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Markus Grimm works for the Business Standardisation Programme in headquarters. He was a Graduate from 2007-2008.
When Marcus first applied to join the Carlsberg Graduate Scheme in Switzerland, he was turned down due to lack of experience. But he didn’t give up and joined Feldschlossen as a junior marketing controller instead. Three years later, he got his wish.
"The opportunity to work internationally was the main factor in joining Carlsberg, so I was delighted when I was offered a place," he says.
Markus spent his overseas year in Carlsberg HQ in Denmark, working first in group treasury then in finance controlling. "It was very different to the work I had done before, so it was great experience," he says. "And having only seen finance in a subsidiary, it was really interesting to see things from a group perspective."
Network of contacts
Markus finished the programme in December 2008 and became the Swiss ‘local expert’ on the business standardisation project. From the many benefits he believes the scheme will have for his future career, he cites his network of contacts as one of the most important.
"Working in HQ, I got to know all the main people in the group, as well as all my fellow graduates. Now, if I have an issue, I can call up my colleagues in other countries and find out how they deal with it there.
"Understanding how to work with different kinds of people and different countries was probably my biggest learning experience – and, from a personal perspective, it was great to try living and working in another culture."
Take the initiative
To get the most out of the programme, Markus says you need to be positive, flexible, open-minded – and to take your chances. "You get a lot of support from the group, but in the end you are responsible for your own development. Don’t just wait for things to happen – take the initiative and everything is possible."
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