I knew I wanted to do something marketing related in FMCG, but there was a myriad of companies promoting marketing and sales graduate programs – which one was going to help me achieve my goals of having a fulfilling marketing career?
Having been in the Commercial Graduate Program for more than a year, I have no doubt that I have made the right decision to work at RB. Here are some of the reasons why:
1. Strong Portfolio of Brands – Whilst most students are familiar with the P&G, Unilever and L’Oreal’s of the world, the truth is, most of them have probably never heard of RB. Don’t worry, even our stakeholders have trouble figuring our who we are!
However, one thing is for certain, people know our brands – Nurofen, Strepsils, Veet and Dettol to name a few – and at the end of the day, its all about the brands, isn’t it?
At RB, you’ll be working with brands which are ranked 1 or 2 in the marketplace. Walking into a pharmacy as a Sales Representative in my first rotation, I was always able to get the buyer’s attention and respect because they knew our portfolio of market-leading products would help drive customers into their stores and grow their business.
Did you know that at RB, 40% of revenue is generated from new products launched within the past 3 years? So you can be reassured that there will be a plethora of resources and talent readily available to accommodate innovation and growth of our brands and being part of that process, whether it be marketing or sales, is so rewarding for your career.
2. Real Ownership and Responsibility – I don’t think any student comes out of a marketing degree wanting a career in sales; I certainly didn’t… which is why I can understand why many students are hesitant to consider a graduate program which incorporates time in the field or in sales.
It was a case of sink or swim when I was handed over a territory of over 120 stores to manage – and while it was certainly a challenge, I also had a ball of a time doing it!
I felt a great sense of ownership and achievement in being able to negotiate and implement a planogram, sell in a promotional program and be able to resolve difficult situations – you learn a lot about responsibility, task prioritisation and demonstrating entrepreneurship.
Most importantly, I felt like I was a valued member of my team and that we all shared the same company core values which allowed us to achieve our goals and deliver results. Do you also share the same passion and drive like we do? See if you have what it takes to thrive at RB.
My time on the field has allowed me to build a strong foundation and thorough understanding of how RB brands are perceived in the market place – perfect preparation for my upcoming marketing rotation. After all, how can you truly understand a brand if you don’t know what customers want?
3. The Aussie Graduates! – Since the Commercial Graduate Program started in RB Australia/New Zealand 4 years ago, the pool of graduates has grown into a small family of nearly 20!
RB Graduates at Sales Awards Gala
So when you find yourself in a difficult situation, you know you can always seek help and guidance from another graduate who has been through it all and knows what you’re going through.
As Eva mentioned in one of her posts, we have an annual graduate development day where the New Zealand graduates come over to Australia we get to see what kinds of mischief our neighbours get up to! It truly reinforces the international element of working for a global FMCG company.
We graduates work hard but play harder and whilst it’s great to catch up and let your hair down during official work functions to down, we also socialise outside of work – most recently having Italian cuisine in Darling Harbour!
RB Graduates at Christmas Party
Until my next blog post, I leave you with some recent photos of the RB Australia graduates partying it up at our Hollywood character themed Christmas Party and Sales Awards Gala in Circular Quay, Sydney!
As an extreme extrovert and creative idea generator, there could be nothing better to me than the opportunity to work with such a diverse group of people. During my job search, I remember specifically looking for career opportunities that would be an extension of what I had loved so much in my graduate studies. My RB experience thus far has truly exceeded my hopes and expectations.
Just imagine the wealth of knowledge, experience and ideas that are shared in just one of our marketing team meetings. When you take a step back and consider all of the other brands, supply, trade marketing, sales, finance, accounting, demand planning and the many agencies we work with on a day-to-day basis, you quickly realize how uniquely global the RB experience is. By being challenged to look at issues through different perspectives, you become a more effective contributor, a stronger leader, and a more creative and strategic problem solver. 
When I first started at RB back in July, our office layout was the stereotypical expanse of cubicles that one might expect in any larger corporation building.
It was the morning of Monday, July 13, 2009 when I walked through the doors of RB’s U.S. headquarters in Parsippany, NJ, and joined the 
It is very exciting and humbling to be on such a nationally-recognized and universally-trusted brand. And while some people out there may not think too deeply about the world of household cleaning products, I have learned just how much thought, research, analysis, time and effort goes into every one of those products sitting on the retailer’s shelf. 
