Work experience: trying graduate careers in retail on for size

Getting some work experience while you are a student will do more than provide you with some extra cash: it’s essential for helping you develop the competences that all recruiters, including those in the retail sector, seek. A summer internship or work placement is particularly useful, but other experience can also be invaluable.

Internships

Internships are formal work placements that usually take place over seven to ten weeks during the summer. They are carefully structured to give the intern a broad experience of the business. The pay is often quite good, too. Several of the big retailers and retail banks offer internships, and these can often lead to an offer of permanent work, subject to your performance on the job.

Work experience

Some retail organisations offer the option do a work experience placement, a less formal version of an internship. These tend to be slightly less lucrative than an internship, but are well worth doing. It’s also worth calling organisations on spec, or going into local stores, to find out if there are any opportunities you could  apply for.

Part-time, casual and temporary work

Whether it’s part-time bar work, waitressing, a shift in a supermarket, or an office temping job, all kinds of work experience are valued by retail sector employers. The key thing is being able to demonstrate the link between what you did, the skills you developed, and the knowledge you acquired, with the job you are applying for.

Working in any sector and role can help you to develop useful skills but, according to John Morewood, senior graduate recruitment and development manager at HSBC, the retail, health, education and hospitality sectors are particularly relevant as they all involve a high level of interaction with clients. ‘This is important because customer focus is a key part of any retail organisation’s success,’ says John.

Application tips

‘If you are considering an internship, apply early,’ John advises. ‘Organisations only offer a limited number of places and they will stop recruiting once they have received enough good applications.’ Gaining an internship can be as competitive as gaining a place on a graduate scheme, so use the advice on applications, interviews and assessment centres elsewhere on this site to maximise your chances of success.

Make the most of all your experience

If you are on an internship or work experience scheme, establish what the company culture is early on. ‘Many employers look on internships in particular as a way of fuelling their next graduate intake, so recruiters will be keeping a close eye on you,’ John says. ‘Be proactive, show that you can work well with colleagues and customers, demonstrate good interpersonal skills, and make it clear that you are willing to get on with whatever is asked of you.’

Whatever the work environment and role you find yourself in, act professionally – be punctual and polite, look the part, and carry out your duties to a high standard at all times. If you are interested, find out more about the business by asking questions and make notes on what you learned. It is also a good idea to record what activities you carried out, what skills you used and developed, and any individual achievements – this will help you when you start applying for jobs and  are asked for evidence of your skills and to quantify your achievements.

If you create a good impression, you will be able to approach your manager for a reference when you apply for other jobs. If the work is in a retail organisation, it could also lead to the offer of work at a higher level in the future.

All experience is good experience

Some retail organisations will want candidates to have experience in a retail environment, but all employers will value any experience, provided you can demonstrate that you have made the link with what you’ve learned and the skills and competences they value. So, remember that experience in any of the following areas counts:
volunteering, academic projects, work shadowing, temping, organising events or large parties, contributing to student societies, hobbies, casual bar work and other vacation jobs, travelling, running a household and being a parent or carer.

John Morewood is senior graduate recruitment and development manager at HSBC.