BEFORE MONDELEZ | portfolio

Selecting A Company How did I find it?

Selecting A Company

How did I find it?

It started with the pursue of an SME that would allow me to have a hands-on experience of what the world of employment is really like. The rumors from interns in big company frighten me with the idea of repetitive minimal work that would only contribute to the company at a small portion. However, seeking advice is always good for choosing a career path.

The normal breakfast chit-chats became an opportunity of gathering information. I receive advices from friends who have done their internship and was more senior to embark on a more established company. The reason was that a more establish company will open more doors for you in the future. With a strong company as part of your working experience, your resume will be more appealing to future employers that rely on first impression to select the best among the best.

Next, I also turned to my sisters who are now working adults earning a stable income for a living. I asked bluntly to what kind of company I should undergo my internship with. The same answer presented itself to me again. However, my sisters said that those photocopied documents might be the key to in learning where it depends on how you think about it. From there, it led me to think about the possibility of holding a confidential company document that is only made available to employees and I may have the opportunity to suggest my ideas based on the documents.

Well, in the end it was a gamble which I chose to go with the safer choice – a well establish company.

Skimming through the list of companies under the University placement program for internship, I realize I only knew a few based on their brand name. I started to research about the companies that caught my eyes in that list. Companies like L’Oreal, Leo Burnett, Mondelez, Dutch Lady, Volvo, and many more.

My criterias for selecting a company was as below:

Well- establish international company
Public transport access
Relatively good allowance

The company profile must appeal to me as a multinational company that is establish in Malaysia but in other foreign countries as well. Due to my rental contract is set in stone for 3 years, chosen companies that are accessible by public transportation that are accessible to PJS 7, Bandar Sunway. On top of that, these routes must not exceed 1 switch between transports. Based on the market allowance for interns, my requirement was to not be below RM650 as it would not be worth to pursue an internship that could not cover my daily expenses.

Undergoing the University placement by the Career Service Centre, I was required to provide my top three choices. Not knowing which the best is, I casually ask for advice from my career counselor, Chris. After reviewing my CV for improvement, he suggested that I go all out and apply for L’Oreal (the largest beauty company in the world). Was taken aback, flattered at the same time by the suggestion and confidence he had in me. I slept on this decision, later cam e to a conclusion that I have nothing to lose with any company. Why not right?

The second would also be a tough one as I was not sure of what should I take up. Remembering the food and beverage industry is always relatable to all walks of life, why not apply for a company that is under that industry. Thus, I went with Mondelez as it caught my eye in the list of companies. I did not know that it was actually Kraft Food that had a re-branding in 2012 until I did my research.

Last but not least was Dutch Lady. My last choice was a bounce between three different companies: Volvo, Unilever and Dutch Lady. Volvo, with its prestige brand name and establish international background, definitely attracted me. Unilever is also another powerhouse in the consumer goods industry. The covers a wide range of products from shampoos to snacks. Dutch Lady was however not a name that appeal to me. However, under its feminine brand image, this major player in the dairy industry dominates the Malaysian market as well as being a sub-division of its Netherland counterpart. In the end, a internship talk from one of the managers of Dutch Lady, sway me over with his experience that convince me that there is great opportunity for me to grow.

In the end, I went with L’Oreal, Mondelez and Dutch Lady as my top three choices.

Workshop & Training

How did I prep for the job?

Preparing a change in one’s life is undoubtedly crucial. The transition into the real working world should be properly engage to equip one with the knowledge to tackle certain basic situations.

The great thing about Taylor’s is that the workshops and trainings that are placed for students to face their internship is amazing. A first round of workshop included “Interview Skills: Get Hired!” by L’Oreal, “Effective Cover Letters & Resume” by Saville Consulting, “Professional Image & Executive Presence” by Samsung and “Internship 101” by CSC. The lineup of great session was not only informative but engaging to ensure that we students understand how to prepare for our first job.

For L’Oreal’s session, I volunteered to publicly undergo a mock interview and was given constructive feedbacks on how to improve even further. Saville Consulting’s session helped me understand how to make a first impression through my CV. Employers have a stack of resume to evaluate over a short amount of time where attracting the attention of employers to see the right things is crucial to landing a first interview. Employment requires a degree of professionalism to every task goes smoothly, with Samsung session I learned of what it takes to gauge the company’s attention. Rounding up the first series was a short briefing from CSC on what should be done next.

Dutch Lady: Career Management & Experience Sharing

Unilever: Professional Working Ethics & Ethiquette

L'Oreal: Intercultural Communication

Setting Expectations/Goals

What do I want out of the job?

Setting expectations and goals are like finding the first book that suits you. You will never know what to expect until you finish reading the book. The word ‘expectations’ never seems to go along with me. I never like the idea of expecting something that I have never tried or know so little about. Promises and words can be ideal at first but the real thing might not be the exact impression you had in mind. I resonate deeply with this quote from Bruce Lee, “I'm not in this world to live up to your expectations and you're not in this world to live up to mine.” Therefore, I left my expectations wide open to accept anything that comes my way.

However, goals are different from expectations. Goals are something that you want to achieve or gain by the end of working hard for something. My goals are simple and change is allowed.

To understand the marketing practice at a hands-on proximity that allows in-depth comprehension.
To figure out my future career path through immersing myself in the corporate lifestyle of working adults.
To develop my final year project topic through a better perception of marketing as a practice.
To gain valuable real life working experience that allows me to apply in my future endeavors.
To challenge my limits and identify my flaws for self-improvement.

These goals can be seen as a general idea or a based line for what I would like to accomplish during my internship period.