OXFORD

RETAIL + SALES
A major sector in the economy, the retail world is full of opportunities for graduates: roles
exist across many diverse outlets and functions. The sector requires specialists in buying,
skilled roles. Around 2% of Oxford students work as sales assistants or similar temporary
positions after graduation – to pay for time out travelling, or to support themselves while
they apply for graduate work or further study. Many other Oxford graduates enter the
RETAIL + SALES
Tom Flintoff
Site Optimisation Manager,
Marks & Spencer
“Whereas in a ‘bricks and mortar’
store you may not know if a particular
product display is enticing customers to
purchase, in the online world you can
see this information real time.”
Most major supermarkets and department stores in the
UK have graduate training programmes, which often
start with a rotation scheme around the organisation
before specialisation. These schemes are particularly
suited to students who want immediate responsibility
and fast promotion, and who are multi-skilled but
have not yet decided what their niche might be. The
majority of roles are open to graduates of all disciplines
and progression can be excellent as there is plenty of
opportunity to be creative, to make things happen, and
to follow your interests and values.
The last 5-10 years have also seen tremendous growth
in online retail. This has brought with it more jobs, not
just in technical areas, but in everything from customer
insights, buying, logistics and management.
If seriously considering a graduate career in retail,
you will need to be aware of areas such as Fair Trade,
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability.
Retailers’ profits and brand image are increasingly
formed by these issues. Functional and sector
experience with a retailer can also provide an excellent
platform into other careers such as consultancy or the
not-for-profit sector.
GETTING IN AND ENTRY POINTS
Retailers tend to recruit students for graduate
schemes in their final year of study to start the
following September, and many deadlines for full-time
positions will fall towards the end of Michaelmas Term.
Competition for these schemes can be intense. Specific
Head Office roles may be advertised on CareerConnect
throughout the year, or on company websites. Students
who have been on a structured work experience scheme
in this sector are likely to be at an advantage when
applying for graduate jobs.
Deadlines for internship schemes, usually aimed
at penultimate year students, also tend to be in
Michaelmas or early Hilary Term. If a retailer doesn’t
offer a formal internship scheme, approach them
speculatively for work experience or shadowing
opportunities. However, experience of how the retail
sector works can be gained in many ways – and many
firms like their future managers to have spent time on
the shop floor. Busy times of the retail year coincide
with university vacations, so get some experience as a
sales assistant during a holiday. Firms recruit temporary
workers well in advance to ensure they are not short
staffed at these times, often through specialist online
recruitment agencies.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR IDEAS
+ Run a mini-business that has to turn a profit, such as
a theatrical production or a college ball.
+ Get involved with the OxCo-op, which makes ethical
food accessible for the Oxford community, or similar
local organisations such as Cultivate.
+ Join The Student Consultancy (p.33) for an insight
into the challenges faced by real businesses, and
for the opportunity to help solve problems faced by
local firms.
+ Sign up for Insight into Business, to learn core
elements of strategy, marketing and management
and learn how to build a profit and loss account.
+ Volunteer in a charity shop for customer service
experience.
MORE INFORMATION:
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/retail
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