Product Development - R&D Admin Assoc Review
at PepsiCo
Placement (10 Months+)
Research, Science, Product Design
Leicester
Review Submitted: July 2023
Overall Rating
4.8 /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!
3/5
-
Overview of Role
5/5
-
Skills Development
5/5
-
Support and Guidance
4.8/5
-
Company Culture
5/5
-
Overall Experience
5/5
-
Future Career Prospects
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis.
Researching future trends in the food industry, food science/manufacturing processes and technology
Working on a range of different projects, Communicating with a range of team members in meetings and via email/instant message
Organising and executing different protocepts/prototypes in test kitchens and pilot plant
Communicating with different external research hubs on trials and results, Interpreting results from trials
Facilitating and particiapting in meetings with team or different teams about early stage product development
Working on a range of different projects, Communicating with a range of team members in meetings and via email/instant message
Organising and executing different protocepts/prototypes in test kitchens and pilot plant
Communicating with different external research hubs on trials and results, Interpreting results from trials
Facilitating and particiapting in meetings with team or different teams about early stage product development
Were you given much responsibility during your placement / internship?
Yes, I was given plenty of responsibility in both my team projects and wider community projects
At the beginning of my placement year, while I was adjusting to the company I had more task based work (e.g. carrying out small pieces of work for other people), I still had a autonomy while doing this, then as the year progressed and I was more comfortable and more knowledgable I began to lead projects myself/be a more active member of team projects
At the beginning of my placement year, while I was adjusting to the company I had more task based work (e.g. carrying out small pieces of work for other people), I still had a autonomy while doing this, then as the year progressed and I was more comfortable and more knowledgable I began to lead projects myself/be a more active member of team projects
Please rate how meaningful the work you were doing was
3/5
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills, or developed your existing skills?
Applied technical knowledge from degree in various projects/settings, as well as gaining new knowledge about more pepsico specific food science processes
Improved communication skills and confidence in communicating (Meetings, presentations, informal conversations)
Improved time management and organisation (Setting up meetings, trials, managing a busy schedule) by time blocking
Gained insight into early stage product development, as well as getting an overview of different business functions with PepsiCo
Practiced/Improved scientific report writing and creative writing skills (Newsletters)
Improved communication skills and confidence in communicating (Meetings, presentations, informal conversations)
Improved time management and organisation (Setting up meetings, trials, managing a busy schedule) by time blocking
Gained insight into early stage product development, as well as getting an overview of different business functions with PepsiCo
Practiced/Improved scientific report writing and creative writing skills (Newsletters)
How would you rate the training provided during your experience?
5/5
How would you rate your development of industry-specific skills during the experience?
5/5
How would you rate your development of personal / soft skills during the experience?
5/5
Please rate how these skills have helped you in your career development
5/5
Support and Guidance
How much support and guidance did you receive during your placement / internship?
I recevied support and guidance throughout my placement from various different sources. My manager was very supportive during onboarding and the rest of the year to ensure I feel comfortable in the office, in relation to projects/tasks as well as socially with other colleagues. My manager always encouraged me to network and explore different opportunities outside of my team's work. Aside from my manager, the First Gen team scheduled different check ins through out my placement year where I was able to feed back anything I was unsure of. I also had a buddy at the start of the year to help me onboard properly and then a mentor who I was able to speak about career development to.
How would you rate the support and guidance from your line manager?
5/5
How would you rate the support and guidance from the wider team?
5/5
Company Culture
What was the company culture and general atmosphere like?
Very friendly, relaxed office environment at [This section of the comment has been removed by a member of the Higherin Team because it did not meet our site terms and conditions].
As an student/employee you can join a variety of community pillars to benefit the office, employees and surrounding community. I had the chance to work on projects in the Diversity and Inclusion team outside of my day-to-day role.
There is a very open office and hot desk policy which gives you the chance to interact with colleagues of all levels. Everyone is very willing to support and guide students and other employees.
As an student/employee you can join a variety of community pillars to benefit the office, employees and surrounding community. I had the chance to work on projects in the Diversity and Inclusion team outside of my day-to-day role.
There is a very open office and hot desk policy which gives you the chance to interact with colleagues of all levels. Everyone is very willing to support and guide students and other employees.
How would you rate the inclusiveness of the culture?
5/5
How would you rate the social opportunities?
5/5
How would you rate the diversity initiatives?
5/5
How would you rate the charity, sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives?
4/5
Overall Experience
To what extent did you enjoy your placement / internship?
I've really enjoyed my placement year. I have had the opportunity to develop both technical knowledge, related to my degree, and professionally. Being able to learn and improve soft skills has given me the chance to develop my confience significantly. I now feel more confident in every aspect of my work. I have experienced a variety of different functions within PepsiCo, which has given me a great foundation to understand how product development happens in the food industry. The placement scheme offers the chance to work alongisde other placement students, which provides social opportunities.
Please rate your level of enjoyment on your placement / internship
5/5
Please rate how your experience met your expectations
5/5
Future Career Prospects
Please rate the future employment prospects at PepsiCo
5/5
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend PepsiCo to a friend?
Yes
What advice would you give to others applying to PepsiCo
- Don't be afraid to reach out and ask questions to hiring team about the role
In a group exercise situation
• Be confident, offer up your ideas and give reasoning for them (e.g. I would put … first because it would have multiple uses, such as … and ….).
• Ensure the team is kept on track and is able to finish within the given time
• Listen well and understand other people's contributions
• If someone in the group isn't as confident/willing to speak unprompted, make sure you're including them in the exercise (e.g. (name) what's your opinion on this?)
In a business case scenario:
- Prepare well once you've recevied an offer for assessment centre
• Make sure you're confident in your idea and you've researched it properly (e.g. have stats/costs etc. to reinforce what you're saying)
• Make sure you've considered all the points in the brief
• When it comes to the questioning, take your time when answering and if you don't know the answer, try to give a logical walk through of how you might solve it
• Keeppresentation slides visual with diagrams/small bullet points to prompt
In a group exercise situation
• Be confident, offer up your ideas and give reasoning for them (e.g. I would put … first because it would have multiple uses, such as … and ….).
• Ensure the team is kept on track and is able to finish within the given time
• Listen well and understand other people's contributions
• If someone in the group isn't as confident/willing to speak unprompted, make sure you're including them in the exercise (e.g. (name) what's your opinion on this?)
In a business case scenario:
- Prepare well once you've recevied an offer for assessment centre
• Make sure you're confident in your idea and you've researched it properly (e.g. have stats/costs etc. to reinforce what you're saying)
• Make sure you've considered all the points in the brief
• When it comes to the questioning, take your time when answering and if you don't know the answer, try to give a logical walk through of how you might solve it
• Keeppresentation slides visual with diagrams/small bullet points to prompt
