John Mcfarlane, the Director of Customer Operations at Unilever, gave a careers talk to Year 11 and Sixth Form students as part of Farlington’s on-going careers programme. Girls gained valuable insights into working for a FTSE 100 company, Mr Macfarlane’s specific role and practical interview advice.
Mr Mcfarlane described the agile working environment employed by Unilever, as well as the emphasis placed on sustainability and reducing waste through minimising packaging. He illustrated the importance of branding by highlighting the prevalence of unexpected Unilever products in our homes, which range from Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream to Persil Automatic tablets.
The students learnt how Unilever recruits through its graduate programmes as well as the 16 and 18+ Apprenticeships. He also gave the students guidance on the interview process and top tips on how to present themselves well in an interview situation.
“The advice Mr McFarlane gave was very helpful and consisted of dos and don’ts for an interview situation, whether it be a phone, individual or panel interview. Furthermore, we learnt about the key differences between an application form and a CV, and he made it clear what a managing director of a company is looking for. It was a very eye-opening, useful and engaging presentation,” said Chloe Mariani, Lower Sixth.
“Our aim is to provide every girl with the opportunity to explore and prepare for the choices available to her after Farlington,” said Penny Hart, Farlington’s Careers Co-ordinator, who organised the talk. “These include both further study through Higher Education, as well as the exploration of long-term occupations and employment. External speakers, such as Mr McFarlane, provide a real insight into the potential options available to them.”