Everything You Need to Know About the REA Marketing Grad Program

When I joined the REA Marketing Graduate Program, I wasn'tentirely sure what to expect but I knew I wanted to learn, grow, and explore the different sides of marketing in a dynamic business. Now, having completed the 18-month journey, I can confidently say it'sbeen one of the most rewarding and transformative experiences of my career so far. Here'swhat to expect based on my experience of being on the program.

The Support Network

The support structure at REA is like no other, and it genuinely cushions your leap into the corporate world. You'll find yourself integrated into a buddy, mentor, and manager setup, ensuring that you have constant guidance and resources to thrive. Weekly work-in-progress meetings, development catchups, and regular check-ins keep you on course and continually growing in your role.

The program kicks off with two weeks of onboarding. This isn't just about attending meetings; it's an engaging mix of fun activities and opportunities to get to know your buddies and mentors to help you settle into the company. There are also events and activities, ensuring you connect and bond with other grads. The entire program is a masterclass in understanding yourself as a working adult, exploring how a corporate company functions, and deepening your understanding of various marketing concepts for each of the rotations.

At the end of my own graduate program, I found myself walking through the office and finding familiar, friendly faces everywhere I went. This is in part due to the general kindness and quality of the people who work in this incredible company, but also because I met so many people by working in three distinct teams across the business. Engaging with passionate, intelligent individuals who genuinely want to see you grow is an everyday occurrence at REA, making learning both collaborative and inspiring.

The Rotations

The program features three distinct rotations, each shaping your learning journey in unique ways. While the specifics of your tasks will depend on which team you are part of, the key ideas of participating and learning as a grad remain constant. Take the 2024 program for example. Our rotations included Consumer Marketing, involving work on organic social content and brand campaigns; Customer GTM Marketing, where you develop assets and communication strategies for our customer products; and Customer Lifecycle, which focuses on crafting communications such as EDMs and mobile notifications to enhance and support our customer experiences.

Each rotation is an opportunity to dive into different teams across both B2B and B2C marketing, and because of this, I have developed a strong and well-rounded understanding of how the business functions which equips me to work in and with any team and more deeply understand their role. As an active team member in each rotation, we've been able to contribute to and absorb all there is to know about marketing at REA. The flexibility of this program is what makes it so special. Year-to-year, and even among fellow grads, experiences differ, allowing you to shape each rotation according to your interests. If there's something specific you're itching to explore, just bring it up with your managers and they'll help you shape your experience.

The Application Process

Throughout the application process, being yourself is key. REA doesn't expect you to walk in as an expert marketer. Instead, they're curious about your personality and how you'll connect with others, solve problems, and show initiative.

The application process includes online questions, recorded video components and an in-person interview day. The interview day includes group problem-solving sessions, individual values interviews, and a lunch and tour of the office all designed to get to know you better. I would recommend reviewing REA's values and thinking about how your own values and experiences align with them, to give you some ideas to come back to during the interviews. In your interviews, aim to show how you would be an asset to the company through your values, personality and attitude. REA is a company that truly lives its values, making alignment an integral part of the fit.

Tips for Success

Diving into the REA Grad Program with an open mind and a willingness to learn is incredibly rewarding. There might be times when it feels overwhelming with new content and ideas and lots of names to remember, but you'll quickly find your rhythm, and everything will start falling into place. Regularly, you'll surprise yourself with how much you've learned and how confident you're becoming as the weeks and months pass.

Be a knowledge sponge, ask lots of questions, be interested in what you're learning and be excited to learn it. Remember that you don't yet know what you don't know, and all you can do is take on every new experience with an open mind. You're in such good hands at REA as it's a place bursting with the kindest and most supportive people who all want to see you succeed. One of the best parts about this Marketing Graduate Program is the amazing people you get to work with and the incredible chances you get to grow and evolve into a skilled marketer.