Internship in an international FMCG company?

Can’t seem to find your dream internship in the FMCG industry? So many questions appeared, such as “Is my academic background good enough” or “Do I need to speak a foreign language?” These concerns should not stop you from landing on an amazing internship in FMCG. However, pre-requirements do mess with applicants’ minds but don’t worry. Let me ease your concerns by tearing these pre-requirements apart, as a recruitment intern at Henkel

Your spirit matters!
Of course, you are worried that people might have better academic backgrounds, results, or skills. However, at some companies like Henkel, it does not matter if you are a bachelor or master’s student since the majority of our vacancies require the right (Henkel) spirit. We have several cases, including myself, that a bachelor student stood out from an applicant pool of 120 people. Therefore, to make a recruiter hear your drive plays a pivotal role, this all comes down to your CV and cover letter. Besides, like many companies in the FMCG industry, the Henkel internship program offers a learning environment to students; not a place where students need to be full-on on their first day. Thus, drop your worries on the academic level and start thinking about why you are looking for an internship!

A diverse culture
Another big pre-requirement is language. More and more students are looking for opportunities abroad and languages are their biggest concern. Indeed, regardless of the size and scope of some multinational companies, they still require you to speak a certain language besides English. However, thanks to the diverse culture within Henkel the corporate working language is English and it’s the only language requirement for over 50% of our internship vacancies! Did you know that in our Amsterdam office, we counted 17 different nationalities in our group of 25 interns last year? Thanks to these different nationalities, the atmosphere is perceived as a warm one Henkel family!

Your first valuable experience
Finally, having relevant experiences is one of the biggest concerns when looking for an internship, while the goal of an internship is to actually gain that experience! Isn’t it ironic? At Henkel, we do understand it is difficult to already have the experience, even better, our goal is to give you that first valuable experience, that you can use in your future career path or even withing Henkel! As you may not have any experience as a student it is however even more vital to clearly show your motivation and spirit for both the company and your desired position. So, prepare yourself well with a convincing cv and cover letter!

About Henkel
Henkel operates worldwide with leading innovations, brands and technologies in three business areas: Adhesive Technologies, Beauty Care and Laundry & Home Care. Founded in 1876, Henkel looks back on more than 140 years of success. The company holds leading positions with its three business units in both industrial and consumer businesses thanks to strong brands, innovations and technologies such as Persil, Schwarzkopf and Loctite. Henkel, headquartered in Düsseldorf / Germany, employs more than 52,000 people globally and counts among the most internationally aligned German-based companies in the global marketplace. We want to create value – for our customers and our consumers, for our teams and our people, for our shareholders as well as for the wider society and communities in which we operate. Our vision at Henkel is to be leading with our innovations, brands and technologies. For us, “leading” exceeds the definition of being the number one in terms of market share or size. While strong positions in attractive markets are important, it takes more to be “leading with innovations, brands and technologies."​ It requires leadership in value creation, responsiveness to volatile markets, and changing customer and consumer demands as well as in innovation, quality, service and sustainability.

More than an internship
What Henkel offers is not merely an internship but a life experience and a career path. Fully integrated, highly networked: During an internship, you experience first-hand what it is that distinguishes Henkel employees and makes them successful. You will be integrated into their team from your very first day and will be able to find out what it means to work for an international market leader and to define tomorrow’s market – whether consumer goods or industry. Make use of this opportunity and convince us of your talents and initiative – just like 1,500 other interns worldwide each year.
Can’t wait to see what we have in store for you? Don’t hesitate to check all opportunities here! www.henkel.com/careers/ 

Company Video Henkel

Authors: Hao Huang & Delphine Van Hoorebeke
Source: Henkel Benelux