01 / THE CHALLENGE
Some products stay.
Your reasoning has to stand.
You’re a retail data analyst. 48 products. 38 shelf spots. Decide which 10 go and defend why.
Find the signals in the data.
Choose the ten products to remove.
Explain the trade-offs behind your call.
02 / WHO CAN APPLY
Who can apply
- Juniors with relevant data analysis coursework or demonstrated skill sets.
- Select sophomores who demonstrate the required level of data analysis preparation may also be invited.
- Freshmen and seniors are not eligible.
- PROPEL’s program is independent of L’Oréal. Completing the Challenge or assessment does not guarantee an interview, internship or employment at L’Oréal.
03 / SCHEDULE
Open October 14 to November 20.
Applications close October 12, 2026. Decisions shared by October 22.
Get into the test data and show us how you think. Analyze the retail decision, find the signals that matter and make your first call. The 15 strongest performers advance.
Take on a real business case. Analyze the data, make the call and submit your results by Oct 31. The strongest work earns a chance to interview with L’Oréal.
Discuss your work with an industry mentor, get direct feedback and sharpen your interview game. Then find out if you made the cut for a L’Oréal internship interview.
04 / THE EXPERIENCE
Work worth talking about.
A few weeks from now, have real work to show.
Analyze. Decide. Defend.
Prove it on a real business case.
A project for your portfolio and resume, and real work you can speak to in an interview.
Mentors review your work.
05 / READ BEFORE YOU APPLY
Read before you apply.
Do I need to already know how to do this?
Previous exposure to data analysis will help, whether through Excel, Google Sheets, Python, SQL, BI tools or something similar. You should be comfortable learning, taking feedback and working through an unfamiliar problem.
How does advancement work?
Everyone invited completes the Opening Move. The 15 strongest performers are invited to Round 2 and the L’Oréal Case.
How is Round 1 evaluated?
On analytical reasoning, insight, evidence and communication.
How much time does it take?
Round 1 runs October 14 to 21, and the Opening Move is due within 72 hours of kickoff. Round 2 runs October 23 to 31 for invited finalists, followed by SignalVerified review and industry feedback through November 20. Exact session times are shared with invited participants.
What does the work look like?
Round 1 is an original case with three prompts. Round 2 is a real L’Oréal case, submitted with your results and evidence in SignalVerified.
What will I walk away with?
Real work you can speak to. Round 2 finalists also leave with verified proof of skill through SignalVerified and industry feedback on their analysis and how they communicate it.
Who can apply?
Juniors with relevant data analysis coursework or demonstrated skill sets. Select sophomores who demonstrate the required level of preparation may also be invited. Freshmen and seniors are not eligible.
06 / THE OPPORTUNITY
How the interview opportunity works.
The Challenge is valuable on its own. The interview opportunity is an additional outcome available to a limited number of students.
Is this a job at L'Oréal?
No. This is a PROPEL Challenge. Students who complete the Challenge take the SignalVerified capability assessment. SignalVerified has an agreement with L'Oréal to interview 10 students for a Data Analyst internship.
If I finish, will I get an interview?
Not necessarily. Interviews are limited to 10 students, and any internship offer is ultimately L'Oréal's decision.
Where is the role, and what does it pay?
Details about the internship itself will come directly from L'Oréal during the interview process.
Will L'Oréal see my work or personal information?
Not during the Challenge. Only students selected for the interview group will have materials shared. Those students will be told exactly what will be shared and asked for consent first.
10 students move forward to an interview. Everyone who completes the Challenge leaves with the experience.
07 / APPLICATION
APPLICATIONS CLOSE
October 12, 2026
11:59 p.m. Eastern Time · Apply before midnight