There are different paths that lead to a trainee position at Mondi but there is one common way that contributes to a traineeship’s success: The people at Mondi. Find out why and which other experiences our two trainees, Milica, Trainee in Group Procurement, and Barbora, Trainee in Uncoated Fine Paper (UFP) Marketing, gained and where their journey has led them. Spoiler Alert: The end of a traineeship does not mean the end at Mondi…

I came across Mondi…

Milica: …by taking initiative. I participated at Wo Mentoring Program organized by Alpha Club for women. As my mentor I chose Beatrix Praeceptor, the Chief Procurement Officer in Mondi. She offered me the opportunity to start at Mondi as the first Procurement Trainee and the rest is history.

Barbora: …when I was a child as we always drove by the Ružomberok mill on the way to my grandparents’ house. After my studies, I was looking for new opportunities and when I saw that Mondi had a vacancy for a new Marketing Trainee, I was excited to apply to a company whose journey was somewhat familiar to me. After my friend - who also works at Mondi - has shared very positive experiences with the company, I did not hesitate to try my luck and join the team.

What I like most about Mondi is…

Milica: the people. Having the opportunity to work with colleagues coming from so many different countries and having such diverse cultural backgrounds, makes every project even more interesting and fun.

Barbora: … that people are coming from so many different backgrounds which has always inspired me. I see very hard working and talented individuals, who are willing to go the extra mile and make Mondi a great place to work at.

What I like most about the traineeship is…

Milica: …that I am given the opportunity to learn and develop many new skills. Being able to see Procurement from all three sides, starting with the Digital Procurement Services team, then joining the Group Categories and finishing with work experience in a mill is like going on a journey to an island. Just when you thought that you have seen everything and learned it all there is to know about the island, you figure out that there is yet much more to be discovered. It never gets boring and you are constantly challenged to give your best at all times!

Barbora: …the diversity of the projects I was involved in and that I got to know so many colleagues thanks to that. From the project and brand management, through customer journeys and sustainable development, until webinars and external cooperations, I really got to know a big part from what is done at Mondi UFP. And every person I got to work with really taught me a lot!

My greatest challenge during my traineeship was…

Milica: …at the same time one of the biggest and most important learnings I gained, the ability to change perspective and be open minded all the time. Unlearning and relearning the way procurement processes and tools are understood and used by each team has helped me understand the way of working in Procurement in the best possible way by combining theoretical knowledge and practical insights from both Group and Local Procurement teams.

Barbora: …the new reality of working since I started at the beginning of March 2020, so only after a few days in my new role, we were all sent home due to the pandemic. Especially at the beginning, I found it hard to connect with the team only via webex calls while we all were in home office. It was difficult to figure out who is the right person to talk to and also what it really looks like to work here. With the great support of my team and the situation improving, the challenge as well got better and I feel very comfortable and connected by now.

My advice to my successor is…

Milica: …never stop asking questions! The only way to develop further is to be constantly learning and looking for new challenges. Be supportive, share your ideas with your colleagues and you will be supported too!

Barbora: …use the time to really find what makes you passionate at Mondi and dive into the topic – but also keep your mind open for the rest that is coming to you. The traineeship allows you the unique opportunity to try and figure out what your strengths and weaknesses are and gives you the space to work on them.

My future career path leads me to…

Milica: …further develop the acquired skills as a Procurement Analyst in the Indirect Material and Services team (IMS) at Mondi. I am very excited about my new position and happy for being given the opportunity to work in an amazing team.

Barbora: …sustainability! One of the reasons I joined Mondi was its strong focus on environmental sustainability. I am very excited to have learned so much about it that I can continue my journey at Mondi UFP and start working as the Junior Product Sustainability Manager.