Introduction
Hello! I’m Pranita Randive, a student at IIT Bombay, about to enter my fourth year in Chemical Engineering. I am particularly interested in the intersection of technology and digitization within chemical engineering, always eager to explore and gain new experiences. My recent internship at HUL has been a testament to this passion and has offered me a wealth of knowledge and memorable moments.
How I landed in HUL!
HUL this time came with three profiles: R&D, Supply Chain, and Tech (R&D and Supply Chain). Seeing the Tech profile in a chemical company caught my attention immediately. I applied for the Tech profile because that’s what I wanted—technology in chemical engineering! However, after my HireVue interview, my profile was switched to R&D, perhaps based on my performance.
The selection process involved three steps:
- Form Filling: This was the initial step to structure our resumes for easier comparison.
- HireVue Interview: This was a video interview with creative and out-of-the-box questions.
- Final Interview: The final interview was a 30–40-minute conversation. They asked about my resume, my projects, and how my work could benefit HUL. It’s crucial to listen well when interviewers introduce themselves and to always have questions ready for them at the end.
For the HireVue round, I knew it was important to stay calm and confident since the AI analyzes these traits! The questions often required applying chemical engineering knowledge to real-world scenarios, such as factory applications. There wasn’t a specific resource to prepare for these questions, so I focused on framing my answers well and drawing from my academic and practical experiences.
To prepare for the interview, first, I thoroughly read my resume, reviewing every detail so I could confidently discuss any part of it. I also spent time exploring Unilever’s website to understand its core values, mission, and ongoing projects. This research helped me align my answers with the company’s goals.
Life at HUL
The internship kicked off with a one-day induction at the Mumbai Head Office. Then, I moved to the Bangalore R&D office which was my intern stint location, very green and spacious, making for a pleasant work environment. My main project was on speech-to-text technologies for Lab Informatics tools, which later expanded into two projects, adding more excitement (challenges 🙂) to my work. Occasionally, I also visited the Bangalore UniOps office, which added to the variety of my experience.
Living in Bangalore
We were given a guesthouse at Prestige Shantiniketan, which had almost all the facilities one could ask for! The beautiful weather in Bangalore was a pleasant change, and the work-life balance was fantastic. We started at 10 AM and wrapped up by 6 PM, although there was no such compulsion. I worked at the Digital R&D office, we were asked to come to the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays and from home on the other days. I preferred going to the office every day to maximize my learning experience, also, some employees used to work from the office daily so it was a lively atmosphere.
My Project Expanded into Two!
Initially, I had one project charter on speech-to-text technologies for lab tools. However, this was later expanded into two separate projects, which meant I got to interact with two different teams which added more excitement. Managing two projects at once was challenging but incredibly rewarding. Additionally, my project involved observing sensory analysis, which meant I got to taste tea experiments—quite an unexpected and fun twist!
The People and the Experience
The people at HUL were incredibly friendly and supportive. We were each assigned a buddy, a coach, and a tutor. I was fortunate to have two amazing tutors. One of my tutors is the global head but despite her busy schedule, she gave me sufficient time. Both of my tutor’s mentorship was invaluable. We often had lunches together, which were fun and informal, and these moments added a personal touch to the professional experience. During the intern period, we had one mid and end-review presentation which were great opportunities to interact with stakeholders from around the world.
Global Networking
One of the most exciting aspects was the opportunity to interact with teams from various countries. Since Unilever operates in 69+ countries, the global exposure was invaluable. There were 45 interns in total, selected from top IITs, BITS Pilani, and international universities like NUS and NTU. This diverse group made the experience even more enriching.
Challenges and Learnings
The biggest challenge was solving and delivering two project charters equally well. These were live projects with significant value to Unilever, and if we interns weren’t handling them, one of the teams would have been. This added a layer of pressure and high expectations. The excitement of working on projects that directly impacted Unilever kept me motivated. Adding a fun touch to my work, I even got to name the tools I developed 🙂.
End Note
My 8-week internship at HUL was an incredibly rewarding experience. There were ups and downs, but the support of my fantastic tutors and team members, along with the lunches with my co-interns, made it all worthwhile. Being at the Bangalore R&D center, which houses research facilities for all five divisions of HUL, was fascinating. Witnessing the experiments, pilot plants, and seeing how iconic brands like Dove, Lifebuoy, Brooke Bond, etc. are developed added an extra layer of excitement to my work. This experience has equipped me with skills and insights that will undoubtedly benefit me in my future career.
Tips for future Interns
Keep your curiosity high and your confidence higher!
Also, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask me.
Happy interning! 😊
