James, Sales & Marketing
Graduate Trainee,

1. What's your background? What subjects did you study, and where?

I've always wanted to work in an international business and so Ichose to study International Business and French at Warwick businessschool. The course meant I got to spend a year working on a placement inMontreal and see what working in another market is really like – Iloved it! And on graduation I knew that I wanted a career with a companywhere overseas work was part and parcel of their make-up.

2. Can you give us a quick snapshot of your career so far?

I am nine months into Reckitt Benckiser's graduate scheme. Yearone is spent gaining marketing experience and that's exactly what I'mdoing. As part of the surface care team, I fall into the Harpicmarketing team - but I also get to lead on a number of smaller brands onmy own.

I have led large projects on Harpic and, as the UK is the leadmarket for this brand, it's been a fantastic opportunity at such anearly level. I have also been lucky enough to lead my own projects on mysmaller soldier brands and by the end of my year will have launched twonew products into the UK market. I really feel that I have an importantrole to play in my team and for the company, and this earlyresponsibility makes my job very exciting!

3. What do you think is the single thing that has driven yourcareer? What made you choose your professional specialism, and what madeyou choose FMCG?

For me, FMCG offered a great variety of work. With so manybrands to look after, it's clearly a fast paced environment where thingshave to happen quickly – and that fits in with my desire to make thingshappen. I was clear that I wanted to move around with my job, withinthe same company – rather than have to find another job to gain theexperience. I know I will get that here at Reckitt Benckiser. Theopportunity to work overseas is very real and that excites me.

4. What do you love about working in FMCG?

I've already been able to put my print on projects. I've beengiven the freedom to learn on the job and find my feet. I've been ableto implement my own ideas – and yes, I've made some mistakes but that'show I'll learn to do things differently next time. The philosophy atReckitt Benckiser is simple: work hard, prove yourself, do well andyou'll be rewarded. It's not the kind of environment where you've gottime to reflect and review. It's fast and furious but this means theopportunity for me to progress will be swift too.

5. What opportunities have you had in terms of career progression and achievement?

Well, it's still early days for me, but nine months in and I'vealready been able to see the outputs from some of my projects on thesupermarket shelves! I know that here at Reckitt Benckiser, I will bethe one who's in control of my career and if I want something, it's upto me to make it happen. Things here are less structured and lessbureaucratic than on other graduate schemes but I'm enjoying working ontangible, visible projects where I can already see results – that'squite an achievement in itself.

6. What one thing do you think FMCG has given you (in terms of you career) that you wouldn't have had in a different sector?

I'm enjoying the flexibility of being able to work on differentprojects and the variety of work that's available. Through this I'mgaining a solid grounding in playing a role in a large team and alsotaking the lead on smaller projects. The best way to learn in thissector is through actually doing the job, so for me a structuredtraining programme just wouldn't enable me to see results at the speedI'm able to in FMCG.

7. How fast has your career moved? Do you think it's easy to progress quickly and easily in your field?

I cannot believe how quickly I've been able to get stuck in andmake a difference. I'm just about to launch my second new product since Ijoined Reckitt Benckiser and I'm pretty sure that just wouldn't bepossible in any other kind of business. The exciting thing for me isthat if I'm doing this now – who knows what I'll be doing in anotheryear – or even five years time. It's great to be able to set ambitioustargets and know that it's well within my power to achieve them. My fiveyear goal is to hold a senior position in one of Reckitt Benckiser'ssmaller regional offices – South America perhaps, so I can use mylanguages. Where else would that be within the realms of possibility?

8. What kind of person do you think will succeed in the FMCG industry? Do you think being driven and ambitious is important?

You have to be creative and insightful... and very hardworking!It's also quite a challenging place to work, so pretty quickly you'vegot to be able to listen to constructive criticism and learn from it.You've got to be confident in your own abilities and brave enough totake your ideas forward. I don't think it's the right environment forpeople who seek affirmation all the time – you've really got to have thestrength of character to want to stride out on your own and showeveryone what you're capable of.

9. What do you see as the biggest challenge facing FMCG in the future – for your business area and for FMCG as a whole?

I see FMCG as a pretty stable sector at the moment. Its size andflexibility means that it's set up to respond to changing consumerdemands and can evolve what it offers to meet the market and satisfydemand. For marketing, it's quite a challenge coming up with new andexciting ideas all the time – being original and knowing enough aboutyour target consumers to understand exactly what makes them tick. Ithink for FMCG on the whole, consumers are more conscious about pricethan they have been previously so it's important that what we give themadds value to their lives without costing the earth.

10. What single thing would you say to persuade someone to consider a career in FMCG?

I would say that this is the place to be if you like to makethings happen and make a difference early on in your career. From dayone, the graduate scheme gives you a real job with real responsibilitiesand you can really see yourself in what you're doing. The sky is thelimit with regards to your career progression and if you've got theideas and the ability, you're given the freedom to do things your ownway.

11. What do you think that you've gained from your career in FMCG that your peers who went to work in other industries haven't?

I know that Reckitt Benckiser really does give you the freedomto pursue your ideas and execute them. Their on the job trainingphilosophy means you quickly develop the skills you had and learn newones too – and you're surrounded by like-minded ambitious, creativepeople so there really is a feeling that 'anything's possible'. I knowthat Reckitt Benckiser is really careful about picking the right peoplewho will thrive in this fast- paced environment, and that's importantbecause I'm sure it wouldn't suit everyone. Personally, I can't singtheir praises high enough. There's no other company I'd rather work forand I'm looking forward to the years ahead.

If you are interested in finding out more about a career at Reckitt Benckiser, please visit their website or read their employee blogs.