Straight Outta Strasburg!
SOPHIE BOUCHER
Sophie is a graduate of TCD and is in her second year of the Jameson International Graduate Programme. She is currently based in the Dublin Head Office but spent her first year in Strasbourg. Read about her time in France here.
Tell me about yourself (where you went to college, what course you studied, how long you’ve been on the programme)
Hi! My name is Sophie. I am a first year Brand Ambassador. I studied a dual degree in French and History at Trinity College, Dublin before starting my Jameson Journey in July 2017.
When did you decide that you wanted to take part in the Jameson Graduate Programme?
The programme had been on my radar for a few years but I only really decided to go for it in my final year at university. I was really attracted to the Jameson Graduate Programme because they recruit from a diverse range of fields. The programme was calling out for language grads at a time when I was looking for a company that would give me the opportunity to live and work abroad and use my French. It seemed like the perfect fit!
What market are you in?
I am now based in France, in the city of Strasbourg.
Was there ever a language barrier while on the programme?
Every day I work and live through French. I could never have imagined I would reach the level of fluency I am at now and I have the Jameson Graduate Programme to thank for that! Of course, there were moments in the beginning when I had to get creative to overcome language barriers but that is part of the experience!
What was/is the most rewarding thing about the Jameson Graduate Programme?
The most rewarding thing about the Jameson Graduate Programme is the opportunity it gives you to meet like-minded people! I remember thinking, during the interview process and during training back in Dublin and Cork, how lucky I was to be surrounded by so many like-minded and ambitious colleagues. Getting to see your events come to life in market is also one of the most rewarding aspects of the programme. To plan and develop a brief from scratch and to turn your idea into a reality is very exciting! Sharing the finished product with consumers makes it all the more rewarding!
How did the Jameson Graduate Programme help you in developing your own personal brand?
The Jameson Graduate programme is my first real job (outside of part-time work during university) so my personal brand is still a work-in-progress. That being said, the Graduate Programme is giving me the tools and teaching me the skills to market myself as well as marketing our product. It is helping me understand the kind of worker I am and what I want to achieve in terms of my future career. I work very independently as a field based Graduate here in France, so this has really given me the time to reflect on my personal brand and to understand what I want for my next steps.
What was your most difficult obstacle to resolve while on the Jameson Graduate Programme?
There have been many, every day brings a new challenge in the field. Integrating into a new company, a new team, a new country, a new language and a new way of life is never easy but here I am at the end of 8 months eating croissants and drinking espressos like the locals!
What is your favourite memory from your time on the programme?
The Global Ambassador Summit is my favourite memory of the programme so far. Over 3 days in January the brand ambassadors from all over the world get together for training and brand updates. During this time we share our key learnings with our colleagues and then we return to our markets with inspiration for the months to come.
Any tips for anyone applying or future brand ambassadors?
Be yourself! It seems cliché but it really isn’t. Jameson want you to be the face of the brand abroad but with that comes a lot of responsibility. When applying for the programme recruiters want to get to know you, they want to understand your motivations for the role but also your personality. The key is to stand out! Be real and reliable but also remarkable! Also do your homework before applying/ before the interviews! Jameson is part of the Global organisation Pernod Ricard, it is important to understand the structure in place in the market you wish to apply for.