During our recent visit to the MIT career fair in Boston, we got many questions regarding whether the Novo Nordisk graduate programme is to be considered as an extended education or a full-time position, so I will try to shed some light on that perspective.
Let me just start out by saying: In technical terms, the graduate position is to be associated with a full-time position, meaning that your contract will reflect a work week comparable to a full-time employee, you will receive pay correspondingly and you will be eligible for the same benefits as a full-time employee working in Novo Nordisk in the area you are associated with.
During the 3 or 4 rotations (depending on what programme you are admitted to) your 2 year programme will take you through, you will act as a full-time employee in those departments, taking up the same degree of responsibilities. The difference is that a graduate will only have 6-8 months to get up to speed and create value which of course demands that you adapt quickly to a new work environment.
It is true that being a graduate entails attending various trainings, seminars, courses with topics such as project management, presentation skills, LEAN, Diabetes and meeting a patient etc. which will help developing yourself on a professional but certainly also personal level. However participating in these trainings only constitutes a minor part of the graduate everyday life.
Please let me know if this is unclear or you have any other questions.
2 Comments to Is the graduate programme an education or a full-time job?
Hi.
Great blog with much useful info! At “Rotation details” there are a number of functions: Treasury, Corporate Financial Planning, Finance Projects, Corporate Sourcing, Corporate Tax, Business Development and others. Are there some short descriptions of these functions anywhere or can you perhaps elaborate? I’m mainly interested in the first four. Besides, can you give an example of a change project? What have you been through?
Thanks,
Kasper
Hi Kasper,
You can read more on the website. Once in the programme you can request to go to certain departments, and will have ample opportunity to meet with colleagues from around the organisation to learn more about what they do! The programme is tailored to each candidate!
Lise