Rajneet looks to the side of the camera. She has long, straight, dark hair, is wearing a black turtleneck, and has as small smile on her face.

Alumni

FIDM Alumna Rajneet Kaur Hired At Cosmetic Group USA After Internship

Rajneet Kaur earned an A.A. in Beauty Marketing & Product Development in 2020 and went on to complete her B.A. in Beauty Business Management in 2022. While in school, she participated in three internships, two of which were with Topix Brands. The third, at Cosmetic Group USA led to a full-time position as a Product Development Coordinator. Growing up in Fresno, CA and attending Sanger High School, she visited FIDM to see DEBUT, but didn’t decide to attend until she learned about the unique degrees she could earn. “I had no idea that I could major in Beauty Marketing or Product Development there. That was the main reason I chose FIDM. I knew I wanted a specialized and focused education, and I got it here.”

Tell us about your position as a Product Development Coordinator with Cosmetic Group USA. What are your responsibilities? My overall responsibility at CGUSA is to support our Product Development, Sales, and Marketing Managers. Every day, I collaborate with our Project Development Managers to keep current projects on track. I am in constant contact with our Research & Development department, where we go into the lab to swatch color or test new developments. I attend client calls and help prepare client visits. I also get to collaborate with our marketing team on social media posts and tradeshow innovation!

How are you enjoying the role? Is it a good fit? I adore my job, and I am extremely grateful to have it. I never expected to enjoy contract manufacturing as much as I do. On a daily basis, I get to work with a wide range of high-profile brands. I am constantly learning new things and have a whole new appreciation for cosmetics and development.

What was the process to transition from an internship at CGUSA to a full time position? It was a very simple process because I was still in school finishing up my degree at the time. They were looking for coordinators, and I expressed my desire to stay after finishing my degree because I felt I still had so much to learn from them. We made it official a few weeks later, and I began assisting where I could. My director, Jill Manning, and our VP of People at CGUSA, Enrique Aflatooni, made the process simple and answered all of my questions.

How did FIDM help prepare you for this position? During my A.A., I took a class that covered the Product Development Process from beginning to end. I still refer back to notes or recall information from that class to this day.

What advice do you have for FIDM students as they start their careers? Connect with the Career Center and participate in as many internships and volunteer opportunities as you can. They are extremely beneficial, and you never know who you will meet!

Anything else you’d like to share? Shout out to Jill Manning! She is one of the best instructors you will ever have!!