Buying Admin Assistant Intern Review

I speculatively applied to this company for an internship in their buying department for a period of up to 3 months. I was soon invited to "interview" with members of the buying team (more like 3rd degree interrogation) during which they were consistently rude and obnoxious. When I first arrived I was led into one of the meeting rooms and told to wait while 'someone would be with me shortly'. Twenty minutes later, three members of the buying team including the Senior Buyer (who felt she did not need to introduce herself) came into the room with no apology, sat across the table opposite from me and promptly opened their laptops - continuing to work, sending off emails etc. After an awkward few minutes, one of the Junior Buyer's asked me some questions about myself and why I had applied to the company. It was at this point that the other Junior Buyer (speaking not to me, but to the other Buyers) said she didn't think there were any Intern Vacancies advertised at the moment, to which the Senior Buyer remarked (also speaking to the Buyers) 'that "she" has just applied anyway'. The Senior Buyer then continued firing questions at me, mainly aimed at telling me the full extent of how inappropriate and unsuited I was to the career with my creative background and degree, along with my 'complete lack of experience'. She also seemed to enjoy stressing just how difficult a career it is to get into. (Something I am well aware of, hence speculatively applying for numerous unpaid buying internships in order to gain further experience). I was then grilled (questions felt pointed and personal) about the skills and qualities I could bring to the internship position, but it was never once mentioned what the company could provide for me. And when I asked what roles I would be doing on a day-to-day basis the Senior Buyer just laughed at me.

I did not feel welcomed, and received no introduction from the Senior Buyer. The Buyers continued to work on their laptops, and consistently interrupted and spoke over me throughout the interview. At one point, I was told to complete a series of Excel tasks in the IT/Finance department downstairs. When I had finished this, I was just expected to leave the building. No one from the Buying department came downstairs to say goodbye, or even thanked me for coming. I was left feeling extremely emotional and demoralised by the whole experience. No one got in touch with me in the preceding days or weeks with any interview feedback or outcome, and I did not follow it up.

Received no further guidance or support, left feeling discouraged and demoralised.

No skills development.

Disorganised.

Appalling.

Company failed to contact me after the interview with an outcome. I did not receive any feedback.

Were not able to answer my questions about what my internship role would involve.

My experiences during my short time during interview at head office seem contradictory to the 'friendly' and 'family-orientated' brand culture ChildrenSalon seem very keen in portraying to their customers.

Not valuable. Left me feeling emotional and demoralised.

This was an unpaid internship position.

Assisted by a member of the Finance/IT team during my series of Excel tests. Was not introduced to any other members of the ChildrenSalon head office team. The Senior Buyer did not introduce herself to me.

Was not told.

Was not told.

Would not recommend pursuing an internship with ChildrenSalon.