I started working with Reckitt Benckiser (RB) when I was selected for the summer internship while I was studying at IIM (K). After my graduation I had no doubts that, if given a chance, I’d definitely join RB as a full-time employee. And as fate would have it, I did get my Pre-Placement Offer (PPO) from RB and I readily agreed to go back there and continue with the awesome work that I had done during my internship.

My first project with RB was ‘Clearasil’. I had never been a sales guy and I was quite new to it all. During one of my field visits when I was in sales, it was just amazing to see the salesmen feeling so passionate about their products. They actually believe in RB which results in a better performance. Their loyalty towards the brand was a lesson in itself for me.

It has been around 30 months now that I have been working with RB and I have not experienced a single boring day here. ‘Challenging’ is the word that describes this place perfectly. The whole environment is so charged that it always keeps you on your toes and you feel alive. This place is not for the kinds who are satisfied with just mediocrity; anyone working with RB knows that one can never take things for granted and  needs to keep up with its fast pace. This keeps the whole environment interesting and it never gets monotonous here.

At RB you feel like working NOT because someone asked you to do so but you actually feel like doing it. And that’s a great thing and keeps the level of job satisfaction at its peak. And well, from personal experience I would say that this place is just brilliant for anyone who is new in the industry. If they get this sort of an experience in their initial years, they’ll surely go places in the future.

Another thing I really love about RB is the work culture here, which is pretty chilled out. Regular parties keep happening; it is a kind of a reward for employees for all their efforts. And another big event which everyone just loves is the Annual Conference. This year it will be my third time there and I am really looking forward to meeting everyone.

Working with RB does not make you feel like you’re just doing a ‘job’. You actually feel like a part of the RB family. There are no strict dress-codes, everyone from different levels are treated equally. At the end of the day all these factors really do matter as it makes it easy for everyone to communicate with each other without any inhibitions. And communication is a really important part of the success of any organisation, and many, in fact, struggle to keep that streamlined.

In the end I’d say that working with RB has been great and I look forward to many more amazing years.

Last week, I put the question to Reckitt Benckiser’s directors, managers and associates alike: “If you were to give one tip to candidates applying to RB, what would it be?” Three of the people below were assessors during my assessment day, so what they have to say to you all potential RBers out there will be really valuable!

If I look back to when I was going through the RB recruitment process, I think the best advice I would have given myself would have been to…

Be yourself! At the end of the day you don’t want to be working in an environment which doesn’t suit you. The culture at RB is very unique and our assessment process is about finding people who will excel in this environment. Think of it like a dating agency . It’s as much about finding what you want from a company as what a company wants from you.

Be an all-rounder. Yes you may have just studied science for 4 years, but RB is more than just that. We look for your business acumen, logic, negotiation skills, teamwork and so on. Be 3D!

Good Luck

Hi, my name is Kareem and I currently work in the RB Sales as a Channel Manager. I joined RB in July 2009 as a management trainee in Sales in the Middle East business. Since day one, I was given real projects with real responsibilities; which is a dream that is coming true for any recent graduate.

When I first decided to write for myRBopportunity, I read a couple of entries by different RB employees across the globe and I was surprised by how similar RB people are. Skimming through different entries reminded me of our RB office in Dubai, where you can always feel energy in the air whether you are sitting at your desk, joining a sales review meeting in the conference room, having a coffee in the pantry or even fighting about budgets. I don’t think that it’s easy at all to find such a place.

Young, Ambitous, Creative

Young, ambitious, creative, determined and the list goes on and on, those are very few characteristics which both RB as a company and RB employees share no matter which territory you are in. It is no wonder seeing those people who are coming from completely diversified backgrounds to work together in harmony sharing same values and beliefs. RB makes sure that its core values are actually implemented and shared by its employees. This is why RB is growing bigger and bigger every day and becoming a graduate destination for those who seeks fast tracked careers.

This became very clear to me couple of months ago when I attended a training session for the RB graduate program where people from Africa Middle East business joined. Even though we came from different offices in different countries and totally different departments, it was very easy for me to relate to my RB colleagues. We didn’t have to go through the regular team building activities at the beginning; it was enough to talk about our powerbrands or new launches to bond immediately.

Sky’s the limit

During training, we were all almost fresh graduates who have been in the business for two years max and despite that I found couple of managers among us and for me that was surprising. I couldn’t imagine how fast you can actually progress with your career in RB. But after interacting with those young talents, I realised that at RB sky is the limit.

On this point, a funny thing happened to me when I was finishing my residency papers in Kuwait. People at the governmental offices started looking at me suspiciously when they read my ‘job title’, they were wondering how this 24 year old guy will be a manager!! They thought that I was making this up to make things faster. This is what makes RB so different than other employers; it’s a place where you can learn as much as you can and assume responsibilities as quickly as you can, no matter how old or where you are from.

I’m a few weeks behind on sharing the news due to all the projects going on here in Parsippany, but I am excited and proud to announce the launch our new RB About FMCG website.

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to brainstorm some new ideas with both HR and the Corporate Communications team on some new ways Reckitt Benckiser could increase its visibility and its own corporate brand awareness both within the FMCG (or CPG as it is often called in the US) industry as a whole and within the graduate and undergraduate spheres.

One of our ideas was a comprehensive guide for students and professionals interested in launching careers within this high-profile industry.  We saw an opportunity for such a resource after searching the web and identifying only a few other websites and networks offering any real insights into the FMCG/CPG career path.  And having recently been a graduate student seeking this exact sort of information, I was thrilled to help develop such a website for RB.

A team from around the globe worked on it together. It includes a section on the FMCG/CPG industry and trends, a section on FMCG/CPG careers and one featuring additional resources to check for more details and news about the sector, the companies and employment opportunities.  It already offers a wealth of information and insight into what to expect from FMCG and it’s only the beginning of what’s planned for future resources and offerings!

I am really proud to have had the opportunity to have worked on this great site. I have been exceptionally busy and most of this work has been done on top of my normal brand manager workload, but it has really been worth it when you see the final product.

If you’re considering a career in this fast-moving consumer goods industry, I recommend you check it out.  And while you should definitely seek an opportunity with a company that’s right for you, don’t miss out on all of the opportunities that RB has to offer.

As you can see from my own story, RB is a place where you really take part in the company’s success and growth from the start.  Visit the RB careers site today to learn more about a future with one of the leaders in the FMCG industry.

Is it pay? Security? Career prospects? A company’s record of social responsibility?

Or is it simply a place where the culture offers a good ‘fit’ with you? Somewhere you feel you can make your mark?

I’m specifically talking about graduates here: What do they look for from a company when choosing a career? It’s a fascinating subject and I’m sure the answer changes from generation to generation. So we decided to ask around to see what this generation’s answer would be.

On the RB Facebook page the emphasis was definitely on career progression and enjoying your job: “. . . try to find a job I love. Something I look forward to during the week” closely followed by those who are searching for international career opportunities. Offering a global career path is something RB is passionate about and attributes a great deal of its success to. In the words of our CEO, Bart Becht, who wrote the article Building A Company Without Borders for Harvard Business Review on this subject: “We’ve spent the past 10 years building this culture of global mobility because we think it’s one of the best ways to generate new ideas and create global entrepreneurs”.

Over on Linked In people offered very diverse answers, from “an ability to contribute in a meaningful way”, to “pay and benefits”. And this great comment from Elyse:
“Personally I look for an employer who is willing to invest in it’s people. I believe that these organisations will be more successful long term and are a happier and more fulfilling environment to work in. An employer who will provide a platform for further training and development to grow you deserve your hard work and loyalty. It’s also important to be working for a company whos values are in line with your own and that you’re working on a product that you believe in”.

In a poll of graduates last year, Wikijob asked the question: What is the most important factor in choosing a job? A massive 43 per cent of those asked said career progression. Which is why Reckitt Benckiser is keen to promote the possible career paths of graduates and show exactly what sort of route you can expect to take through the company whatever function you join.

Personally, I am motivated by ownership and responsibility. It’s about continual developing, learning, growing as an individual. Being given the opportunity to make a mark and to provide genuine input.

That is the sort of career I want.

I also thought it would be a great idea to ask around the business to find out what RB employees say is their ‘must have’ in a job.

“I joined RB for the global opportunities available to develop and deliver”,  IS graduate trainee, Prashanth Somasundaram

“When I joined I read between the lines that early responsibility and exposure meant the opportunity to move quickly up the company … maybe I would just cut to the last bit!”, marketing graduate trainee, James Rothwell.

So what’s your ‘must have’ when choosing a career?