Guest Blog: Fonterra
Hear all about the experiences and challenges of being a grad in Fonterra's graduate programme!
What attracted you to a career with Fonterra?
The Fonterra Graduate programme was a great mix of work, practical experience and further study and the 2 year structure seemed like a good transition between university and the ‘real world’ of full time work. Fonterra came across as a great company to begin your career with as there are so many different areas to work in once you transition off the graduate programme. Fonterra have teams in a broad range of areas from research and innovation to manufacturing to sales and all things in between.
What is my role now and what does it involve?
I am now a graduate technologist based in the New Zealand Cheese Technical team. This is my final 6 month rotation in the technical graduate programme. I am working on one main project which is based in a Waikato cheese plant. The problem has cost the plant over $1million in the past season and I have been tasked with finding the root cause of the problem. This involves spending time in the plant, sampling, testing, reviewing standards and lots of collaboration with the plant and other teams.
How did I apply?
I used the Fonterra website (Fonterra.com) and the graduate career opportunities page. You create a log in to My Job where you can search and apply for all jobs available. The online application process takes you through a series of questions and areas to submit your CV, grades and cover letter. Once you submit all this you have applied for graduate programme and will be contacted if you make it through to the next round. The entire process of applying takes a few weeks to a month and consists of several rounds like online testing, phone interview, video interview and assessment center.
How is the grad programme structured?
The technical graduate programme (FGTP) is a two year programme in which you will complete a Masters of Dairy Science and Technology with Massey University. It is filled with heaps of different opportunities to meet people and get all sorts of experience within Fonterra. Generally the first year is focused in completing the masters with 3 months of Winter Course at the Research Centre in Palmerston North followed by 16 weeks completing your masters research project in another location.
What I did in my first year?
The graduate programme started with a 3 week induction course in Palmerston North where we got to know our fellow grads and had a crash course in all things Fonterra. After the Christmas and New Year’s break I embarked on what we call the ‘Fontiki’ to learn about the 4 main products Fonterra make. I travelled between different factories in New Zealand working on shift rotation. I spent 2 weeks in a Cheese Plant in Cambridge, and then to Christchurch to work in a powder plant. From Christchurch I travelled to Timaru to spend 2 weeks working in a protein plant. The final factory I visited was Whareroa in Taranaki to learn about cream products. I spent 4 weeks in Taranaki (2 on shift and 2 on a project). The next 3 months were winter course in Palmerston North where I completed the majority of course work towards the Masters. At the end of this I moved to Cambridge to complete my 16 week masters project at a Cheese plant, Lichfield. The end of the research project marks the completion of masters and the first year.
How do you see your role progressing over the next few years?
In November this year my 6 month rotation comes to an end and I transition off the graduate programme. This means applying for full time roles within Fonterra. I expect to remain in cheese moving into a technical role such as regional process technical. A Process technical role allows me to work closely with several different manufacturing plants in a range of areas like plant problem solving every day issues to project work.
What advice would you give to students applying for jobs now?
Make sure your CV is up to date, succinct and stands out from the crowd. Your CV is the first impression you give to an employer and they may see hundreds when recruiting for a role. Be prepared for interviews with examples of things like team work. Project work, achieving goals and overcoming road blocks. Questions about these always come up when applying for jobs and it is good to be consistent in your answers.