Launch Your Beauty Career: Interning at Estée Lauder Companies

The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) stands as a global leader in the prestige beauty industry. With a rich history and an influential presence, Estée Lauder has consistently set the standard in skincare, makeup, fragrance, and hair care for decades. For students aspiring to break into the beauty industry, the Estée Lauder Summer Internship Program presents a valuable opportunity.

About The Estée Lauder Companies

The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) is a global leader in prestige beauty, manufacturing, marketing, and selling high-quality skin care, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products. The company serves as a steward of consumer-beloved luxury and prestige brands globally. With a diverse and distinguished portfolio of more than 25 brands, ELC’s products are sold in over 150 countries and territories. Headquartered in New York City and publicly traded under the ticker symbol EL, The Estée Lauder Companies is a well-diversified, brand-building powerhouse of unrivaled creativity and innovation. The company prides itself on being a family company, with family values that recognize its people as its most important asset, striving to bring the best to everyone they touch and being the best in everything they do.

Summer Internship Program Overview

The Estée Lauder Summer Internship Program is available to undergraduate and graduate students, offering opportunities to apply for openings in corporate functions or across more than 25 brands. Assignment is based on academic background and interests upon acceptance into the program. The internship program is designed to provide participants with challenging and engaging experiences within critical business functions. Interns have the opportunity to think critically in real-world corporate situations.

Program Structure and Duration

The undergraduate Lauder Internship program typically hosts between 90 to 150 interns. These internships generally span 10 to 12 weeks during the summer. Specifically, the R&D and Packaging STEM Summer Internship Program lasts 12 weeks, while the Supply Chain summer internship program lasts 10 weeks.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the summer internship opportunity, applicants must be current undergraduate Juniors (rising seniors) who will complete their Junior year by June 2025 and graduate in May/June 2026.

Important: Completing the job application automatically directs applicants to complete a first-round video interview through HireVue.

Internship Areas

Internships are offered in a variety of areas, providing a wide range of experiences for students with different academic backgrounds and career interests. The program seeks high performers from all university levels (BA/BS, MS, MA, MBA) to bring fresh perspectives to their teams. The primary areas include:

Creative
Corporate Marketing
Global Communications
Global Finance and Strategy
Global Human Resources
Global Supply Chain
Information Technology
Online
Research and Development

Creative

Creative interns participate in the ideation of new concepts and content, visualizing new stores and product merchandising. Interns learn to execute design direction and interact with Creative Directors, Designers, Visual Merchandisers, Store Designers, and Copywriters.

Corporate Marketing

Marketing roles may fall within corporate marketing, consumer insights, customer relationship management, digital consumer engagement, and marketing analytics. Marketing interns gain exposure to specific areas of marketing at either the brand or corporate level, developing skills through digital, product marketing, or consumer insight projects.

Global Communications

As a Global Communications intern, you will support efforts primarily in the digital/social space. This includes collaborating with digital agencies to support asset development and trafficking; spearheading social media monitoring/listening across all social media platforms; brainstorming digital/social content ideas that can be implemented as part of editorial calendars; and analyzing social media reports to provide recommendations that inform the larger strategy. Communications interns may attend content development and social media planning meetings to support creative strategy for corporate campaigns.

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Global Finance and Strategy

The Finance & Strategy Leadership Program (FASLEAP) MBA Summer Internship is designed for high-potential MBA candidates interested in a career in Strategic Finance. As an MBA summer intern, you will have the opportunity to collaborate on projects that will support the team in reaching established goals and objectives directly relating to the success of the business. As a Global Finance intern, you will assist with projects instrumental to the Global Finance function that are aligned to strategic business priorities, with mentorship from seasoned executives.

Global Human Resources

Human Resources (HR) internships promote continuous leadership development, hands-on practical experience, group networking opportunities, and strategic thinking initiatives to optimize participants' learning and career growth. Interns may work on projects related to employee needs for those working in the brands or corporate functions as HR Business Partners (HRBP)/Employee Services (ESO).

Global Supply Chain

The Estée Lauder Companies’ Global Supply Chain consists of a vast network of suppliers through which materials and services integral to operations are purchased. The Global Supply Chain summer internship program is based in one of 3 locations: Bristol, Pennsylvania; Melville, New York (Long Island); or New York City. The internship will consist of a meaningful business project and on-the-job mentorship from the Supply Chain management team.

Information Technology

As an Information Technology intern, you may serve in a variety of roles, helping teams to deliver best-in-class technological solutions to the business and customers. Responsibilities may include learning how to generate actionable insights through dashboards and views - mixing sales data, market shares, product ratings information, and social data.

Online

As an intern in ELC Online, the online division of The Estée Lauder Companies, you will be surrounded by passionate individuals dedicated to setting the industry standard for prestige beauty e-commerce.

Research and Development

The Research & Development & Packaging STEM Summer Internship Program blends an extensive overview of the cosmetic industry with real-world R&D experience. As an R&D intern, you will have the opportunity to collaborate on projects that will support the team in reaching established goals and objectives directly relating to the success of the business. You may also have ownership of high-priority projects instrumental to the R&D function and business, working in collaboration with multiple teams and functions within the organization. You will gain exposure to state-of-the-art research, equipment, and skills training. R&D roles are based in the Melville, NY facility.

Data Analytics

The Data Analytics track focuses on the evolving role of data insights and analytics in consumer growth and marketing strategies. The Data Analytics interns will be offered various technically challenging roles in the Enterprise Marketing & Data division with a focus on data science, data analytics, and customer relationship management. These roles will represent a cross-section of global and regional perspectives. Data Analytics candidates should be comfortable working with large complex data sets and translating them into business insights.

Program Benefits

Interns at Estée Lauder benefit from a range of opportunities designed to enhance their professional growth and understanding of the beauty industry:

Ownership of Projects: Interns take ownership of projects instrumental to their respective function and team.
Networking Opportunities: Various planned events and activities provide exposure to other facets of the Company.
Mentorship: Seasoned HR and business executives mentor interns, providing guidance and support.
Partnerships: Interns partner with other departments within the Company to gain a greater understanding of various roles in the business.
Critical Thinking: The program provides the opportunity to think critically in real-world corporate situations.

Housing and Relocation

Housing is provided for certain key talent segments and may be discussed during the interview process. For the Lauder Summer Internship Program, the IT, Travel Retail, and Research and Development departments offer housing. However, no relocation packages are currently available.

CEO Global Presidential Program

The CEO Global Presidential Associate Internship Program is intended for individuals who wish to be considered for the full-time CEO Global Presidential Associate Program post-graduation. The CEO Global Presidential Program is available in North America; U.K.; Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA); and Asia-Pacific (APAC). There are 3 levels of the CEO Presidential Internship Program, each designed for students at a different stage of their education.

How to Apply

Applications for the Lauder Summer Internship Program are submitted online. Recruitment typically begins in the Fall, with applications opening in mid/late August and concluding in early October. For the 2026 program, applications opened and closed on October 8, 2025. Opportunities are posted as they become available.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Estée Lauder Companies’ vision is to be the most inclusive and diverse beauty company in the world, and to be both the employer of choice for diverse talent and the brand of choice for global consumers. Through gender and racial equity commitments, the company is acting on its mission to create a more equitable future for all. The Estée Lauder Companies is an equal opportunity employer. Minorities, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

It is Company's policy not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition as defined by applicable state or local law, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances. The Company will endeavor to provide a reasonable accommodation consistent with the law to otherwise qualified employees and prospective employees with a disability and to employees and prospective employees with needs related to their religious observance or practices.

Sustainability Initiatives

At The Estée Lauder Companies, sustainability has long been central to how the company and brands operate and is a key part of the corporate strategy for the future. Sustainability goals align with the areas of the business where the company believes it has the biggest opportunity to create positive impact, driving sustainability initiatives forward and helping innovate, solve, and connect at both local and global levels.

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