I studied the Bachelor of Retail and Business Management (BRBM) at Massey University. When choosing what to do post-school I knew I wanted to set myself up for my future and contribute to my family’s business, and studying business, and retail more specifically, was my way of doing so.

I spent just over two months with Diplomat over the summer after completing my degree. During my time with Diplomat I assisted the Trade Marketing Manager as well as Category Managers and Key Account Managers in both grocery and pharmacy channels which gave me great exposure to the different facets of FMCG. As well as this I got to spend time in-store and on the road with Merchandisers and Area Sales Managers which helped me connect the dots between what we did in the offices and how those decisions affected the shop floor. You hear about internships all through university – that they’re a great way to gain experience and get a taste of the workforce whilst adding value to your CV – so not really knowing what to expect, I signed up and definitely don’t regret it.

In terms of technical skills, I gained experience with Excel, Aztec IRI, and general reporting. Each of these have been valuable in the permanent role I took in the FMCG industry following the internship.

The training sessions were what made this internship stand out from other internships for me. As well as being informative and inspiring, being a part of the programme gave us opportunities to network and connect with other students from various universities and interning at different companies who were also interested in the industry. Overall this meant we each got to get a unique insight into the industry, both through the eyes of the programme coordinators and guest speakers, and also through the eyes of fellow interns as we shared experiences and stories throughout our placements. The Big Ben pie factory tour was a definite highlight!

You may not even know what FMCG stands for… Just think: big brands, big opportunity, big impact, and you’re getting there. Give FMCG a go by getting involved in the internship programme – not one of the interns in our group regretted it and I can guarantee you won’t either.

And to the organisations considering getting an FMCG Futures intern on board… By supporting this programme you are supporting the entire industry through being a part of the movement to educate the next generation of the epic opportunities available within this genuinely exciting industry. Many of my fellow interns who had little knowledge of FMCG before the internship are now keen to continue in the industry after they graduate – how cool is that? So be a part of supporting the future of FMCG in NZ and abroad, and get involved!