Unilever

Graduate jobs explained

The company appoints between 30 and 40 graduate trainees each year, onto its two-year ‘future leaders programme’. The programme spans a range of different business areas, and is designed to prepare graduates for a management position within the company.

International work may well be available to grads.

Graduate can be based at Unilever’s offices in Blackfriars (London) and Leatherhead (Surrey), as well as at a number of research centres and factory sites throughout the UK and Ireland.

Roles available

Many jobs at Unilever are cross-functional as departments work so closely together. Roles include:

• Supply chain – opportunities in supply management, manufacturing and logistics. Graduates work in at least four different departments during the two-year scheme.
• HR – placements in head office, a factory and an ‘expertise’ team. There might be the possibility of working as a site HR manager and on international projects.
• Marketing – split into brand development and brand building. Graduates work in up to three different departments and might be based with regional innovation centres, local companies, or customer development.
• Finance – a cross-functional role. Graduates work with customer development, marketing and supply chain. Finance graduates study for their Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) qualification on-the-job.
• Business and technology management – graduates may work in a number of six-month placements over the two-year course. Business and technology management graduates could be working with digital agencies or global partners such as BT and Accenture.
• Customer development – consists of three different placements over the two years. Graduates could be working in account management, business to business, customer marketing or category management.
• Research and development (R&D) – graduates experience four placements during the two-year programme, with at least one placement outside R&D (to help graduates get a wider understanding of the company). Geographical mobility is essential as there are a number of R&D centres across the UK.
• China programme – graduates get two years of training in the UK before moving to Unilever China to complete the third year, principally based in Shanghai. They can specialise in financial management, human resources, marketing, research and development, or supply chain management.

Asia, Middle East, Africa & Russia programme

This programme was introduced in 2011, and is slightly different to the other future leaders programmes in that graduates will be based specifically in one of various different countries, including Thailand, Bahrain, Oman, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Russia. With the exception of Russian placements, which last for two years, each scheme runs for three years.

Depending upon the country, graduate careers are available in marketing, customer development, supply chain management or human resources.

On the job

For all trainee programmes graduates work in a variety of roles – from shop floor to factory office. Typically, the level of responsibility increases as graduates progress within the company.

During the two-year programme (or three-year in the case of Marketing China), graduates are paired up with a ‘buddy’ (a recent graduate trainee) and a mentor (an experienced manager). They also receive support from a HR contact and their line manager.

International opportunities

Depending on which department graduates join, there are varying opportunities to work abroad. For example, graduates on the ‘marketing China’ programme will obviously spend atheir entire final year working in China. Other roles that may provide the chance to work abroad include:

• Supply chain
• Business and technology management
• HR
• Marketing

Work experience explained

Unilever offers two types of work experience to undergraduates: 12-week summer placements, and 12-month industrial placements.

Internships are paid rather well, and provide a number of employee benefits for students. For full details, see the salaries and benefits section of this Employer Insight.

Summer placements

12-week summer placements are available in a number of different business areas, including

• Customer development
• Financial management
• Marketing
• Research and development
• Supply chain

Unilever recruits on a rolling basis, so apply early.

Applicants must be in the penultimate year of their degree, or their second year if they’re studying for a four-year degree. The schemes usually start in August and are open to candidates with a minimum of 300 UCAS points. There are specific degree requirements only for the research and development placement. Students applying for this must be studying chemistry, chemical Engineering or industrial chemistry.

Candidates who successfully complete their internship are fast-tracked through to the selection day stage of the graduate recruitment process.

12-month industrial placements

These are open to students who are taking a sandwich course and have a year in industry as part of their degree.

Placements are available in:

• Business and technology management
• Customer development
• Financial management
• HR
• Marketing
• Research and development
• Supply chain

As with the summer internship, all applicants must have a minimum of 300 UCAS points, and applicants to the research and development placement should be studying for an appropriate qualification.

A prime benefit of completing an industrial placement with Unilever is that this can lead to a full-time job, without the need to go through the application process the following year. A graduate career is there for the taking.

Selection process

The selection process comprises an online application form, telephone interview and assessment centre. Unilever recruits on a rolling basis and encourages applicants for both schemes to apply early. Placements could be at any of offices or research centres across the UK.

Training and development

According to the company, its graduate programmes are designed to prepare graduates for managerial positions.

The training focuses on three key areas:

• Know-how (performance management, diversity and inclusion, business management)
• Skills (support in managing people and projects)
• Behaviour (soft skills and leadership competencies).

There are also formal development processes in place, including e-learning and training courses. Graduates should expect to get regular feedback from their line manager and also be prepared to take part in training workshops and coaching. The training process consists of a combination of on-the-job training, mentoring and formal programmes.

Finance

Graduates who take the finance programme also study for a fully-accredited Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) package. The company provides support with lessons and revision packages.