John Lewis is urging final year students and graduates not to miss the deadline for its 2014 graduate scheme. The scheme, which closes to applications on 1st December 2013, is part of the retailer’s commitment to investing in talent for the future. The graduate scheme offers jobs in one of five diverse specialities; Retail Management, Buying, Merchandising, Corporate Finance and a Technology Scheme.
The graduate programmes will set graduates on a fast-track career development programme to give them the skills required to progress to John Lewis’ most senior roles. Successful applicants will be constantly challenged by working in a variety of positions and given significant responsibility early on.
Carole Donaldson, Manager, Resourcing, John Lewis said, “We’re looking for talented, motivated and determined graduates to apply for our scheme. Every year, we take on a variety of different graduates with diverse degrees and backgrounds, which strengthens us as an organisation in the long-term, and this year will be no exception. There are still three weeks left to get your applications in, so no matter what your degree is, come and take a look at what we have to offer. This year, we are delighted to offer a brand new technology scheme to develop a new generation of IT leaders and to help drive forward our ambition to become a leading omni-channel retailer.”
Donaldson continued: “Over the years, we have seen many John Lewis graduates quickly move up to senior management roles within the company, which is testament to the quality of our training and development schemes.”
Hamzah Malik successfully applied for the John Lewis 2013 Technology Graduate Scheme and is currently an IT Analyst in Partnership Services. He studied English at Leicester University.
Hamzah Malik said: “My time at John Lewis so far has been amazing. It’s fast-paced and I’m developing new skills and learning new things about the business every day. I was attracted to John Lewis because of the training and support it gives graduates, and being able to do this in such a fun and varied environment has been fantastic. I’ve really enjoyed my time as a graduate so far. My goal is to move into an IT management position within John Lewis, but I would also like to try out a few different roles to broaden my experience as much as possible.”
Details on what applicants can expect on each of the schemes are as follows:
John Lewis Partnership Technology Graduate Scheme
This newly-developed training scheme will see graduates not only develop their skills within technology, but also build the qualities required to be a future leader of the business. There’ll be the chance to work with graduates from other schemes on business-focused projects, and to gain a unique insight into the impact technology has on the future of the Partnership. The training – which includes an international placement during year two, as well as the opportunity to study for PRINCE2 – is designed to give graduates a solid foundation on which to build a rewarding long-term career.
John Lewis Buying graduate scheme
The course starts with training in an entry-level buying role, as well as some time on the shop floor. From there, graduates will move to an assistant buyer role, taking on management responsibilities and ultimately moving into a buyer role. Within as little as three to five years, graduates could find themselves heading up a team, sourcing products globally and managing a multi-million pound budget.
John Lewis Merchandising graduate scheme
Graduates will start in an entry level role, and will attend coaching sessions as well as undertake special projects to support their development. From there, they will step into an assistant merchandiser role, taking on management and stock flow responsibilities as well as forecasting market trends. If successful, in three to five years, graduates can expect to lead a team developing product ranges with the buyer, securing stock and purchasing thousands of lines from an international supply base.
John Lewis Retail management scheme
An intensive six-week induction at one of our branches will give graduates the inside track on how we operate. They will then quickly take on the role of Section Manager, honing their team leadership skills and learning how to maximise sales in one of our sections – think Beauty, Men's Fashion or TV and Audio. As they move through the scheme, levels of responsibility will increase, as well as further opportunities to develop leadership and retailing skills, with potential to reach senior store management level in just three years.
John Lewis Corporate Finance
During the three-year scheme, there are three placements. Graduates will work across the Partnership in different divisions and different Finance teams, as well as studying for the CIMA qualification. From the start, they'll be given live projects on real-time business issues. These will help them to develop technical and analysis skills, build an understanding of the business and start their leadership journey in the Partnership
On top of the training they will get, graduates will be able to take advantage of the many benefits offered to Partners. As well as receiving a share of company profits and having a say in the running of the business through its democratic channels and forums, John Lewis provides social activities for Partners, such a sailing and riding. It also provides Partners with a subsidy so that they can claim money back from numerous events such as festivals, theatre and sports matches. As with all Partners, John Lewis will provide graduates with a leisure learning subsidy where they can claim back half the costs of recognised non-vocational courses such as languages, art or music.
To apply for the 2014 John Lewis Partnership graduate scheme, please visit www.jlpjobs.com/graduates. The scheme is now open for applications and will close on 1st December 2013.