Graduate Trainee Program

After graduating and spending nearly a year exploring career options, I chanced upon Carlsberg's Graduate Trainee program and found it as a perfect career launchpad. What attracted me was it’s the job rotation across functions, reputation for developing leaders through real business exposure combined with strong mentorship - exactly the balanced approach I needed to kickstart my career. Through my almost two years journey, I've completed five strategic rotations across Carlsberg's commercial functions, each lasting 3-6 months. The program began with Modern Off-Trade Sales (6 months), followed by Off-Trade Trade Marketing (4 months), giving me deep modern Off-Trade expertise. I then transitioned to On-Trade with rotations in Modern On-Trade Sales (5 months), Value Management (3 months), and On-Trade Trade Marketing (3 months). My journey culminates with an international assignment in Regional Value Management in Hong Kong. Each rotation had a dedicated industry expert mentor who provided structured feedback upon completion, ensuring continuous development. The mentorship framework has been invaluable. My director sponsor provided strategic career guidance, while rotation-specific mentors offered hands-on support. For instance, during my On-Trade Sales rotation, my mentor assigned me to lead negotiations with outlet, pushing me to develop essential skills that's required. Their trust in giving me real responsibilities accelerated my growth exponentially. On the aspect of honing leadership skills, I was fully entrusted to oversee the smooth operations of the Chinese New Year roadshows during my stint in Modern Off-Trade sales and led a project to improve data collection on ground. This graduate program has transformed me both professionally and personally. Key projects like building an Off-trade marketing strategy for the convenience stores has challenged me to combine market knowledge with analytical and strategic thinking. Managing different stakeholders across functions improved my communication and adaptability. Perhaps most significantly, working on high-pressure projects with tight deadlines built my resilience and confidence in decision-making. What made me choose Carlsberg (or to stay with until today)? Two things stand out: the people and the culture. Colleagues genuinely invest time in your growth - whether it’s mentors going beyond their job requirements or teammates collaborating across functions. Walk the talk – what has been shared at the beginning has been carried out to the end. The “promises” that were given on the very first day I stepped foot into Carlsberg have been seen and experienced until today. This program has surpassed my expectations. From confirming my career direction to equipping me with both hard and soft skills, it's provided the ideal foundation for my early career journey. The structured rotations, combined with Carlsberg's culture of mentorship, create a transformative experience I'd recommend to any aspiring future leader.