Liquids Process Engineer Review

I really enjoyed my time at Unilever, I had a very supportive team around me who continuously helped me learn and share their experiences. The work was engaging and I was able to suggest my own projects/ideas to get involved with so that I could explore areas of the business that captivated me the most. The work was always necessary and added real value to the business.

Throughout my placement I always felt as though there was someone I could reach out to for support - from either a work or personal perspective. Part of my placement was spend working from home due to the global Covid19 pandemic and even through this disruptive time my team and line manager always ensured I was well and happy and I definitely felt as though they genuinely cared about my wellbeing which made me feel values and part of the team. Some colleagues would also come to me to help them with specific tasks and trusted me to complete them, which also helped the feeling of being part of the team.

My line manager throughout the placement was a brilliant support and I really have nothing negative to say. During the initial onboarding period, which can feel quite daunting, I felt as though he would always ensure he had time to help and answer my questions and this continued throughout my placement. We had regular catch-ups, which were very much a two way discussion, that helped guide my work and ensure we were on track to deliver projects as required.

My typical day would vary quite a lot, however on the whole I always had tasks to keep me occupied without overloading me. I would say that a few times I would've rather have a little bit more varied work to do, however this was due to business demand and lags in projects/information gathering which is to expected. Overall I had plenty to do and could reach out to my team for additional work if necessary.

All of the tasks I completed or were part of did add value to the business and were in the pipeline of work to do prior to my arrival by the team. I was given much responsibility in one specific project, where I led the majority of the project and was responsible for its delivery and progress, along with launching the result to stakeholders. Other projects did not quite hold so much responsibility and it felt as though I had been given some work that others had put as low priority and so had yet to complete.

The skills, attributes and overall experience of the placement has been exceptional and I have learnt more than I thought I could in a year. The soft skills I have gained from working for a global business amongst some true experts will stay with me throughout my career and personal life. The exposure to the FMCG industry and general working life will help me in my future career, regardless of where I end up. I have learnt so much and developed as a person and this will stay with me always.

Our office had a really positive atmosphere and encouraged both fun and productivity. I sat in an open plan office space which really helped with networking and a team feel and there were no barriers and people were always happy for you to ask them questions. I sat next to my director, which at first was a little daunting, however it really showed me the lack of hierarchy and how inclusive our office space was to everyone, regardless of their level.

Personally, the overall placement set up was really great and I had few issues along the way. The overall onboarding experience was great and it helped put you at ease before the start of your placement by meeting other placement students and hearing some updates from Unilever. During the placement I sometimes felt as though there was a lack of communication between central Unilever and our third party employees (who were responsible for placement students contracts) and some messages were occasionally lost or a little unclear. Overall it was very organised and I understood the process I was going through.

There are many internal Unilever resources for training and information, which you are able to access as you wish. Beyond this, I felt as though were was limited investment in personal training and development, which is one thing I would've maybe appreciated a little more of. My line manager helped by acting as a mentor, however some external training was missing on my part.

I would be very interested in Unilever as a future employer as the working environment was so supportive and inclusive, which is something I look for. The company values definitely run through the company and they do value their employees. I am still exploring the prospect of the graduate scheme or a direct entry role to see what is available at the time.

I lived, commuted and socialised with other placement students throughout the year and hope to keep contact after the placement. There was always an opportunity to socialise if you wish outside of the office and some placement students also interacted with the graduates too. I personally also became friends with some of my colleagues and know this was the same for many.

I lived in Liverpool and so really can't complain about the cost of living or socialising. There's a range of things to do that can be free and plenty of places to go for food/drinks in the city centre. My main expense was probably the annual train fare, however this was counteracted by rent and general living costs being low.

There was a real range of nightlife and options in Liverpool, depending on what you prefer. Whether you prefer drinks with friends or clubs/bars there are plenty of choices to suit everyone. Not everything here is everyone's cup of tea but the variety can't be denied and the city is always busy on a Friday/Saturday night.

There were some office socials including the Christmas party and a few meals out over the year. Due to the Covid19 pandemic this has definitely impacted the activities outside of work and so based on the time we were still in the office I would say there was a good balance and people would be open to suggestions.