Make the most of retail work experience

Apart from anything else, having amassed some work experience shows you’re committed to the sector. It also gives you the chance to showcase your initiative and determination to succeed.

Work experience also equips you with important organisational and administrative skills, as well as a realistic understanding of the sector. Work experience will make your CV look a lot more appealing to any employer, reassuring them that you’ll be able to hit the ground running when you start work in a permanent role.

How to get a foot in the door

Experience at shop-floor level will be useful whatever branch of retail you’re considering going into. You can:find part-time jobs in most high street stores and your careers service may be able to help with formal placements. It’s also well worth contacting retail organisations directly – look at the employer profiles on targetjobs.co.uk to find out which employers offer work experience.

If you want head office experience, you may be able to acquire this through applying for a formal work experience scheme. Alternatively, try making speculative applications to retailers offering your services for free – write a good covering letter specifying which area of work you’re interested in and enclose your CV.

Networking is one of the most effective ways to hunt for jobs.

Networking is one of the most effective ways to hunt for jobs, so it’s a good idea to call on family or friends for help. If they or anyone they know is working in the sector, get in touch!

Use all your experiences

Having direct experience of working in any part of retail will certainly help you decide where to focus and impress employers when you come to apply for jobs. Don’t forget that you can use other types of experience to your advantage;

• voluntary work
• academic projects
• membership of student societies
• travelling.

Hear it from the employer’s mouth; the skills that retailers love

Hints on getting the most from your work experience

Name: Anna Trump

Job title: Recruitment manager

Employer: Specsavers

Candidates with work experience always stand out. It is therefore important to make the most of your experiences.

• Be clear about what you want to achieve and discuss this with your manager at the beginning of a work placement.
• Even if you’re not on a formal work placement you can use the opportunity to learn as much as you can.
• Take notes so that you can bring real examples of your commercial knowledge and teamworking skills to an interview.
• Don’t be afraid to be proactive and ask questions so that you can learn about the business.
• Being punctual and reliable, looking smart, and appearing enthusiastic and interested will make a good impression on your employer.