culture

Unilever is home to some of the most innovative people in the industry. Our culture is about what we believe in & how we act collectively.

The important things in life

It varies around the world because, naturally, people have different points of view depending on where they live. But some things are consistent; important things that determine how we interact with colleagues and partners, customers and consumers. Most important are our high standards of corporate behavior, which are enshrined in our code of business principles. We also have high ethical standards, both in terms of people and the environment. What's more, we are proud of this business and what it does bringing trusted products to millions across the globe. In fact we have a phrase for our philosophy: 'doing well by doing good'. We value colleagues as individuals, we're friendly towards each other and we're informal in terms of corporate behaviour and, to a large extent, dress code. We go out of our way to build personal networks throughout the company, not just in our area of responsibility. Finally, we believe in everyone's ability to develop and grow. Whatever our function, role or level, we all have an equal right to take advantage of learning opportunities and progress how we want to in our chosen careers.

Be yourself

Our people have a passion for achievement, strive for outstanding results and are determined to get things done. To make sure that happens each and every day, we have created a working environment in which you can be yourself. After all, as a business we need to be as diverse as our millions of consumers around the world.

Home Careers Inside HUL How we work Our culture

Rewards & benefits

Competitive Reward; Reward for Performance
HULs reward philosophy is to provide market competitive salary and benefits with a strong linkage between performance and pay. Accordingly, our overall reward package includes - Fixed Salary that is competitive with our peer companies - Variable Salary that is linked to company and individual performance - Equity compensation (at eligible levels) that is linked to long term (3 year) company performance and your potential. - Benefits and Perquisites aimed at providing you choices. - Retirement benefits that are market competitive. As a business, we aim to grow and create shareholder value. If you help us achieve those goals, we'll reward you well. And since you help create your own objectives, you can see precisely how your actions affect what you receive. All performance based reward (cash and equity, where applicable) is annual, in April. This reward recognizes both our collective success and your individual contribution to it.

Learning is an integral part of life at Unilever & there are many ways in which you can develop your skills, both professional & personal. On the job

You'll learn much of what you need to know by working with knowledgeable colleagues and receiving regular coaching and feedback. Wherever you join, in whatever capacity, you'll have a wide variety of experiences developing skills relevant to your job and giving you an overview of how our company works.

Professional skills
Specific programmes ensure you build expertise in your chosen career. The courses often use e-learning that enables you learn at your own pace and take control of your development. In some areas you can study for professional qualifications and, as you progress, you'll develop your leadership capabilities.

Continual update
Each function has its own Academy a team that continually updates its professional learning curriculum. E-learning modules are then made available on a dedicated intranet portal. Here you'll also find the very latest news, articles and thinking. Essentially, everything you need to keep in touch with the business.

Personal development
Passion, energy and creative thinking are traits that you'll already have when you join. But equally important is the ability to understand who you are as an individual and what you want to achieve from your career. We offer a whole range of personal development opportunities which can be tailored to your specific goals.

Teamwork and leadership

Ambitious plans are turned into reality by groups of like-minded people people who share a common objective, attitude, outlook & passion. Teamwork is everyone's focus
Teamwork is an essential part of life here at Unilever. Not least because we are a large business operating in a truly global environment. More often than not, you'll work alongside colleagues from a number of different countries and disciplines. Each day, you'll build bridges across cultural and intellectual borders. Every individual is responsible for contributing to the team's efforts. Through working closely together we foster a true sense of collaboration. We stimulate ideas in each other and encourage more innovative thinking. We share information and challenge accepted wisdom to shape and evolve an exciting future for our business.

Leadership is everyone's responsibility

Leadership can take many different forms. It could be line managing teams in a department or during an assignment. It could mean using your expertise in a key subject area. It could involve thought leadership. Either way, it's about getting things done individually or through people in a way that others will admire and follow. At every level and in every kind of job, leaders are the ones who demonstrate that great results can be achieved by working in different ways to overcome natural boundaries. Often operating outside their comfort zones, these are the people who close the gap between knowing what needs to be done, and achieving it.

Career progression
Progression is based purely on merit & potential. With advice & guidance from your manager & HR, you will take control of your own career development. Planning
Careful planning ensures you build a strong foundation in professional skills, gain experience across different operating environments and processes, and develop capability in your chosen area of expertise. Performing well will lead to opportunities to take on new and more challenging roles. That in turn will allow you to deepen and broaden your skills and experience.

Depth & breadth

Depth of experience is about developing professional skills through performing and practising your role. We'll encourage you to build this depth of skill early in your career to provide a solid basis for further progression. Breadth of experience is about increasing your knowledge and understanding of the business as a whole, so you can assess complex issues from different angles. Naturally, this becomes more important as seniority increases.

Wider experience
International experience is essential in many roles within a global organisation and assignments offer valuable development opportunities. You can also gain exposure through regional/global roles and project teams.

In higher-level positions that have a wider geographic remit, cross-border, category and customer experience may be vital to help leverage our global scale.

Performance management
Your progress is important. That's why we invest a lot of time & effort in supporting you to perform well & in building your capabilities.
Past, present & future
Performance and Development Planning (PDP) helps you make the most of your working life at Unilever. The process supports you in identifying and delivering against challenging goals that impact the organisation. It helps you plan how you'll develop skills and leadership behaviours for your current position and for the years ahead. It also gives you the opportunity to clarify expectations and discuss future opportunities.

Ongoing commitment
PDP provides a continual process that allows for a thorough evaluation of your performance. It's an approach designed to encourage clarity and transparency throughout the year. The key thing to remember is that this is an ongoing dialogue between you and your manager. It's about listening, sharing and accepting feedback, and taking responsibility for the next step in your career.

Experienced professionals
HUL is a business where talented individuals can go as far & as fast as their ambition & ability take them. Offering you more
We have gained our reputation as one of the world's most admired employers by providing an environment where individuals can achieve their goals, both professionally and personally. We are aware that to attract and retain the best people, we must offer them more. More ways to take advantage of the opportunities, more room to succeed and grow, and more directions in which to pursue their careers.

Variety
We have a vast range of roles, disciplines, functions and international locations to satisfy the most imaginative and determined minds. And as our business evolves, new possibilities arise. Here you can become a business leader, work on brands you're passionate about and build specialist knowledge and expertise.

Freedom to act
Our success depends on innovation, so we do everything we can to ensure that enterprising people have the freedom to act. We give them all the support and encouragement they need. At the same time, we empower them to make tough decisions, implement new ideas and use their initiative.

You decide
We believe that individuals should drive their own careers and that life at work should be a continuous learning journey. Seizing the opportunity to make a difference is more important than simply progressing up the ladder. People with this attitude and approach will find Unilever challenging, inspiring and highly rewarding.