Customer Account Executive Review

In my role, I am primarily responsible for maintaining strong relationships with retailers to ensure Unilever products are successfully placed in stores. This involves regular communication and collaboration with retail partners to understand their needs and preferences, and to address any issues that may occur. On a day-to-day basis, I work closely with both the supply and brand teams to align on strategies for various products. This includes determining which products to focus on, developing marketing and promotional plans, and ensuring that these strategies are effectively implemented. Additionally, I create detailed analyses of product launches to evaluate their performance and identify areas for improvement. This involves collecting and interpreting data, generating reports, and providing actionable insights to guide future decisions. Throughout all these activities, I remain committed to upholding Unilever's vision and values, while also striving to meet the needs and expectations of our customers. This balance is crucial in driving both customer satisfaction and business success.

Firstly, I have refined my ability to communicate professionally via email. This includes crafting clear, concise, and effective messages, as well as understanding the differences of tone and etiquette in written communication. Additionally, I have gained knowledge in conducting data analysis. This involves collecting, interpreting, and presenting data to support decision-making processes. I have also become confident at maintaining productive conversations in meeting rooms, ensuring that discussions are focused and collaborative. I have developed my skills in creating new data reports and managing databases. These tasks have enhanced my ability to organise and analyse large sets of information, providing valuable insights for the team.

I have enjoyed my programme immensely. Being part of a larger organisation with social teams and working alongside professional and knowledgeable people has been incredibly motivating. It drives me to succeed and excel in my day-to-day job, and it also inspires me to help others. I find great satisfaction in my work, and I come home happy every day.

The programme is well organised and structured. We have a dedicated work team specific function lead who regularly checks in with us to ensure our well-being and progress. The university lectures are again well structured, and Unilever generously provides us with the necessary time off to attend them. Additionally, there is an entire team devoted to focusing on our development and support. Despite the occasional ups and downs, they consistently strive to provide the best possible experience for us. As a result, I feel thoroughly organised and well-understood within this programme.

I receive a great deal of support from my employer. Our line managers are well-trained to understand our learning needs, and they ensure that work-specific training is tailored to us. There is a strong emphasis on not letting anyone struggle alone at work; support is always available whenever needed.

I receive substantial support from my training provider, York St John University. They consistently offer help whenever we reach out, always available for a call or quick to respond to emails. They are very understanding of our situation as apprentices, recognising that we have limited time to complete university work. This level of support makes a significant difference in managing both work and study commitments.

My qualification through York St John University has significantly enhanced my performance in my role. Over the past two years, I have regularly applied my university learnings to my work. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn while working, as it allows me to retain the lecture material more effectively by putting it into practice immediately. This hands-on application has strengthened my abilities and enabled me to perform at a high level.

Yes, there are several extra-curricular activities to get involved in at work which is brillaint! Within my smaller team, we regularly go to Padel courts and play as a team on Wednesday evenings. Each year, there is a charity football tournament where a large number of people participate, either by watching or playing against teams from the UK Unilever business or the Global Unilever business. Additionally, there are smaller extra-curricular teams within work, such as the Sustainability team, which organizes events to promote sustainable practices and more!

Yes

I would highly recommend Unilever to a friend because I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience here. The support I received when I first joined this large organization was exceptional. It has exceeded my expectations and significantly accelerated the start of my career, widening my scope for paths to go down after I finish my degree!

My advice for anyone applying to Unilever is to be yourself and don't be afraid to try! Exploring different options beyond university is brilliant, but it's important to understand that balancing work and learning can be challenging. Show how resilient you are, as Unilever values that quality. Additionally, be honest about your flaws and provide examples of how you have overcome them. This will demonstrate your ability to grow and adapt, which is highly appreciated at Unilever.