Meet Hazeera, Management Trainee at the hottest FMCG company in town!

Whether you realise it or not, Nestlé Malaysia is everywhere in our homes – your morning cup of Nescafé, your late-night Maggi, and that perfect Kit Kat break. What you should also know is that Nestlé is also Malaysia’s most preferred FMCG employer offering fresh graduates a host of career opportunities even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For example, the Nestlé Virtual Internship (read all about it here), and the flagship young talent development programme, the Nestlé Management Trainee Programme, a two-year programme providing Management Trainees (MTs) with immersive learning experiences to equip themselves with a holistic view of the business as well as the inter-relationships between different functions across the value chain. On top of the guaranteed career growth from working in a performance-driven culture, MTs also have a chance for overseas job attachments, exciting reward packages, and leadership training and coaching from the industry’s best!

We check in with Hazeera Norhisham, Graduate of the University of Warwick and MT in Marketing from the programme to learn why you should be part of it.

How did you become an MT with Nestlé?
I landed this opportunity from the GRADUAN-UKEC Malaysian Career Fair in 2019. Hence, GRADUAN will always have a special place in my heart for helping me kickstart my career. I chose Nestlé because of how well the Management Trainee Programme is structured to support a fresh graduate’s career development.

I appreciate the steep learning curve as it allows me to stretch my capabilities and go beyond my comfort zone. Trainees are rotated to different areas within the function, and that promotes fast learning and adaptability. So far, it has been an amazing journey and with all the support and resources available, I can see myself growing tremendously!

How do you stay motivated?
I strongly believe in the power of affirmation. It has become a source of strength consistently telling myself things like “I can do this” when in times of trouble.

Having a positive mindset will go a long way because it shapes how I perceive things which in turn influences my response to a situation. Instead of looking at challenging tasks as a nuisance, we can look at it as a learning opportunity to become better and grow faster. While it is important to always believe in ourselves, we also need to acknowledge that there is so much to learn from others, to be well receptive, and open towards other views and advice.

What are some of your proudest career accomplishments?
One of my first accomplishments was during my rotation at Maggi where I designed a free gift that is now used as part of promotions in trade nationwide. Another accomplishment was when I was given the responsibility to oversee a campaign launch on the new Nescafé Dolce Gusto Genio S coffee machines. This was an exciting part of my career as I got to manage the end-to-end process of launching a new product. Seeing my hard work displayed on the shelf gives me a thrilling sensation and makes me feel proud of what I do!

What is the best career advice you’ve received?
The importance of having a mentor. Luckily, this programme assigns coaches for each trainee. The first is responsible for your development throughout the programme and the second is a functional coach assigned in every rotation to help you learn in depth the day-to-day tasks.

What advice would you give aspiring leaders?
I was in the same position as many fresh graduates two years ago and can relate to the job hunt! I urge graduates to understand that this journey might be confusing but fret not, it will all be worth it in the end when you get your dream job! Understand your career aspirations and find a company that provides the best opportunity in line with those aspirations. It’s OK to stumble but make sure to give your very best every single time.

Keen to follow in the footsteps of Hazeera and many other successful people at Nestlé? Watch this space when applications open this May!