From process engineers and project managers to in-house lawyers and biochemists, the retail, sales, and consumer goods industry hire students from a wide range of disciplines into an equally wide range of positions. This variety is reflected in the results of the 2019 GradAustralia Top 100 Graduate Employers survey, which features nine businesses from the retail, sales, and consumer goods industry.
Topping the list in this category is the french multinational cosmetics company L'Oréal, which secured the 25th spot. It’s followed by food and drink company Nestlé (35); consumer goods company Unilever (38); supermarket, retail and consumer services chain Coles (40); and fast-moving consumer goods giant Coca-Cola Amatil (44).
Former students who now work in graduate positions at the above companies have given them positive reviews for a variety of reasons. For example, one graduate at L'Oréal has praised the company’s diversity, ‘In my time so far at L’Oreal I have learned that diversity in skills, knowledge and abilities is key for a company that has such a large number of products that play across many international markets,’ he says.
Graduates are also drawn to the familiarity of the brands with which they’ll be closely associated. ‘I love working with products that I grew up with,’ says a graduate at Nestlé. ‘In the short time I have been here, I have really enjoyed seeing the brand evolve.’
Finally, graduates get a kick out of working for companies that have a broad international reach. A finance graduate at Unilever, says, ‘The coolest thing about my job is that you know what you do touches so many people around you. It is energising working for a company where you can see their products everywhere you go – be it in supermarkets, on billboards or at the zoo.’
‘The retail, sales, and consumer goods industry offer students an unparalleled opportunity to reach people inside homes and throughout daily life,’ says Geoff Adams, co-founder of GradAustralia. ‘The knowledge that even as an entry-level employee, you can contribute to the vision of a company with truly global reach is something that we expect will keep graduates excited about this industry for many years to come.’
The definitive list of the Top 100 Graduate Employers can be found on the GradAustralia website. 50,000 books were distributed to university students around Australia – the Top 100 Guide includes 400 pages of comprehensive employer profiles, sector information, insider tips on how to get hired as well as real-life stories from graduates on the job.