Commercial Management Trainee Review
at L'Oreal
Graduate Job
Business Management, Consumer Products/FMCG, Sales
White City
Review Submitted: November 2025
Overall Rating
4.2 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
4.3/5
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Overview of the Role
4/5
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Experience & Company Culture
5/5
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Recommendations & Advice
Overview of the Role
Overall, how would you describe your experience at L'Oreal?
L'Oreal is a fantastic company to start your career in. The teams you'd be a part of care lots about your career development and getting you involved in different areas of the business. I have learnt so much about FMCG since being here, and I'd recommend it highly.
What are the main responsibilities of the role and which elements of the role do you enjoy the most?
External and internal communication with retailers. Setting up new products and promotions with my retailers. Using different forms of data to make data-driven decisions. Setting up in-store and online activations to promote our products and ignite growth. Working cross-collaboratively with marketing, finance and supply chain to ensure our customers are satisified.
To what extent does your role give you the opportunity to contribute meaningfully and feel valued by your team?
5/5
My current role strongly allows me to contribute to my team's overall growth, both qualitatively and quantitatively. I am an account lead for various accounts, where I work to grow certain KPIs that help both businesses.
How does your compensation package - including perks & benefits - fairly remunerate you for the work you do?
3/5
I find the following perks most beneficial to me: access to discounted L'Oreal products on an online staff shop; access to a Friends&Family sale to share discounted items with close ones; free lunch on a Friday; free flu vaccination; healthcare plan that allows me to pay for my annual dentist appointment and eyesight test as well as others. Compared to my friends working at other companies in grad jobs however, I think there is room for improvement (e.g. in-house gym, uber/uber eats vouchers for necessary overtime working).
How well do you feel the role is preparing you for your future career?
5/5
I think my role is preparing me very well for my future career. I have learnt how to manage accounts on my own whilst balancing supporting finance and marketing in their KPIs too.
How would you rate the extent to which you were developing new or existing skills through formal training and your day-to-day role?
4/5
Some days are more challenging than others in terms of development but that is the nature of the role. Things are up and down all the time due to general changes that are sometimes unforeseen. This automatically allows me to develop my resilience however, as I become more acquainted with working at different rates and being proactive.
Experience & Company Culture
How is the support you receive?
4/5
My line manager and buddies are super supportive. I can always reach out to them for the help I need when I am faced with an unknown challenge, especially as my buddies are part of various functions (finance, supply chain), so have a better understanding of certain areas of the business. My line manager is lovely and I have learnt so much from her during the time I've been in my current team. HR is not as supportive as it needs to be. Each management trainee is partnered with a HR sponsor, however, there is a lack of communication between the Early Careers Team and HR sponsors which prevents HR sponsors from being able to share relevant details about the Management Trainee scheme with their sponsees.
How is your work-life balance?
3/5
Currently, my work-life balance is not as high as it used to be. The current role I am in is quite time-consuming and always-on, just due to the nature of the role where I am leading multiple accounts. However, that being said, I have learnt so much from this role that it has really shaped me well for my future career. I believe I won't be as challenged when faced with similar busy periods to what I am currently experiencing.
What is the organisational culture, values and general atmosphere like?
4/5
I love the hybrid nature of the company where you can work from home 2 days of the 5 day week. It allows me to save money when travelling from so far into London. I have found that depending on the division you are working in, the workplace can vary in positive and welcoming culture. Some divisions are more welcoming than others (i.e. where previous cliques are prominent and existing).
How would you rate L'Oreal initiatives when it comes to equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility?
4/5
There are lots of ERG committees to be a part of at L'Oreal, which are great for building community and value. I love sharing my culture as a representative of DE&I, especially in a company where diversity and inclusion is so important in the products it is producing.
How would you rate L'Oreal CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiatives?
5/5
I think the CSR initiatives are great at L'Oreal. There are many avenues to get stuck in bettering the environment and community that we are in. However, as we are such a large corporation, there is always more work that can be done to improve this.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend L'Oreal to a friend?
Yes
Why?
L'Oreal will always be a great company to start or continue your career at. There are so many avenues of FMCG that you are able to explore. You don't need to be afraid to shout out when you think there are areas that could be improved in a process.
How well did the role match your expectations based on the recruitment process?
5/5
The job description and recruitment process is very accurate against the roles you can undertake in the Management Trainee scheme.
When considering the recruitment & onboarding process, have you any specific tips or advice you would give to others applying to L'Oreal?
My assessment centre was quite poorly executed with little communication between the notice of qualifying for the assessment centre and the actual day of the assessment centre. For example, we were told there would be a presentation section of the day that we would need to prep for beforehand. We weren't told till the day before the AC that we would be given all the resources for this on the day of the AC instead of prior to it. It would be better if all candidates could feel supported prior to the AC to help eliminate stress, especially during such a stressful time already with prepping for an interview.
