P&G run an interactive session for undergraduate students
Proctor and Gamble employees delivered a talk to current undergraduate students explaining how IT has impacted the fast moving consumer goods industry.
Olivia Fell, an Economics and Maths graduate from the University of Liverpool, delivered the session with her colleague Josh Anderson. They are both employed by P&G in their Newcastle office working as IT project managers, looking after a team of people from across the world.
Olivia said: “It is a vibrant working environment made up of sixteen nationalities with graduates and interns coming in all the time. Working with people from different countries is a really exciting opportunity. The UK especially is a hub for regional activity.”
The session was part of ULMS Extra and looked at how IT and technology is taking over the industry and changing how P&G operate in terms of distribution, engaging with consumers and defining main competitors. As with many other companies, P&G are increasingly using social media and online distributers as well as traditional outlets.
They also advised current students on how they can enter into this exciting and fast-paced industry, emphasising that a background in IT is not always essential as long as they can demonstrate leadership quality and a passion and drive to move the business forward.
The IT department within the company is varied, offering a range of roles including Business Analysts and Project Managers. Josh said: “Our department combines business, technology and innovation. We work across different areas of the business in order to drive value.”
“You get to experience a number of roles which gives you a broad range of knowledge. By the time you reach the senior positions you have experience in different areas which makes you a well-rounded professional.”