Spring Week Review

I have done a number of insight experiences and this was by far my favourite. It was extremely well organised and I felt supported throughout the whole experience from communication before the event to activities organised on the placement. I had a really enjoyable few days and developed new skills, as well as finding out more about the company.

I felt very valued by Unilever during my time at the company and the company prides itself on a welcoming and open environment. It is clear that the company invests heavily into this programme in terms of time and money and this enabled us as interns to feel valued. Employees gave up time from their heavy workloads to answer questions and take part in networking events. We were lucky enough to have sessions with senior employees, including a number of VPs, which was extremely insightful.

The support received on this insight was second to none. The dedicated Early Careers recruitment team provided comprehensive support before the event, with frequent communication and were very accommodating to my travel arrangement. We had a detailed induction session and given a timetable and list of contact numbers should we have any problems. I felt that I could always turn to the dedicated HR team with any questions and as a group we were always well supported. The current graduates and interns also were on hand to support us throughout the programme.

Whilst I don't think the insight will directly impact on my degree studies, I believe that the skills developed on the insight week will help me for life. I had the opportunity to develop my networking and communication skills, and I cannot put into words how much this insight week helped to develop my confidence.

I cannot fault the organisation of the insight week. As it is an established programme that has been running for many years, it is well structured and tailored to the needs of interns. There was a good programme of activities, that balanced networking events and practical group exercises. Whilst we had a busy schedule, we also had the opportunity for 'down time' where we could socialise with the other interns in the evening. Unilever is very keen to receive feedback following the insight to make the programme as best structured as possible.

There was an incredible atmosphere during my insight and this was the main factor that encouraged me to apply for the year long placement opportunity. Unilever has an incredibly welcoming atmosphere and although everyone is extremely hard working and motivated, there is a sense of fun in the office also and a strong social element. With fun break out areas and unique work spaces, the office is not dull in the slightest!

There was no 'formal' training as such (due to the short nature of the programme), however the events organised, such as group activities and networking events, enabled personal development.

The insight was very useful for understanding what it was like to have a full time tole within the company. We had a number of presentations that explained the company's ethos and values, as well as talks with current employees, graduates and interns. The programme was very insightful for understanding the company's culture and what is was like to work as a full time employee.

Unilever has a very unique company culture with the Unilever 'Sustainable Living Plan' sitting at the heart of the business. Many of the presentations and talks were tailored at helping us understand the plan and why it is so key to the business. We also had a number of presentations on ways of working, such as agile and flexible working. Due to Unilever's unique culture, employees were also keen to discuss why Unilever is set apart from its competitors and other firms, so overall the insight was extremely helpful in understanding the company culture.

The insight was valuable and opened my eyes to working in the FMCG industry, which was something that I had not considered before. There is also lots of information given about future opportunities such as further internships and the graduate programme.

I was reimbursed travel expenses and all food and accommodation were covered for the insight week.

Yes, there was so many opportunities to network and meet other employees. On the first evening, we had a small, informal networking event that enabled us to all settle in and feel comfortable. Following that, we had a number of more formal networking sessions with senior employees, as well as a networking dinner on the final evening.

I really enjoyed the networking events and the events were probably the most enjoyable aspect of the insight week. There was a good balance of formal and informal networking events, as well as evening social events amongst fellow interns. I enjoyed the opportunity to meet new people and make business contacts.

Yes, I found out about activities that employees could get involved in. Unilever has a number of on site facilities such as a gym and fitness classes, which employees can use throughout the day and after work. We also found out about charity opportunities that employees can get involved in.

Yes! There is so much to gain from this opportunity. I personally felt that I grew so much in confidence over the short space of time and met so many new and interesting people. It was a very valuable experience and is a great addition to add onto your CV.