Emma Gault

Where did you grow up? Can you tell us about your education and any work experience?

I grew up in Port Fairy, a small country town by the coast of Victoria. After finishing high school I moved to Melbourne to start my university studies. I didn’t have a specific idea of what I wanted to study at first so I chose a general science degree and followed my interests, which eventually led me to complete my masters in chemical engineering. I went on exchange to the Netherlands during my degree to carry out a six-month research project, which was definitely the highlight of my time at university. I gained work experience by completing an internship at GlaxoSmithKline and later at Carlton & United Breweries (CUB).

How did you get to your current job position? For how long have you had it? 

I applied for the Carlton & United Breweries internship program during my penultimate year of study. The internship consisted of a short 12-week project carried out over the summer. Through this program I got to meet lots of people in the company and conversely, they also got to know me. At the end of my internship I was invited to apply for the graduate program and was accepted into the Supply Management Trainee (SMT) program. The program involves rotations around the Supply and Logistics departments of the business. I’ve been in this role since February 2019, so only about four months.

How did you choose your specialisation? Were you weighing up any other alternatives before choosing this specialisation?

I applied for many internships during my penultimate year as I knew how important it was to gain industry experience before applying for a graduate role. What really attracted me to CUB was the people who work there and the fast-paced nature of an FMCG company.

What was your interview process like? What kind of questions were you asked?

The interview process for my internship at CUB was very long. It consisted of online assessments, an individual case study, individual interview and functional interview. After the internship I had a panel interview with all of the company executives. The questions ranged from behavioural-based questions to problem-solving exercises. 

What does your employer do?

Carlton & United Breweries is one of the largest beer and cider manufacturers in the country and is owned by the large multinational parent company AB InBev.

What are your areas of responsibility?

My role is part of a rotational program where I get to see all sides of the supply and logistics functions. The year is all about learning how the business works through a combination of shadowing and project work.

Can you describe a typical work day? What was the last thing you worked on?

There isn’t really a typical work day for me as I’m learning something new every day! At the moment I’m in Logistics in the Demand Planning team, so I’m learning all about demand forecasting. This is crucial to knowing how much and what types of beers we need to produce and where to produce it.

What are the career prospects with your job? Where could you or others in your position go from here? 

The Supply Management Trainee program is set up as a talent pipeline within the business, so the idea is that people who complete this program will become senior managers within Supply. I’ve only just started in the company so it’s a bit early for me to start thinking of what’s next, but generally people who graduate from the program go into a team leader position as their first role.

What would your career be if you weren’t doing what you’re doing now? 

Who knows? I think I’ve just been lucky with the opportunities that have come my way. I think at such an early stage of my career the main goal for me is to gain work experience and discover areas that interest me. 

What do you love most about your job? Which task do you enjoy the most? 

I really like the people and the work environment at CUB. The company is very fast paced and there are a lot of young people like me, which makes work really fun. Also, the free beers are a nice perk.

Do you bear a lot of responsibility? Do you have to work on weekends? Are the stress levels high?

Not really! It’s been quite easy so far but I think that’s because I’m still quite new. I will need to complete a large project at the end of the year so that might get a bit stressful.

Which three pieces of advice would you give to a current university student?

• Know what interests you and also what doesn’t. It will help you to narrow your job focus and create more quality applications.
• Networking can be painful but it’s essential. Make sure after you’ve been to a networking event that you add people you meet on LinkedIn and follow up with them. You’d be surprised at how many people are willing to help you out in your career.
• It’s not all about grades. Good marks are important, but not so important that you should sacrifice other things you enjoy. A lot of employees aren’t always looking for the most studious students; they are looking for well rounded people who also have interests beyond their university studies.