Listen up, job seekers; we’re back and better than ever with our Day in the Life series, and this time we’re shadowing Dominic Thompson, a Commercial Graduate at Fonterra! With insights into what his workdays can look like, this is a perfect opportunity to see whether you could see yourself following in his footsteps (and we’re willing to bet you’ll want to)!
From free gym sessions to inspiring work events and opportunities to socialise, Dominic’s insights tell us that Fonterra really has it all. However, you don’t just need to take our word for it; read on and hear what it’s really like to work at Fonterra; you won’t be disappointed!
Introducing Dominic Thompson, Commercial Graduate
If you’re wondering what path Dominic could have taken to land the career of his dreams, we have you covered. Dom Thompson completed a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Economics and Commercial Law at The University of Auckland and, upon graduating, headed straight to Fonterra! He is now a graduate in the commercial finance business stream at Fonterra Oceania, based in Melbourne. Way to go, Dominic!
Discover a ‘Day In The Life’ of Dominic Thompson
When we throw around titles like ‘commercial graduate,’ it’s normal for you to wonder what these roles actually consist of. That’s why we’re bringing you behind the curtain to see what exciting tasks Fonterra’s passionate graduates work on daily. With Dom’s insights, you’ll be able to make a more informed choice about whether this path is right for you! So, what are you waiting for, keep on reading and discover all the exciting things that he has to share!
Morning Routine
6:00am – One alarm, and normally I’m up and ready for the day! I take a quick shower, make my bed, pack my bag, and then it’s time for breakfast and catching up on my socials as I watch the sunrise from my balcony.
6:45am – Today I took a scooter to work – I wanted to get there nice and early as I had a PT (personal training) session starting at 7:15. One of the perks of our Richmond office – free gym sessions! It’s only a quick 4-min scooter ride to work and only cost me a few bucks.
7:00am – I setup my desk for the day and quickly check the day’s emails and calendar. We are in a hot desk office, so getting in early means I have a lot of choice on where I’m sitting for the day.
7:05am – Time to head down to the change rooms to get ready for the PT session. This morning it was held out the front of the office. PT is held twice a week and is a great way to start the day with some colleagues.
7:45am – With my PT sesh all done, it’s time to shower and quickly get upstairs for the day. Our office building has some fancy shower blocks that I take advantage of. They’re super handy for staff to refresh after a morning gym session, midday run along the nearby Yarra River trails or after a cycle to work. There’s also a large lock-up space for bikes.
7:55am – Feeling a bit hungry after the workout, so I walked to Cole’s next door to get a quick snack. Our office is very conveniently located next to a shopping mall, so there is no shortage of lunch options.
8:05am – Back at the office, time to say hi to my team and get stuck into the workday.
9:30am – After an hour or so of work, it’s time for a coffee from our commercial machine then back to the desk.
Midday Happenings
11:00am – After another hour of solid work, I headed along to a special company event with my team. Fonterra has recently put together its new Reconciliation Action Plan, and today was the official launch celebration. We had a traditional smoking ceremony led by local tribe representatives, a didgeridoo performance and a traditional artwork unveiling. It was my first time experiencing a smoking ceremony, so it was very special to be a part of it.
11:30am – After the official proceedings it was time to head upstairs to celebrate and network with office colleagues over a catered morning tea.
11:45am – It was a busy event day at the office; because of the school holidays, there was an activity organised for team members that they could bring their kids to, to play pickleball on the courts next to the office. I couldn’t miss the opportunity for some friendly competition with my colleagues.
1:00pm – An hour and a bit later we had a good sweat and had a lot of fun learning about how to play pickleball. Time for another quick shower and lunch before getting stuck back into my work again.
1:30pm – Back at the desk, I had some important reports to complete today, so it was plenty of reviewing to make sure everything was in order before they could be sent out to all my stakeholders by the end of the day.
End-Of-Day Insights
4:30 pm – All my work for the day was complete – I took a quick look ahead at what was in store for the next few working days and had a check-in with my manager. Then it was time to head to a colleague’splace for some social drinks to celebrate the start of a long weekend in Melbourne.
8:30pm After a few hours of socialising, good food and drinks, I managed to nab a ride home with my workmate. Then I was off again to meet some friends and finished the day with a quick stop at Guzman y Gomez.
It was a very eventful day in the Fonterra office today, I usually spend more time in meetings and working through financial reports, but we are lucky to have lots of opportunities to connect with colleagues and events planned outside of our day-to-day work. I’ve really enjoyed this aspect of Fonterra, and even though I can work from home some days, you’ll tend to find me in the office anyway because of the fun team culture!
Want to Follow in Dom’s Footsteps?
If this kind of workday sounds a bit like a dream come true, it’s probably a good idea to pursue a career with Fonterra! All you need to do is head over to Fonterra’s dedicated employer page where you can learn all about what it takes to get hired (and why choosing a career with Fonterra is such a fantastic option)!
What are you waiting for? Launch the career of your dreams with Fonterra today!
