IWC Schaffhausen
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Internships at IWC Schaffhausen: Practical experience for students and university graduates
- Have you just completed your Bachelor’s degree and are now looking for your first practical experience before starting your Master’s?
- Would you like to gain your first practical experience in a challenging environment after completing your studies?
IWC Schaffhausen offers ambitious students and graduates the opportunity to gain insight into the international luxury goods industry and gain valuable professional experience.
We offer internships in both business administration and technical areas. Our internships last for six months and usually begin in April and October. The positions are based at our headquarters or in the new Manufakturzentrum in Schaffhausen. As we constantly adapt the type and number of internships according to current projects, the offer can change from year to year.
The following description will give you an overview of the content of an internship in marketing:
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Advertising & Media is responsible for the development and successful implementation of IWC’s global advertising campaigns across all the main media channels, from print publications and posters to online outlets and TV. Every year, we offer one or two interns the opportunity to work with the IWC Advertising & Media team, allowing them to contribute to the success of the IWC advertising campaigns by demonstrating a great deal of commitment and creativity.
YOUR AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY
As an Advertising & Media intern, you will support the development and implementation of the entire IWC advertising campaign and learn how to use the various media channels in a targeted manner. You will act as a contact for external agencies as well as other departments. You will also assume responsibility for ensuring compliance with the corporate design and work in various projects as well as with the internal Creative Centre, providing you with an interesting insight into the tasks of a graphic designer. You will coordinate the translation of advertisements, occasionally support photo and film productions and take care of general administrative tasks.
YOUR QUALIFICATIONS
We are looking for university graduates who want to work in a dynamic environment. In addition to dedication, we also attach great importance to a structured and precise approach to work. Ideally, you will already have gained experience with an agency or within a company’s communications department. We expect you to be fluent in German and English and further languages (French) are also an advantage.
The future will be digital. Will you? This internship is the ideal way for young university graduates who are experts in digital media to kick off their careers. Social media platforms and other digital channels have increased in importance significantly in recent years, and they will only continue to become even more instrumental in the future. The way in which customers perceive our company’s products is increasingly being shaped by online articles. Going forward, we will require an increasing number of specialists in this area in order to make optimal use of these digital channels.
YOUR AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY
You will support the Digital Marketing team in planning and implementing online marketing projects as well as helping to drive the development of IWC.com and other digital channels. You will work with regional markets and promote their presence on online platforms. During your internship, you will also work closely with the teams within the CRM, Brand Publishing and Social Media departments. The internship will provide you with a fascinating insight into the digital work of one of the world’s leading luxury watch brands as well as giving you the opportunity to familiarize yourself with all areas of application for digital marketing communication.
YOUR QUALIFICATIONS
We are looking for university graduates with initial experience of working in a digital environment. An interest in digital development, internet affinity and experience in working with social networks and blogs are an advantage when applying for this internship. Experience with Photoshop, Google Analytics and content management systems will help you to quickly find your feet within our Digital Marketing team. Fluency in German and English are required for the internship.
Public relations – or PR for short – refers to the internal and external communication between a company and its stakeholders. Increasing globalization is leading to a steady increase in the need for professional PR work. In addition to professional and social competence, an understanding of the economy and politics and an awareness for the need to handle corporate information sensitively are in demand. As a Public Relations intern, you will support our specialists in all aspects of their international PR work and gain an interesting insight into the dynamic environment of the global luxury goods industry, especially in the areas of events and partnerships.
YOUR AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY
As a Public Relations intern, you will work in a dynamic PR environment from the off, independently managing smaller projects with an international reach, providing support during the writing and editing of PR texts and always being on hand to help the PR team with day-to-day tasks. You will evaluate PR activities, contribute to the maintenance and expansion of media databases and be in constant contact with the IWC platforms around the globe.
YOUR QUALIFICATIONS
For our Public Relations interns, we are looking for university graduates whose degree courses focused on communication or journalism, or who hold similar qualifications, and who have an affinity for writing. Fluency in German and English and an excellent writing style in both languages are required for working in the PR department.
Our product lines are closely linked to long-standing partnerships. There is a story behind every product line. These include our partnership with the descendants of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, whose book “The Little Prince” inspired the Pilot’s Watch “Le petit prince” editions; our collaboration with the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 team as a partner for our technical Ingenieur watches; Each of our Sponsoring & Partnerships platforms around the globe contributes to the general perception of our IWC product lines and promote the market experience and level of identification with the product. At the same time, our partnerships also emphasize our ecological and social responsibility.
With an internship in the Sponsoring & Partnerships department, you will be involved in exciting international projects and gain a unique insight into the link between professionally structured sponsorship activities and partnerships in the luxury sector.
YOUR AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY
You will support the Sponsoring & Partnerships team in performing their day-to-day work. This will include tasks in the fields of event management and the implementation of activation concepts. As an intern, you will also already be very closely involved in project management and will learn about the key processes within successful project organisation. In addition to the exciting project work, you will also provide administrative support with all tasks relating to Sponsoring & Partnerships activities.
YOUR QUALIFICATIONS
We are looking for university graduates with a business-related degree (preferably in marketing) who have already gained experience in the fields of project management, event management or sponsorship. Working in a dynamic environment with a varied range of tasks and objectives, flexibility and the ability to adapt are crucial. Due to the international cooperation during the course of the projects, fluency in German and English are required for the position. French is a plus.
SIHH
The Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in Geneva is one of the most renowned watch fairs in the world. Once a year, the luxury brands of the Richemont Group present their new products. Each year, we offer one intern the opportunity to become part of this event as a coordinator.
YOUR AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY
The internship encompasses a very broad area of responsibility. From selecting personnel for the fair to managing the hostesses and coordinating the stylists on site – during the internship you will work in a very wide range of disciplines. The role also involves coordinating the budget, logistical tasks and managing the service personnel in Geneva. You manage activities at the fair with your organizational skills and help to make the SIHH a successful event for IWC.
YOUR QUALIFICATIONS
We are looking for university graduates with initial experience in the organization and coordination of events and who are used to serving various stakeholders. As you will have contact with international customers during the preparatory phase, fluency in English is required for this internship. A good knowledge of German and French are also desirable for liaising with the various stakeholders. Team spirit, service skills and the ability to work under high pressure are all qualities which will be required from you to a great extent during the entire internship. We are also looking for individuals who are able to conduct themselves impeccably, in a manner befitting the luxury environment.
Visual merchandising is an area of marketing which is encountered everywhere that our watches are sold (POS). In the luxury market, ensuring the perfect presentation of products is particularly important. IWC Schaffhausen presents its products in boutiques, shops-in-shops and at multi-brand retailers. IWC is also represented at various fairs and thus places particular emphasis on strong visual merchandising. Each year, we therefore look for two interns to support our Visual Merchandising team, which belongs to the Consumer & Trade Marketing department.
YOUR AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY
As a Visual Merchandising intern, you will gain a fascinating insight into the design and prototype development activities for display windows as well as the window installations at our IWC boutiques. You will contribute to the development and adaptation of visual merchandising concepts, take care of the trimming and cropping of images, draw up visual merchandising guidelines and offer support during visual merchandising tool evaluations. You will receive a wide-ranging insight into the professional visual marketing of a leading luxury watch brand.
YOUR QUALIFICATIONS
We are looking for university graduates from the area of design who have already completed an internship, preferably in the luxury sector. In addition to being experienced in the use of standard graphic design software such as InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop, you will need a feel for aesthetics and luxury. Initial experience with 3-D software is an advantage. Your profile is rounded off by fluency in German and English.
Testimonial
Angela Colucci
Intern Customer Service Project Management
“So, I’ve finished studying... What next?” This question kept bugging me after completing my Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering/materials technology and during temporary employment. When I discovered the position “Customer Service Intern” on the IWC career website, I was still slightly unsure if I should apply, as I was actually looking for a direct entry with a permanent position. The wide scope of duties in the job description finally won me over, so I decided to try out my luck and sent off an application. As it turns out, a decision I wouldn’t regret. The first application round was by telephone. The interview with the Recruiting Partner was really positive and increased my interest in the position. In the next discussion, I met my future boss. The conversation was really enjoyable and really strengthened my desire to join IWC. So I was even happier when I was given a job offer a few days later.
During my internship, I was mainly involved in the “Lean-Blister” project, which basically involved developing replacement part kits for watch servicing and repairs. In addition to evaluating various data, I also represented the IWC at appointments with tool manufacturers and other suppliers. I was able to take over organizing this in just my second week. I was really surprised by how quickly I was given responsibility and trusted as an intern which I really liked. I was also able to put forward my own suggestions for optimization, which were always welcomed, and implement these right away. After just a month I attended my first feedback meeting with my boss. I was also invited to a welcome coffee with Human Resources where I was able to report on my experience in the first few weeks in a comfortable environment and contribute my personal opinion.
Looking back on the four months at IWC, all I can say is that it was the best decision I could ever have made. The range of tasks were exciting and I had a lot of fun. The colleagues are friendly and approachable and the corporate policy and employee relations are first rate. I was therefore particularly delighted that I was considered for a job opening as Customer Service Industrialization Manager and was then given a permanent position.
I highly recommend anyone who is looking for an exciting internship to apply to IWC and seize the opportunity to gain some insight into this outstanding company.
Working for IWC
Why Schaffhausen
Schaffhausen has a population of around 36,000 people and is nestled around 40 min away from the city of Zurich.
Your Benefits
Flexible working hours, health care and sustainability initiatives are just a few of the benefits awaiting full time employees at IWC.
