Hello! I’m Peixuan - I was a Brand Partnerships Intern with the ZALORA Advertising Platform (ZAP) services team, and this is my experience working in ZALORA Singapore!
Tell us more about yourself
I love working out like going for yoga, pilates, and spin classes at boutique studios. I also enjoy spending quality time with friends, where we can just chill, do activities or just talk about life. I do have a keen interest in cooking as well and love exploring new recipes to cook.
Why did you apply to ZALORA?
My love for fashion! I also wanted to learn more about how ZALORA operates in a fashion e-commerce world and is thriving! I especially wanted to understand how the business works and how ZALORA fosters such great relationships with the many brand partners while running a business.
How did you find out about the internship at ZALORA?
Found this internship via Linkedin! The name of the role “Brand Partnerships Intern” stood out to me alongside the detailed job description which piqued my interest to apply.
What is a day in the life of a Brand Partnerships Intern?
A day in my life at ZALORA involves scheduling campaigns for our brand partners into our shared database, so that many other teams like the customer relationship management team, can pick up from there in executing their campaign plans!
As a brand partnership intern, I also approve sponsored ads through our internal ZAP platform, as well as create sales pitch decks and perform analysis of brands on our platform.
For some context: ZAP platform is ZALORA’s self-serve advertising platform where brands can set up sponsored ads, META ads and also purchase ZAP packages consisting of placements on our website/mobile app.
Is there anything not many people know about the role?
One thing a lot of people don’t know is how much excel we use! I never knew a brand partnerships intern role would entail such heavy use of excel where we use it for practically everything - to track campaign performance, sales, make sales predictions and forecasts and many more! And also, our heavy use of pivot tables! There are also quite a bit of logistical and administrative things that I do in my job as well - such as scheduling campaigns and ensuring they don't exceed the available booking slots.
How do you find meaning and fulfillment in your work?
When I see that my efforts, like doing up pitch decks, helping to pitch, have contributed to a successful sales deal closed! For example, after I pitched our ZAP platform or ZAP packages to clients, and after the zoom call, they actually made a purchase from us - that gives me immense fulfilment. I also find meaning through helping others when I am able to answer any questions regarding ZAP that other teams have!
What do you like most about the team at ZALORA?
The warmth and friendliness of the team! I L-O-V-E how everyone is so easily approachable and always so willing to help. It makes work so much more fun and enjoyable with nice colleagues that feel like friends! It means alot to me as an intern especially at the start when everything was new and fresh and things can be intimidating.
I remember the very first day of internship where my manager Ivan told me that there is no one that is unfriendly in the office and it is proven to be so true!
How would you describe the work environment of ZALORA
A very friendly and definitely a team-oriented environment. The ZAP team that I am part of - I would say everyone is very encouraging and it is a safe space where anyone is free to voice out if they are facing any challenges at work during our weekly team calls. When that happens, it’s reassuring how the team would come together to help one another out for the better of the team.
What’s your experience with ZALORA’s flexible work schedule?
The hybrid working arrangement of 3 days a week is amazing! It allows me to work from the comforts of my home and spend more time with my family while still getting my work done.
It gives me time to even clock in a workout during lunch time - work life balance yay!
Has ZALORA provided you with opportunities and supported you in the knowledge of the world of work?
Of course! My mentor, Chloe would always make the effort to loop me in her meetings - even the ones with our external brand partners and brand reviews. This gives me great exposure to the working world to see how people negotiate and also the type of questions brands ask and how well-prepared we must be before each meeting and also to follow up after every meeting.
What did you learn from your time in ZALORA?
Thanks to my colleagues and mentor, I learnt how to pitch sales, especially to brands! It’s crucial to understand the brand’s needs and constraints before pitching to them. I also learnt how to perform performance analysis for brands and how to propose insights and next steps that are practical to them.
What is a memorable experience you’ve had at ZALORA?
Honestly there are countless memorable experiences being in ZALORA but if I have to pick one - It would be when my mentor gave me the opportunity to pitch our very own ZAP platform to our brand partner - the Director of Clarks and to onboard them onto our platform. I had the opportunity to answer any questions that the brand had and also provided them tips on how to optimize their ads. It was memorable as it was my first time representing ZALORA and speaking to an external brand partner with the knowledge I have gained throughout my time here in ZALORA. I found it a perfect opportunity to test my learning and understanding of the work I have been doing as well.
One other memorable experience was volunteering at the dog shelter! It’s nice that ZALORA organises such events where we can take some time off work for a good cause. It also gave me the opportunity to get to know colleagues from other departments and to understand more about their job scope through the small talks we have while caring for the dogs and cleaning their kennels.
What advice would you give to a new intern in ZALORA?
Keep an open and curious mind and don’t be afraid to ask any questions! Know that you have a supportive and encouraging team who will be willing to teach and share with you! Also sign up for as many events as you can - trust me it would always be a fun and fulfilling time!