Before…
As many of you will know, the assessment for RBs graduate scheme spans several interviews and assessment days. At each, you get to understand a little more about RB culture from third parties and our employees themselves.

The more I got to know about the RB culture the more I was excited by it… except for one niggling word which kept creeping up, AGRESSION. At first it wasn’t a word I dwelled on, but the further into the recruitment process I got, the more and more I heard of it. This was the only aspect of RB culture which worried me slightly – I had visions of a working environment with little respect for colleagues, where people didn’t listen to each other and where the common method of communication was shouting. OK so that might be a little melodramatic – but it definitely made me wonder!

After…
Phew, well after I started I truly got to understand what our ‘Aggressive’ culture means and I would now also agree; YES we do have an aggressive culture, but definitely in a good way. Constructive aggression!

What it means for Individuals
I believe what ‘Aggression’ means for employees is that we are not accepting; we will question decisions and strive for better processes. We will push projects, driving them forward ourselves and challenge delays. We are risk takers and happy to make and follow our own decisions for which we are accountable.

What is means for the Company
RB has an aggressive market strategy; we aim to deliver products from concept to shelf in less than 3 years. From my experience this can be as little as 6 months, as for our Airwick colour change candle. A fast to market strategy means we launch before competitors and reap maximum profit.

The company expects results from you regardless, there are no passengers!

Are you ready to be accountable?

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

I am sure most people reading this will have heard about the worlds ‘ageing population’. One of the most shocking statistics I have heard is that by 2015 Japan is estimated to experience a 175% rise in tax to support their aging population – find this shocking? The UK is estimated to experience the same situation in 11 years! This will have a massive impact on the economy and the way we market products.

Some shocking statistics

• By 2025 the number of Americans over 60 will increase by 70%

• The largest increase in population by 2050 will be in Africa whose population is expected to at least double putting their population at 2.1 Billion.

• There are 4.1 working adults in developed countries for every child under the age of 14.

To put your business head on means that if we stick to our current target consumer we will be considerably limiting our market potential. Fewer children per adult only means that this situation will become more extreme.

Current Target consumer

Currently, most of our products are aimed at the female head of a household. Our typical Airwick consumer is a female aged between 45-64, who places great importance on the image of her home.

New markets

China, India and Africa represent white spaces and new consumers that we and many other industries are still figuring out. There are many challenges within these markets – infrastructure, affluence and understanding of a new consumer mindset are all key. It’s not as simple as taking a product designed for the European market and rolling it out to a developing market. Our cultures are completely different and so are the consumers. Fragrance preferences vary massively between countries. If you live in the UK, you are likely to prefer floral and fruity scents. However, if you live in the US, you will find a large proportion of food related scents like pumpkin pie.

How will this affect the FMCG industry?

If there are 4.1 adults to every child under the age of 14 in developed markets, then our current target consumer bracket will decrease in population by a factor of 4. That would have a massive effect on our sale volumes and profit. In order for our brands to be successful in future years we must look at the needs of an aging consumer but also ensure we do not neglect the base consumer.

We must adapt.

Matt Dubow

When I first walked onto the Penn State campus as a freshman my head was dizzied by the limitless opportunities before me. As I became a more seasoned undergraduate, I began to become more aware of my potential in areas I had never even considered before, both as a consumer in the grocery store and as a young professional at our career fairs. How were my dollars being used in this economy? Was I becoming part of the global economic, social, and environmental problems or rather contributing to companies who were creating a solution? These same concerns were easily paralleled in my employment search as I scoured for a company that shared the same values and beliefs, one I found in Reckitt Benckiser.

The question posed in this blog’s subject may seem plainly obvious to some, however to the average college student, RB may just be another company on their laundry list of potential employers. It is important that college students come to know RB in a multitude of dimensions. Initially, they must grow to be smart, aware consumers who view their purchases as investments into their personal lives. In this sense college students should be researching and exploring their options in household, personal, and healthcare categories. As a smart consumer you are not only taking an active mindset in regard to your finances, but become aware of the innovation, philanthropy, and culture provided by your supplying companies.

With their respective market leading positions, the Reckitt Benckiser Powerbrands will undoubtedly provide many of the solutions these consumers search for. It is easy to find excuses to pick RB’s products off the shelf. Philanthropic programs such as the Carbon20 effort and aggressive sustainability benchmarks, to their product innovation and value, many college students will find themselves establishing life long relationships with RB products.

Additionally college students who explore career options in the FMCG industry would be foolish to overlook Reckitt Benckiser. The company’s culture and core values suggest that with the right fit, young professionals are given international opportunities to not only prove themselves but move through their career at an accelerated pace. If you were to research one of RB’s 19 market leading Powerbrands you would find a history of innovation, value, and a proven track record. Behind the scenes RB associates live the values of achievement, entrepreneurship, team spirit, and ownership that create and drive the culture of the company.

The challenges presented to college graduates within the workplace are demanding, yet the rewards of success are reaped both professionally and personally.

What are your opinions? As students, consumers, and professionals how are you taking strides to improve the world we live in? How do you see RB innovating its social and environmental programs in the future? I am greatly intrigued to hear how everyone is working, whether its on campus, in an office, with Reckitt Benckiser, or on their own. Are you taking the initiative and challenging the status quo?