Manufacturing and Operations Intern Review

My placement was based in one of Unilever's manufacturing sites and I was working on internal logistics inside the factories and continuous improvement. Although I study Business Management and this wasn't directly linked to my degree, I learnt so much will be so valuable to me in the future. I worked on several change management implementation projects especially improving the costs and budgeting and supported the operations of Unilever. Presentation preparation, data analysis and client engagements were some of the key day to day work that I was involved in.

I would say I didn't gain much technical skill related to my degree beyond some advanced excel skills and data analysis. However, the skills I have learned here are genuinely skills for life and work in any industry. You really improve your communication, presenting, analysis and facilitation skills to name a few. This was an interesting experience as everything was organised virtually. Unilever has lots of useful resources on their site and they have also internal learning portal that can be used for training purpose.

I was given so much responsibility that at times it felt that I was in over my head. The work I was completing had real and important impacts which really motivated me to deliver. I was given my own projects to lead on, but equally I was aware of the support network I could seek help and guidance from. However, they will not give you responsibility unless they actually think you can do something or unless you've shown or convinced them that you can. That's also another important skill I've learned.

Unilever has a very supportive culture. Everyone is willing to help others whether that be answering your questions or providing advice etc. I felt very well supported. Line management style can vary in terms of the level of guidance you receive - some encourage you to be more autonomous, others may more readily supply you with guidance. This also varies as you progress with your placement and become more confident in your role. Overall I got fair amount of guidance and support from the team.

It was a virtual work placement and everything was organised online. So the experience was very different. The general work culture is nice as lots of friendly people are around and the work force in Unilever is very diverse. Apart from that, there were virtual coffee breaks within the team and we were getting flexibility to start/finish early which was great. We also had some virtual games and some other fun activities organised by the HR team.

Great first experience in a FMCG company. Provided me with highly valuable experiences and insights into how a business operates. I've been able to upskill and develop in several areas e.g. business acumen, agility, confidence and have felt supported throughout my placement experience. The placement network is great but you also have the rest of the future careers network i.e. apprentices and grads. Regular social events are organised within the placement network. Many also live together. Flexible working was also a huge benefit.

Yes

Unilever is a good company especially if you want to explore areas like retails, business management, supply chain, business development and sales/marketing. Before applying, make sure that you read the job specs properly and understand what they are looking for. Accordingly you need to update your resume and highlight the skills that match with the job profile. There is also a high possibility that you might get an online test and the time you will get is enough to pass the test. Interviews are mainly competency based.