10 months on RBs graduate scheme in 10 points!

I’ve now been on the R&D graduate scheme in Hull for almost a year, and have developed countless new skills and experiences that have got my career off to a great start.

So, instead of writing a list of everything I’ve learnt so far (which would probably take all day!) I have tried to choose 10 things I’ve discovered about working for RB which may be beneficial for those of you currently considering a career in FMCG:

Verity outside the Hull R&D Site

1. Lots of small cogs make a very big and successful machine!

Sometimes upon joining a company as large and far reaching as RB, you may be sceptical as to how much value each individual can add, especially fresh from university. RB doesn’t take on employees to merely fill headcount however, and I’ve been able to have real responsibility right from day one. I’ve found this both exciting and stretching, and it’s definitely one of the things I love the most about working here.

2. It’s all about the Powerbrands!

If you’ve been doing some research into RB you’ve undoubtedly heard of our powerbrands. We are very proud of these brands and everyone feels a sense of pride when they hear about a new product we’re launching, whether it is your own brand or not. It’s the powerbrands that inspired me join the company, as I wanted to become part of the powerhouse behind such iconic brands as Airwick, Dettol, Nurofen and Veet.

3. Exposure is good!

Whether it’s seeing how colleagues handled a tough call, or getting the chance to work on a section of a new project, the graduate scheme lets you get massive exposure to the business, and as a new graduate this is invaluable. Also on the flip side, by completing multiple roles during the two year scheme, your personal exposure to senior management is broad, so hopefully upon finishing the scheme this will allow me to gain a role in the category that best suits my strengths and ambitions.

4. Everything is a learning experience

If you are like me and a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to your work, often no matter how well a project goes, it could always have gone slightly better…and this is a good thing! To recognise that everything can always be improved upon means that you are never resting on your laurels and therefore always striving to achieve bigger and better things. This is the key to RB’s success! Take any of our brands as an example, and you will rarely see that we are happy with only selling the current project, but instead we are always striving to produce better innovations, which are more relevant to the consumer and employ the very latest technology.

5. Trust your judgement…

From day one I have had to use my own judgement to make decisions on projects. Taking full responsibility is a very exciting and slightly daunting at first, but it’s this personal ownership and entrepreneurship is what RB people thrive on, and I’ve definitely experienced this. Working for a company which allows you this freedom to make decisions on your own work and subsequently get recognised by swift promotions is why RB people are so driven and successful.

6…and if you are not sure then ask!

No one is ever going to kill you for asking them a question! It’s far better to ask someone with experience than guess, and with RBs culture of frequently moving roles you are bound to come across a new area at some point in your career. This is where RB’s culture of team spirit and cross sharing of knowledge comes to play. In R&D we often have projects with overlap and by sharing resources this allows both projects to project quicker.

7. Your career is what you make of it

RB has amazing opportunities available; all you have to do is take them! This was summed up on my first day at RB when my director told me “the only thing that will limit your career with RB will be yourself”. In this he meant that at RB you have the opportunities to progress quickly and travel all over the world if you feel you are up to the challenge and want to succeed, and one year later I really do believe this is true.

8. If you want to live abroad then just choose your country!

As RB has operations in over 160 countries globally, there are opportunities for relocations to all sorts of exotic places. This is one of the most exciting things about RB, unlike other companies we are actively encouraged to move abroad, and even get paid for doing so! I am looking forward to shortly undertaking my first international role in South Korea, and I’m hoping there will be many further international roles after this.

9. Make your university experience a role play for your real career

If you are still at university, or maybe finished and currently looking for work, one of the main tips I can give is prepare yourself. I’m not going to lie; working at RB keeps you very busy! So one of the best ways you can prepare yourself for this, and also demonstrate to recruiters that you’re up to the challenge is to fill your time now with hobbies, sports, voluntary work, part time job, the more the better, oh and still do well in your degree of course.

10. A culture of ‘only the best will do’ ensures that the best is produced

As I mentioned earlier, I like to make sure the work I do is to the very best of my ability, and this is a feeling that runs through RB. I have found that the company is very conscious when it comes to testing our products for quality, safety and overall value. Even the slightest of faults and the product will not go to market until it is reworked and meets our own high level of satisfaction. It’s this high benchmark we set for ourselves which differentiates us from the rest and keeps our consumers loyal to our strong brands.