Henkel is a good company to work for if you want to use it as a springboard to reach better career opportunities
Arbeitsatmosphäre
The general work atmosphere is great, but the internship experience largely depends on the team and the colleagues you work with.
Work-Life-Balance
Some interns are almost expected to work overtime every day because they are eager to secure a full-time position after their internships. However, managers often treat them as temporary full-time employees rather than interns who are still learning and developing their skills. In my case, I occasionally had to work overtime due to a heavy workload, last-minute requests, and unclear task requirements. However, my managers did not seem particularly concerned about the amount of overtime I worked or its impact on my workload.
Kollegenzusammenhalt
The marketing department, whether in Laundry & Home Care or Hair, has a very competitive culture. While most managers are supportive and collaborative within their teams, the same cannot always be said among interns. Because the company does not offer junior manager positions and many interns are competing for full-time opportunities, the environment can sometimes feel highly competitive, with less emphasis on collaboration among interns.
Umgang mit älteren Kollegen
Overall, it was easy to work with more experienced colleagues, as they were generally open to helping interns learn and grow. However, some of them held traditional views on career development and did not fully understand Gen Z's approach. For instance, a few considered doing internships in different fields while studying to be a bad idea, while many students see it as an opportunity to explore various career paths and build a diverse skill set.
Vorgesetztenverhalten
It seemed that Henkel did not provide sufficient training or preparation for managers before they took on interns. For example, having interns start work without a laptop or other necessary equipment being arranged in advance, and without any structured onboarding materials, is far from ideal. These issues created an impression that the internship program was not adequately planned or coordinated. Additionally, interns were rarely involved in decision-making processes, which limited their opportunities to contribute meaningfully and gain deeper insights into the business.
Arbeitsbedingungen
In the Marketing Department at HCB, many managers appear to be under considerable pressure from their superiors. Teams often have limited resources and staffing, yet budget restrictions make it difficult to open junior positions. As a result, interns are frequently relied upon to support project work.
Team culture varies significantly across departments. While some teams are welcoming and inclusive, others can feel somewhat exclusive, with a stronger preference for local German employees. This can make it difficult for international team members to integrate and feel equally included in team activities and decision-making.
Kommunikation
The communication style can differ considerably from one team to another. While my experience was generally positive, I found the communication to be less transparent than I had expected.
Gleichberechtigung
Henkel is a very diverse and international organization. The company demonstrates a strong commitment to equality and inclusion, creating a workplace where employees from different backgrounds are treated fairly and respectfully.
Interessante Aufgaben
The workload is sometimes heavy and may not be very beneficial for interns' personal development, based on observations across multiple teams and categories. However, some tasks were interesting and provided valuable opportunities for students to explore their interests and better understand what they enjoy doing.
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Arbeitgeber-Kommentar
Dear former colleague,
Thank you very much for taking the time to share such detailed and thoughtful feedback about your internship experience at Henkel.
We are glad to hear that you appreciated the working atmosphere, our international environment and Henkel’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
At the same time, we take your feedback regarding workload, onboarding, communication and collaboration seriously. We want our interns to feel supported, included and have the opportunity to learn and develop throughout their time with us. We are sorry to hear that your experience did not always reflect this.
We wish you all the best and much success for your future personal and professional journey.
Best regards from the employer reputation team,
Lea