CAREERS: What it's like to work for ... Coca-Cola

Who is the boss?

Dirk Veryser is European. Apart from providing a dose of fine European delicacies, he shares his experiences from Europe, home to some of the most developed Coke markets.

How many staff?

We have about 560 staff in Singapore, the majority are local.

Marketing responsibilities?

On paper, I have a simple job. All I have to do is to drive the thirst for Coca-Cola brands in Singapore. In reality, that translates into simultaneously having the skills to create excitement in an alpha teen for brand Coke and knowing how to push the right buttons with a 62-year-old Singaporean with Heaven and Earth tea. I'm also responsible for leading a team of young, dynamic managers. The atmosphere is always charged with excitement and we have lots of fun working together.

Who's the competition?

This is surely trying to put an elephant into the fridge. Asia is enriched with diversity and therefore the nature of competition varies from country to country. In Singapore, as we have a very broad product portfolio, our competition is everything that conusmers pour down their throats, including water - a stretched target which allows us to compete against a formidable competitor, nature itself.

How do you get a job there?

Most of the times we are on a look out for talent ourselves. We want the best, so if you are good, we'll find you first. There is also the usual process of application and professional search firms.

Departments or office transfers?

Coca-Cola may seem a big organisation, but in reality we have a very nimble structure which allows excellent career progression.

Any training offered?

I see Coca-Cola as a huge interactive library, which not only has archives going back 115 years, but also has updated information with fresh content across a myriad of business functions from over 200 countries. We do offer internal and external training, but nothing compares to the daily exposure to new issues and opportunities.

Long hours?

Twenty-four to be precise. Some days, I wish there were more hours in a day. We do have the occasional midnight oil burners, but we are so connected with our brands, that even when we are not working, we think about it. It's difficult to tune off when the brand is so pervasive in the lives of the people.

Business travel?

A fair bit. I'm a frequent flyer - but not a platinum member.