flat, 10 am to 10 pm.

Since I was on the communications team, I worked an hour less, 11 hours in all. Not that life was any easier. Deadlines used to to change according to the whims and fancies of the top bosses. So, one had to keep pace without compromising on work efficiency. I think this came only out of my sheer love for the job.

C'est une carnivale!
That means 'It's a carnival' in French. As part of my job, I was worked on the press weekend at the Cannes Film Festival, where L'Oréal was an official partner.

To be part of the team at the press conference of their biggest launch of 2007 was quite a thrill. It meant sharing working space with L'Oréal experts like James Kaliardos (makeup) and Christophe Robin (hair colour).

Besides all this, I was in charge of looking after country-specific needs. That was my key task there. When not working, the international marketing directors brought their guitars and broke out into songs during breaks, and the product managers had their rugby team all set for a game as the day ended. They played in the corridors. Also, birthdays at L'Oréal are never forgotten and are incomplete without champagne!

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e-mail: Suraj Anand

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