To say Nestle is a household name is an understatement. From the first brands we experience, such as Gerber, to nostalgic childhood favorites like DiGiorno, Toll House and Hot Pockets, even down to what we feed our pets, like Purina, and Friskies, companies like Nestlé are there for it all.
Nestlé’s impact does not stop at what we eat (or feed our furry friends). For some, Nestlé is a career. Nestle's apprenticeship program helps students get started.
Jerry Franklin, the Apprenticeship Program Manager at Nestlé, says, “In the beginning, it’s going to look like just a regular, new employee. They are going to get some orientation and onboarding to learn more about Nestlé as a whole and meet their team.” Apprentices then split their time between work and school. For those going into a skilled trade, such as maintenance, they will study the job at school and come back to the factory to have hands on training.”
“When school is done, it’s all on the job. They’re going to continue to evolve and learn more difficult functions, more technical sides of their job,” Franklin explains.
We spoke with two current apprentices at Nestlé. Here is what they had to say about the program.
Ken Amos
Ken Amos works as a customer service apprentice with Nestlé’s Customer Service Associates (CSAs), focusing on getting product orders to CVS and Walgreens. He ensures promise times are accurate, along with completing miscellaneous tasks surrounding customer service.
About his apprenticeship, Amos says, “I think what resonates with me the most about the apprenticeship program is the opportunity to grow.” He notes the welcoming community at Nestlé; his coworkers are friendly and make sure he is learning what he needs to be successful. “In the realm of Nestlé, everyone around you is supportive and they all have goals. So being around those people, growth is just second nature,” Amos explains.
Amos tells us he wishes he knew about apprenticeships earlier, when graduating high school. “I wish I knew about all the different programs and companies that actually have these programs,” he explains.