Job hunting decisions and tips
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Which retail graduate employers will accept you and your 2.2?
Some retail graduate schemes specify a 2.1 degree classification, yet this sector is one in which many employers accept applicants with a 2.2.
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How to get a job in retail management, by Tesco graduates
We asked two graduate retail managers from Tesco, Luke Hammett and Claire Pickthall, to share insider tips from their job hunting experiences.
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How I got a job at M&S as a food technologist
Vanessa Fursden, a food technologist with Marks and Spencer, tells us what the role involves and gives us advice on securing a graduate job in this area – from tips for university to the application process.
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How to get a job in merchandising, by a Next merchandiser
Tejal Raichura, a merchandiser for womenswear jersey with Next, shares her insider knowhow with us. She explains everything from the application process to what it’s really like being a graduate in merchandising.
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How to get your first job in fashion design, by a John Lewis fashion designer
Elena King, assistant fashion designer with John Lewis Partnership and former graduate at Abercrombie & Fitch, reveals her best tips for securing a job in a competitive industry.
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Discover the skills and qualities needed for buying and merchandising, with advice from a TJX buyer
Having discovered the traits recruiters look for in candidates for their merchandising and buying graduate jobs, you can impress by emphasising them throughout the recruitment process.
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The top trends affecting the retail industry: a guide for graduate job hunters
Graduate employers in the retail industry will expect applicants to be up-to-speed with the trends impacting the industry. Read on to discover the kind of information you should be researching and the retail trends you should be following as of January 2021.
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Careers in fashion: the different job roles
The fashion industry is huge – and fashion design is just the tip of the iceberg. Here are 28 jobs to consider if you want a career in fashion.
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Careers in fashion: breaking into the industry
The fashion industry has a reputation for being competitive to get into – but don’t let this stop you pursuing your dream fashion job.
Applications
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Your retail graduate job hunt: keep on-track and on-time
If you’ve got your sights set on a career in the retail sector, follow these key steps for each term to ensure you have all the boxes ticked by the time it comes to interviews and assessment centres.
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How to write a great graduate retail CV
Take a look at the best ways to persuade retail recruiters that you’re a strong candidate, including the skills to emphasise and the kinds of examples to include.
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Your retail graduate CV: template and tips
Whether you’re looking for a position as a merchandiser, buyer or retail manager, take a look at our retail CV examples and follow our guide to find out how to write a CV for a retail graduate job.
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Five tips for getting an industrial placement with John Lewis or Waitrose
Learn the qualities and skills you'll need to demonstrate during the recruitment process for an industrial placement with the John Lewis Partnership, and get expert advice on how to do so.
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‘Why retail?’: the application form and interview questions that can catch candidates out
Advice for how to tackle the tricky retail application form and interview questions: ‘why retail?’, ‘why this job?’ and ‘why this retailer?’.
Interviews and assessment centres
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Retail interview tip: study the retailer’s competition
Showing commercial awareness means understanding where the employer you’re applying to fits within the wider context of the retail industry – including in relation to its competitors.
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Job done: how graduates can stand out at retail assessment centres
Discover the activities a retail assessment centre is likely to involve and the best ways to approach them.
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Retail graduate interviews: the questions to expect
Take a look at the most common interview questions for graduate retail roles and prepare to give the best possible responses. Get some tips from Donna Miller, too – European HR director for Enterprise Rent-A-Car when we spoke to her.
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Go to town on retail research: what you can learn from visiting stores
Store visits can improve your knowledge of the company you’re applying to, its competitors and trends in the sector. This will provide you with greater commercial awareness and knowledge of the retailer (as well as a new pair of shoes).
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Application and interview advice for Aldi’s area management graduate scheme
Aldi is growing. We asked Richard Holloway, MD for Aldi's Scotland stores and former head of graduate recruitment at Aldi, for tips on how to impress throughout the recruitment process for the area management graduate scheme – from careers fair to final interview.
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Retail video interviews: what to expect and how to succeed
Video interviews can be daunting but our tips will help you to prepare most effectively and present yourself in the best light.
Interview techniques
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Five tips for getting an industrial placement with John Lewis or Waitrose
Learn the qualities and skills you'll need to demonstrate during the recruitment process for an industrial placement with the John Lewis Partnership, and get expert advice on how to do so.
Skills and competencies
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Communication, leadership, teamwork: the top skills retail recruiters want from graduates
Five leading retail graduate employers tell us what competencies they expect from successful candidates – make sure you tick all the right boxes with your application and at interview.
Internships and placements
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Fashion internships and other work experience
Lots of fashion companies offer work shadowing, internships and placement years – and these are often the best ways into permanent employment.
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Retail work experience: what’s available and how it could help you
Find out about industrial placements, summer internships, part-time jobs and short-term opportunities, and how they could help you in your retail graduate job hunt in areas such as buying, merchandising and fashion design.
Pay and progression
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Retail graduate salaries: which retail employer pays the most?
Which supermarket chain will give you £44,000 and a BMW 3 series? Will you get paid more as a buyer or a store manager? TARGETjobs Retail investigates graduate starting salaries.
Job descriptions
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Retail manager: job description
Retail managers are responsible for every aspect of the day-to-day supervision of retail outlets, including sales, staff, stock and resources management.
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Retail buyer: job description
Retail buyers identify, select and purchase stock that matches the retailer’s requirements.
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Retail merchandiser: job description
Retail merchandisers work closely with company buyers to maximise profitability by predicting and monitoring sales trends and accurately controlling stock levels.
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Clothing and textile technologist: job description
Clothing and textile technologists design, develop and manufacture natural and synthetic yarns, fabrics and textiles.
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Food scientist: job description
Food scientists apply scientific expertise and technological principles to the study of food products and processes within manufacturing and research settings.
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Food technologist: job description
Food technologists are responsible for the safe and efficient development, modification and manufacture of food products and processes.
