The Graduate Trainee Program was developed at SK to allow young talent to gain professional and managerial skills to become the leaders of tomorrow. Recent college graduates with less than 2 years of working experience outside of college are eligible to apply for the program.
There are two avenues in which a Graduate Trainee can pursue:
The first is a rotational avenue. This consists of 4, 6 month rotations allowing Trainees to gain experience in different business functions and working in different locations. The two year program is designed to allow for an enriching experience with the opportunity to operate in a multinational environment with potential assignments across borders. This avenue is for individuals who graduate and aren’t exactly sure what they want to do with the rest of their lives, or for individuals who have a broad major that haven’t decided what path they want to take. The rotational avenue provides learning and growth opportunities as you are cross trained in multiple functions to enhance your skillset. Once this avenue is complete, the Trainee is absorbed into the company viewing the company from a perspective unique to only the individuals who have pursued this avenue. For example, if your four rotations are Sales, Human Resources, Design, and Operations, once the program is complete, you move into the career path of your choosing. If, in this example, you move forward with a career in Sales, you will understand at what level you will need to get the other departments involved. Maybe you need Design’s support to create a new product for your customer – since you have completed the program and spent 6 months in Design, you will understand what type of expectations to have, what requests are reasonable, and you will know the extent to which they are able to help. The rotational avenue allows you to see the business in multiple different lenses, which will drive you to success in the career path of your choosing.
The second avenue is the specific avenue. This is a 1 year, fast-track program in 1 of 4 different functions, including Sales, Human Resources, Environmental Health & Safety, and Finance. This avenue is for graduates who know exactly what they want to do with the rest of their lives after they graduate. They will participate in multiple projects over 3 or 4 month periods allowing them to use the skillset they gained during their education. Once complete, the Trainee will launch their career in their chosen function. For example, I am a Graduate Trainee pursing Human Resources. On the specific avenue, I would complete projects that range from recruiting, to benefits, to implementation of a learning management system. The individuals that finish this avenue will be well versed in the field they are passionate about, viewing the company from a lens specific to their chosen function.
Regardless of the path chosen, individuals who complete the program move into positions as subject matter experts, and will continue their career at SKNA as an individual contributor, or may step into a role such as a team lead, supervisor, or as a manager overseeing a team. The level of role at which you receive after each avenue is equal, in the sense that you will finish the program and receive the same type of title.
Position Qualifications
• A recent college graduate with less than three years work experience
• Flexible and adaptable, willing to relocate within the US and/or Mexico
• Enjoys challenges and opportunities to use knowledge, skills and experience to support the strategic direction of the company in a fast paced environment
• Understands the value of integrity in all business relationships
• Has great interpersonal and communication skills
• Bilingual in English/Spanish is helpful, but not required