We reached out to the current group of Graduates in the P&G Grad Programme from their varying degree disciplines and within different rotations, to ask them some burning questions, as requested by students. Thank you to the P&G Grads for their time and effort. Let’s see what they have to say!

Will

Will
University of Melbourne
Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing & Management)

Can you let us know what company you are working for and which area of the business you work in or which rotation you are currently in?

Procter & Gamble - Sales

What was the first 6 months like? What have you really enjoyed?

My first 6 months at P&G were packed with meeting new people, learning about our different brands and how different functions/levels of the business work together. It has been a steep but very rewarding learning experience.

The most enjoyable part of my role has been working with a bunch of amazing people to shape the market offerings of some of Australia's most trusted and loved brands. Above all, the people, work culture and level of support I received is what makes P&G such a great place to start your career.

Was your position with the P&G Grad Programme as you expected it to be? Did anything take you by surprise?

I was surprised by the amount of leadership and autonomy P&G empowers their Interns and Graduates with from day one. This has allowed me to work on impactful business plans for brands like Vicks, Gillette and Braun which are all staples in Australian households.

More specifically, I was surprised at how a career in Sales allows you to engage an in-depth analysis of the customer and external market to create winning business plans. It is rewarding to see how we can shape customer experiences and the breadth of creativity that can be exercised in our roles.

Everyone is keen on maintaining work/life balance, with that in mind what is the longest day you have put it and have you worked weekends at all?

P&G does not expect long, structured days from employees, just for the work to be done. Therefore, the days that I do choose to work out of business hours is because I enjoy my work and am passionate about it. In return, the company is very accommodating of work-life balance and flexibility of hours, which allows us to prioritise personal commitments and other interests outside of work.

On a day to day basis, what do you work on?

I currently work as an Customer Team Administrator, based in our Melbourne office. I have assisted the eCommerce and Pharmacy teams with periodic and ad-hoc administrative tasks including tracking shipments, online content reviews, briefing artwork promotions and displays, data analytics, visiting stores and working alongside the external field team.

Have you worked on any projects at P&G?

A couple of my main projects have been working on a winter display plan for Vicks across the independent pharmacy channel, supporting a Grooming category reinvention for a leading pharmacy retailer, helping to brief and create artwork/promotions for key shopper events like Father's Day, and building eight P&G brand stores for for our largest eCommerce retailer.

What systems do you use for your role in the graduate programme?

Microsoft Programs - Outlook, Teams, Excel, Word, PowerPoint and OneDrive

What sort of support are you provided at P&G?

General company support typically involves capability trainings to upskill and educate employees. These include equality and mindfulness/wellbeing sessions, and skill trainings across finance, sales and supply chain management.

Support from managers include weekly 1:1 meetings, periodic reviews to assess performance and map employee career goals, team building exercises and blocking off time in our calendars to pause and recharge.

What skills do you think you need to succeed in your role and do they differ from what you envisioned?

The most important skill required is a passion to learn and try new things, pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. This is what helps to grow our business and you professionally as well. Aside from this, teamwork and people skills are instrumental - as are accountability, a willingness to act with autonomy and a growth mindset.

What are the best perks or benefits at P&G?

Perks include rewards and recognition for performance, monthly allowances for our staff shop, free products and allowing for periods to pause, recharge and build relationships with your team/colleagues.