Working for Nestle

[Flame Of Liberty]

So I applied for a position in Nestle (Brand manager) and got myself an interview for tomorrow. Since the CP universe is vast, I was wondering if anyone is/has been working for Nestle. I realize that conditions differ from country to country, but any kind of info/tips/recommendations would be appreciated. Surely there are some things common for the whole global organizations (company culture and what not).

For example, on the website they say that national companies have the flexibility to make their own decisions, it this really true? Or are you given a company manual which you basically follow to a tee and the only thing you can change is that you translate the label on a Nescafe? More specifically, how much freedom is a brand manager in Nestle given? In my current job, I pretty much run my brand the way I want to.

Thanks for the input

[Ozy_Flame]

Man, I wish I lived in Melbourne....sigh.....

[icarus]

Good luck with your interview. Hopefully the company turns out to be less morally repugnant than it is alleged to be.

[Flame Of Liberty]

Thanks icarus. Do you have the Nestle boycott in mind? Or something else?

[Deelow]

I worked for Nestle (Ice Cream Division) as did my dad on a much more senior level. He ended up leaving this job with great pay because of some of the company's practices. Really it was all about getting the most amount of work out of as few people as possible. I don't know all the details but he didn't miss Nestle when he left.

[icarus]

Originally Posted by Flame Of Liberty

Thanks icarus. Do you have the Nestle boycott in mind? Or something else?

The boycott/baby formula fiasco is the first thing that comes to mind, but it seems every few years there is some new controversy involving Nestle.

A quick look on Wikipedia shows there have been a whole wack of criticisms levelled at the company.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nestl%C3%A9

[Agamemnon]

Wow... there's a pretty healthy list of controversy in that article. I've definitely heard of the baby formula/South America issue, but the others were news to me.

[newts]

....

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by Agamemnon

Wow... there's a pretty healthy list of controversy in that article. I've definitely heard of the baby formula/South America issue, but the others were news to me.

Any company that big operating internationally is going to have issues with various things. The Ethiopia issue is my favorite. It's funny how a marxist regime seizing assets and not reimbusing the owners (Nestle) somehow makes Nestle look bad when they demand compensation. That's like having someone stealling your wallet and then having the world take a dim view of you for asking for it back.

[REDVAN]

I never worked for Nestle... but I worked for another large food company that rhymes with Smepsico. I was at the second or third lowest level in sales, but they worked me 70 hours a week, and the bosses were not trained in time management or people management. I could rant about them for days, but if Nestle is anything similar then I warn you to think long and hard.

One good thing was the pay was pretty decent, but you had to really work your ass off more than any other job I had. Sometimes money isn't worth it.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

I never worked for Nestle... but I worked for another large food company that rhymes with Smepsico. I was at the second or third lowest level in sales, but they worked me 70 hours a week, and the bosses were not trained in time management or people management. I could rant about them for days, but if Nestle is anything similar then I warn you to think long and hard.

One good thing was the pay was pretty decent, but you had to really work your ass off more than any other job I had. Sometimes money isn't worth it.

All big companies are pretty simalar weather they are Food or Electronics I worked for a Telecommunications company that rhymes with Hell and that is basically what it was like working for them "Hell". The pay was pretty good can't really complain when you are 20 years old making $45K for selling, watching tv all day and staring at hot chicks in the mall all day.

I personally hated some of the companies direction and company management but I just put in my 2 cents and kept pulling in a pay check, until one day I found somewhere else to pull in a pay check. Its all about money! If you need a job to pay your bills go work for them if you love it perfect! If you don't then update that ol' resume and go looking again.

[Flame Of Liberty]

I see your points guys, I am at that point already (spent 10 hours at work today, and was still making business related phone calls on my way home).

I will be asking for about 1/4 more than what I am making now, they will probably think I am out of my mind.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by fotze

Weren' you arguing about how great Hell was a while back. Stockholm Syndrome?

No I was arguing about how great their product is, not the way they run the company. I did and still do believe they have the best product out there, thats what makes it so frustrating, they do nothing but screw it up with horrible ad campaigns and customer service.

[Deelow]

Originally Posted by HOOT

No I was arguing about how great their product is, not the way they run the company. I did and still do believe they have the best product out there, thats what makes it so frustrating, they do nothing but screw it up with horrible ad campaigns and customer service.

Funny you mention that. I spent some time talking to a Star Choice rep on Saturday. Bell customers were coming up to him in droves to sign up for an inferior product just because they couldn't take Bell's customer service anymore.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by Deelow

Funny you mention that. I spent some time talking to a Star Choice rep on Saturday. Bell customers were coming up to him in droves to sign up for an inferior product just because they couldn't take Bell's customer service anymore.

EXACTLY!

Now if you are Bell and you are tottally aware of this, would you not fix the problem? Or would you let it go by the waist side and hope people don't notice.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by HOOT

EXACTLY!

Now if you are Bell and you are tottally aware of this, would you not fix the problem? Or would you let it go by the waist side and hope people don't notice.

So is the story of all telecommunications companies in Canada. Too used to being a government run monopoly to compete at the level of service other industries have. Since they compete with different versions of themselves they adapt as fast as glaciers flow.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

So is the story of all telecommunications companies in Canada. Too used to being a government run monopoly to compete at the level of service other industries have. Since they compete with different versions of themselves they adapt as fast as glaciers flow.

Hahah too true!

Sorry for taking this off topic but I was just trying to say all "BIG" companies are basically the same. You as an employee will always think you can do a better job than they do

[FireFly]

Well the government is deregulating the phone industry... so prepare for that to happen soon. What impacts it will have, who knows?