HR apprentice Review
at Mondelez
Degree Apprenticeship
Business Operations
Birmingham
Review Submitted: May 2021
Overall Rating
4.4 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
3.8/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
5/5
As an HR apprentice I work in rotational placements in different areas of HR across the 3 year apprenticeship.
1. Early Careers - support the Early Careers manager with the recruitment campaigns for Interns, graduates and apprentices. This included organizing and attending careers fairs, facilitating assessment centres, as well as screening CVs, telephone interviews and conversations over email to answer questions from candidates
2. Employee Relations - working as an ER advisor, I did a lot of note taking to start, then supported line managers on cases such as Performance and absence management, as well as disciplinary processes.
3. Bournville Manufacturing HR - working as an HR advisor in the plant, tasked with managing absence and working with Line leads to help them manage the absence of their subordinates. Also help and support with the communication agenda across the plant e.g. quarterly newsletter.
4. Sales HR - working as HR advisor in the sales function, supporting the HR manager of sales with the operational aspects but also focusing on more strategic elements such as succession planning etc.
1. Early Careers - support the Early Careers manager with the recruitment campaigns for Interns, graduates and apprentices. This included organizing and attending careers fairs, facilitating assessment centres, as well as screening CVs, telephone interviews and conversations over email to answer questions from candidates
2. Employee Relations - working as an ER advisor, I did a lot of note taking to start, then supported line managers on cases such as Performance and absence management, as well as disciplinary processes.
3. Bournville Manufacturing HR - working as an HR advisor in the plant, tasked with managing absence and working with Line leads to help them manage the absence of their subordinates. Also help and support with the communication agenda across the plant e.g. quarterly newsletter.
4. Sales HR - working as HR advisor in the sales function, supporting the HR manager of sales with the operational aspects but also focusing on more strategic elements such as succession planning etc.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
All in all, I have loved my program so far...
The best part for me about the program is that at work we are treated like any other employee, we are given huge responsibility from day 1. I feel like I have been able to make a positive impact.
University - The best part for me about a degree apprenticeship vs a normal degree is that in almost all of my assignments I can write about either what the business does or about what I am doing specifically in the roles that I have had. This has brought the assignments and modules we are studying to life, and been an opportunity to see the theory in practice. I think I would not have understood the theory half as well if I had not been able to see it in the work I am doing as well.
The best part for me about the program is that at work we are treated like any other employee, we are given huge responsibility from day 1. I feel like I have been able to make a positive impact.
University - The best part for me about a degree apprenticeship vs a normal degree is that in almost all of my assignments I can write about either what the business does or about what I am doing specifically in the roles that I have had. This has brought the assignments and modules we are studying to life, and been an opportunity to see the theory in practice. I think I would not have understood the theory half as well if I had not been able to see it in the work I am doing as well.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I have learnt and developed an extensive list of skills since joining mondelez.
To name but a few:
Difficult conversations e.g. problems regarding performance, low attendance, disciplinary proceedings - how to word things, how to approach the situation, removing personal emotions from situations, remaining unbias.
Unconscious bias training - exercise that makes you aware of your unconscious biases and helps you to address them.
Mental Health First Aider - certified from Mental health england
Others:
Stakeholder management, business partnering, formal letter writing, excel skills, presentation skills, talking in front of people, organization skills, prioritization skills etc.
To name but a few:
Difficult conversations e.g. problems regarding performance, low attendance, disciplinary proceedings - how to word things, how to approach the situation, removing personal emotions from situations, remaining unbias.
Unconscious bias training - exercise that makes you aware of your unconscious biases and helps you to address them.
Mental Health First Aider - certified from Mental health england
Others:
Stakeholder management, business partnering, formal letter writing, excel skills, presentation skills, talking in front of people, organization skills, prioritization skills etc.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
I think that the program has been well structured and organised.
I have the opportunity to do 4 roles across the HR function.
I have 1 day a week off work for studying.
I am assigned a mentor/buddy who I meet regularly with over the 3 years.
My transition between roles has also been very smooth.
My mentor or boss at the time are keen to support with my assignments and I often discuss ideas with them.
I have the opportunity to do 4 roles across the HR function.
I have 1 day a week off work for studying.
I am assigned a mentor/buddy who I meet regularly with over the 3 years.
My transition between roles has also been very smooth.
My mentor or boss at the time are keen to support with my assignments and I often discuss ideas with them.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
I receive a good level of support from Mondelez, I have regular 121s with my managers to discuss how I am getting on professionally and personally. I also have meetings dedicated to development where we identify the experiences I want to get when in role and identify those that I Have been unable to get so that I can focus on them in my next role.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
Sufficient support is provided, we are supplied with a skills coach that works with us to complete out portfolio and reviews the pieces of evidence that we submit. The lecturers are usually good at responding to queries and questions via email and are available during certain hours to book time to meet with them 121.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
It has definitely helped me to perform better. In some modules there are very practical skills and techniques that we have learnt that have helped me enormously such as operations and product management modules. Also the HR modules that have focused on personal development have shown me useful techniques for self evaluation and helped me to identify areas that need improving.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
1/5
I think if my apprenticeship hadn't have been interrupted by a global pandemic then there would have been more opportunities to do things outside of work. I have met up occasionally with some of the other apprentices after on campus days for Uni. But there has been no other real opportunities to do things outside of work.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Mondelez to a friend?
Yes
Why?
My experience at Mondelez so far has been brilliant. I have enjoyed all the roles that I have done and been given huge responsibility from the get go. There's a whole host of different sub teams, groups etc to get involved in. The support from managers has been brilliant and I have met some great like minded people.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Mondelez?
Make your application a reflection of yourself, don't try too hard to make yourself the candidate you think Mondelez wants, they want to see the authentic you come through in your application and at interview.
When talking about why you are interested in Mondelez, dont just talk about the articles you have read online, but try to explain why that particular thing gained your interest or why you are passionate about that.
When talking about why you are interested in Mondelez, dont just talk about the articles you have read online, but try to explain why that particular thing gained your interest or why you are passionate about that.
