Fyffes Graduate Trainee
Aoife - Graduate Trainee
As part of the training with Fyffes my first placement was in Miami, Florida, where I was based in the Turbana Corporation office. Turbana, of which Fyffes is part owner, is one of the premier importers of premium bananas, exotic bananas and plantains in North America.There, I worked on a number of different projects from corporate organization work to port logistics and market research. As a graduate, I was given the opportunity to take on these projects and make them my own, which was great.
- Internal career progressions:
After graduating with a Bachelor of International Commerce with Spanish from NUI Galway, Fyffes was an ideal company for me to join. The graduate program appealed to me because of the variety of placements, projects and possible locations which would give me the opportunity to continue using and applying my knowledge of Spanish through business interactions. It was exactly what I was looking for.
My second placement was in FyffesUK office, where I was involved in a new Brand review and website development project. Not only does relocation mean a new project, it is chance to get to know the European operations of the company, as well as building relationships with more colleagues in Fyffes.
As I progress through the graduate program, I hope to learn and be exposed to as many areas as possible and really add value for the company. I want to learn as much as possible and as my level of experience and knowledge increases, I hope to be given greater responsibility and establish myself as a key member in Fyffes.
- Favourite thing about my job:
During the interview process when I met a number of the key people of the company, I immediately felt that this is a place where I could see myself joining. Everyone was very welcoming and approachable.
As a recent International Business graduate, I appreciate my four years of formal education. However, there are a few things in life that no student can learn from a book. One of these is experience. With Fyffes, I found that there is nothing like hands on experience and interaction with company leaders and people who have been in the industry for years. I learned a lot in a short space of time.
As a graduate, you are always encouraged to show an interest in the areas you wish to work in, and Fyffes do their best to accommodate. The level of support is astonishing, there is always someone to help or give advice. There is a great atmosphere in which people want you to see you succeed in the fresh produce industry.
At a time when the Irish economy has been going through some difficulties, it is a fantastic chance for me to gain international experience while still maintaining connections with an Irish-based organization.
Of course the opportunity to travel and work is something that I enjoy a lot about my job. During my US placement, I was given the opportunity to travel to Philadelphia, California, New York, Canada and Panama. While being away from friends and family can be hard, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and its very rewarding. And its not all work. With my collegues in Miami for example,we participated in the Mercedes Corporate Run in the downtown part of the city. There is a great sence of camaraderie throughout the business.
A graduate programme with Fyffes is a great way to learn skills and experience new environments, people and challenges. It is vital for graduates to be flexible and to adapt quickly to a new project or location change. The program gives you an unmatched opportunity to explore different career paths throughout the worldwide supply chain and significant opportunities for advancement into a key leadership role. Other Fyffes graduates are currently spread across placements in Costa Rica, Panama, Belize, UK, Rotterdam and Ireland. Whether you are a marketing, accounting, science, agriculture or environmental graduate, this thriving global fresh produce company has an opportunity for you.
As I head into my second year of the graduate program, I’m excited about my future with Fyffes.