Elisha: A year in industry at Unilever
Elisha is studying for a BEng in Biomedical Engineering and is currently on her year in industry, working in the projects team at Unilever’s deodorant factory in Leeds. She describes her work improving workplace safety and overcoming imposter syndrome.
Truly transforming into an Engineer
"The most rewarding part of my placement was truly transforming into an Engineer. I learned what it means to holistically solve problems, gaining valuable experience in project management, manufacturing, and World-Class Manufacturing (WCM) methodologies. I applied techniques from Early Equipment Management (EEM) and Six Sigma’s DMAIC framework to lead and support projects.
I am most proud of the fact that despite having little prior experience with SQL, I successfully developed a Power Bi dashboard to monitor gas alarms, using Azure as the data source. To accomplish this, I had to learn Kusto Query Language (KQL) and Azure Data Explorer from scratch. The result was a system that is 150% more accurate than the previous method, which relied on a webpage and SQL database for monitoring.
Beyond the technical challenges, my favourite aspect of the placement has been the people. I can’t emphasize enough how grateful I am for my team, my manager, and everyone I worked with. They have been incredibly kind, welcoming, and supportive, making my experience truly special. I will always remember them and hope to collaborate with them again in the future."
My advice for students considering a placement is...
- "APPLY, APPLY, APPLY! Many students stress about perfecting their CV and finding the "right" job, which is important — but ultimately, it’s a numbers game. Apply to as many opportunities as possible and, where possible, reach out directly to managers. If you can identify the specific team behind a role, ask about their needs and skills they value most. This insight allows you to tailor your application accordingly.
- Be patient and pursue something you truly enjoy. A placement will change you, particularly in areas like time and stress management. Because of my experience, I feel far more prepared for my final year of university and have gained a much clearer sense of what I want to do in my career."
What I'll take away from the experience...
"Initially, I was nervous about entering the workplace — having responsibilities, meeting their expectations, and doubting whether I was truly capable of doing the job. I struggled with imposter syndrome. However, I soon realised that it wasn’t as daunting as I had imagined. You learn, adapt, and grow. The more exposure you have to professional environments, the more confident and competent you become.
I’ve learned to seize opportunities, remain curious, be patient, and manage my time effectively. I've also realised the importance of collaboration — there will always be people willing to support you, and success is often a joint effort. Most importantly, I’ve learned to enjoy the process and have fun!"