From Copenhagen to London: A graduate’s journey of learning and leadership at BAT

Intro to Alexander

My name is Alexander, and I have worked at BAT since 2021. I initially joined the company as a Student Assistant within Trade for the Danish end-market while I was studying my Graduate degree. This led to a full-time position as a Junior Executive in 2023, and after 10 months in the Brand team, I got the opportunity to become a Global Graduate. I’m currently on my third rotation within the program, where I work with Planning in the Danish end-market from our office in Copenhagen.

When did you first hear about the Graduate Programme?

I heard about the Graduate Program when I joined BAT as a Student Assistant. We had a few Graduates in the office at that time, and they seemed very happy to be a part of the program.

What made you apply to the programme?

I applied to the Graduate Program because I thought it would provide a steep learning curve and broaden my understanding of the business quickly. The rotations and mentorship along the way are great opportunities to learn early in your career, understand how different functions operate, and meet new people.

What has been the highlight of being a graduate so far?

So far, one of the highlights of being a Graduate was our business case competition. Graduates across Western Europe had been grouped together a few months in advance to work on a business case, which culminated in a trip to London and presentations to senior leaders. It provided an opportunity to learn from senior leaders directly, and it was also nice to hear the experiences of Graduates working in other countries within the region.

What has surprised you the most about working at the company?

What has surprised me the most about BAT is the amount of cross-functional work that we do. Just because you work in a certain team doesn’t mean that you don’t learn from other people or functions. I have many projects that require alignment across several functions, and it’s often required that I have meetings with people sitting in England, Spain, Poland, or other countries as well. I think this keeps the job interesting, and it also helps me get a better understanding of the business because challenges and opportunities are highlighted from many different angles during projects.

What has been the biggest challenge you have had to overcome as a graduate so far?

The biggest challenge that I have encountered so far was my second rotation, joining the team in Sweden. In my first rotation, I felt like I knew the answers to most questions since I had been in the team as a Junior Executive beforehand. However, when my second rotation started, there was a steep learning curve in getting to know a new market and the scope of ongoing projects. However, the team has been very supportive, and I quickly understood that a part of being a Graduate is to be placed outside of your comfort zone from time to time. It’s an exciting challenge to learn new things and take ownership of new projects, which can be very rewarding in the end.

What advice do you have to other applicants that are considering applying for the programme?

My advice to people considering the program would be to apply. Being a Graduate at BAT is both exciting and rewarding, especially because you get to work on projects within multiple markets over the course of your rotations. The program can definitely be challenging at times, but this will broaden your understanding of the company and successfully prepare you to land a permanent position afterwards. My best advice would be to embrace these challenges and not shy away from asking questions.

Curious about career opportunities and our Graduate Program at BAT?

Join us at our upcoming Open Office Career Events:

• 16 September – Copenhagen: Open Office Career Event (Denmark) at British American Tobacco 
• 17 September – Malmö: Open Office Career Event (Sweden) at British American Tobacco

Come meet us and explore your future with BAT!