After a really busy first week – my induction week – on my
new graduate programme, I'm exhausted and excited. My mind is whirring,
processing presentations, flashing through images of new faces and
fast-forwarding to my future. In many ways, it's not dissimilar to that feeling
of anticipation at the end of freshers' week but instead of embarking on life
at university, this is it: the start of my career and the rest of my life.
It all began about 14 months ago when I graduated from the
University of Warwick with a degree in biology. Unlike some of my friends who
knew exactly what they wanted to do with their life, I found the idea of
starting my career daunting. Although I trawled the graduate recruitment fairs
in my final year, I didn't apply for any programmes; it was too confusing and I
was reluctant to rush into a wrong decision.
I decided to graduate and start work as a temp and then
consider my options. So a few months into my new job with a pharmaceutical
company, I began looking for new opportunities. With my scientific background, I
knew I wanted to work in research and development (R&D) but to keep my
options broad. The Unilever graduate programme suited what I wanted to do, but
just in case, I applied for permanent roles with other companies too.
The application process was surprisingly easy; that is,
knowing what to expect at each stage and how it all worked. When it came around
to filling in my online form, however – the very first stage – that was a
different matter. As a graduate, it's an unfamiliar skill to answer competency-based
questions and took some careful consideration. Once I'd passed the first stage
though, I understood what the assessors were looking for and just practised in
preparation for each stage. The key is to think in a certain way and not be
embarrassed to show your skills and achievements, something I think many young
people shy away from.
Reaching the assessment centre was one of the first times I
realised just what an opportunity a place on the Unilever Future Leaders
Programme (UFLP) was. When I met applicants with PhDs, I was sure that I
wouldn't have a chance but being offered a place showed me that it's about
potential, not just your CV.
And that's how I found myself where I am today, at the end
of week one having made 55 new friends – or should I say colleagues – who are
all in exactly the same position. Having survived, and actually really enjoyed
the induction week and the insight into the business, next week is when I will
roll up my sleeves and head to my new office – the company's global R&D site
in Bedfordshire.
It means moving to a new town, which in itself could have
been a daunting task. But as the two-year programme includes several rotations
– possibly even abroad – there is plenty of relocation support in place, right
down to help with hiring a van and a Facebook group where employees that are
new to the area can get to know each other and even house-share. I hadn't
anticipated just how much help there would be but it's been so useful; when
starting a new job, the last thing you need to worry about is finding
housemates and packing up your life.
Looking ahead, I'm not nervous like I thought I would be;
I'm filled with excitement and I feel really privileged. I've had a glimpse of
the opportunities on offer but for now, it's one step at a time. That's always
worked best for me.
Source: 12 November 2012, The Guardian by Amy Graham (Research
and development graduate on the Unilever Future Leaders Programme).
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