Marketing, Team Assistant Review

I am currently the Team Assistant for the Skin Care team, Marketing, which therefore means that I am involved in many different tasks at different time periods depending on what is needed to be done. I work very closely with my team, and also interact regularly with many other people who have the same/similar role to me within the company. The fundamentals of my job include, raising and processing DO's, arranging any logistics for the team (eg. travel, room bookings, meetings etc) and ensuring in any possible way I can assist my team. The roles vary depending on what is needed, and I have been recently a lot more involved in marketing activities, due to the fact I would like to expand my knowledge and skills and gain a better understanding of the marketing department from a different viewpoint. I have been in charge of getting the Product Guides designed and created, which involved interacting and working with many people who I didn't have the chance to before. I am also regularly attending relevant and suitable meetings/trainings to help with any marketing related jobs I am planning to take on in the future, such as Brandwatch and Brandview, as well as being the Careline Champion for the Skin Care team, regularly updating the team with the response from the reports we get sent through and ensuring the team align with their Careline contacts when necessary.

So far I have learned a lot of new skills, as well as developing existing skills further. I have much improved my organisation and preparation skills. Although I still do not feel completely confident when presenting, I feel as though I have much improved at this skill and feel a lot more capable than before I started the Apprenticeship. Due to the fact I joined the Apprenticeship straight after college, I knew I had to change my mentality, and act much more professional due to working in a completely different environment. I feel as though I acted out this transition really well, and although it was quite daunting and hard to get used to at first, it immediately became quite natural. I have developed much more creative skills due to working in a marketing department, and look at so much from a marketing perspective now rather than just a consumer perspective which is what I did before.

I am enjoying the programme significantly, and really enjoy the team I am part of. They instantly made me feel welcome, and were patient with me at the beginning of my course, but now I have become a lot more comfortable within my role, they have gradually kept increasing the workload, whilst ensuring that I am always capable of completing out the tasks they give before they actually delegate them. They are very good at sticking with the routine me and my manager arranged with Coursework etc. The company as a whole is incredible, and like no other that I have seen/been a part in, and I still remember how amazed I was on the first day of walking in to the building. As I knew University wasn't suited for me, I knew I wanted to join an Apprenticeship scheme, and because I haven't been in a full-time job before, I honestly didn't know what to expect but it has definitely surpassed all of my expectations; I'm so glad I joined the Unilever Apprentice scheme.

I feel very valued by my team and in particular my manager. The role from which was expected of me from my manager's perspective is a lot bigger from what she originally thought, and she constantly praises me for the work I do, and how quickly I picked everything up since I have never been in a full-time job and had not carried out the tasks I do now ever before. When I am involved in tasks, my team ensure that I feel comfortable with what is done, and always ask for my opinion/feedback within the task and make me feel like a key member.

When first beginning the Apprenticeship, we had to carry out our Induction Course for the first 3 days, which was quite extensive but very thorough and contained very relevant information which we did need to know and action before joining. Although it was quite a lengthy induction course, the Apprentice Delivery lead (Liza) was fantastic at the way she delivered it, and even managed to liven up the quite tedious tasks and keep us motivated throughout the week. My team and I have arranged a routine in which to split the workload to ensure I have time each week to complete my Coursework. Our current arrangement is that I get, at least, every Friday morning to complete the coursework in which they usually do not try to contact me (unless urgent) and are great at sticking to the arrangement.

I have regular meetings with our Support Mentor from PDS (Peter) and regularly have a catch-up, in which we run though how everything is going, and if he is needed in any way. I also have a catch-up with our Assessor (Diane) every month or two to run through our Coursework and if we are capable of doing it, as well as carrying out an action plan for the upcoming month to help us with out Coursework. She always makes sure that she is available if we have any questions or are struggling with our Coursework, and keeps in regular contact with my Line Manager to keep everybody involved in my process.

My manager in particular is always there to support me if needed. As she used to carry out the job I do now, but has now changed her role completely, she still understands the key fundamentals of my job, and always makes herself available if I need any help, even if she cannot answer the question. I also have a mentor in my team, and we have regular catch-ups in which we discuss current progress, and future plans and ways I would like to be more involved in, and she liaises with my Line Manager if anything can be done which is helpful. I haven't had much contact with the HR team since joining, but the initial process of getting me started and making sure all equipment and login details were correct, which they were very good at doing. There are also many various different training sessions offered from people within Unilever to help with certain aspects.

I believe that, for an Apprenticeship the Salary is a very respectable amount, and it is more than enough to cover my costs for the month for work (such as travel, food etc) as well as any bills to pay. It would probably be better to see a larger rise in salary after the halfway point in the Apprenticeship maybe, as the workload continuously increases throughout Apprenticeship scheme, and so you feel as though you are slightly more deserving of more money, but this is definitely not essential.

Within Unilever, the company culture is incredible and the amount of charitable and voluntary initiatives they offer is truly amazing. There are multiple ways in which we are given the chance to help, whether it be volunteering, mentoring, teaching etc. There are also many company events and activities throughout the year in which some are optional and some fundamental to attend. These can be from a large sized event to a small sized (depending on costs and time of year) but no matter what is available, there are always some events and activities for everybody to participate in. They also offer many different things within the building itself! It has a gym, a salon, a staff shop and many more in which the employees can benefit from.

Yes

It is an absolutely amazing company to work for, and a great opportunity to not only gain a very prestigious qualification, but to gain experience for working in such a great company, and to understand the working life. It is also a completely unique company, and also looks great on your CV, even if a full-time job at the end of the Apprenticeship doesn't materialise.

The advice I would give is that even though the application process is quit extent and thorough, it is 100% worth it, as if you and successful in the process, you will work for one of the best and most prestigious companies. The opportunities are endless, and it is just about what each individual makes of it, and whether they take each opportunity they are given. Even if a full-time job at Unilever doesn't materialise at the end, the experience you gain from working for them is incredible, and is more than worth going through everything!