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,
marketing, supply, logistics, HR, product development, IT
and finance, to name a few 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 sector above the
shop floor, for a career with prospects of early management
responsibility, high salaries and excellent benefits, and the
possibility of working globally.
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.
Progression within the industry can
be excellent, and there is plenty of
opportunity to be creative, to make things
happen, and to follow your interests and
values.
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.
MORE INFORMATION
If you want to find out more about
this sector, visit:
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/retail
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 shortstaffed
at these times, often through
specialist online recruitment agencies.
Ollie Tomlins
Online Development PROJECT
Manager - Sainsbury’s
“
Retail in general is a
fascinating industry: it is a
human geography exercise
- thinking about the reasons
behind customers’ behaviour,
spending habits and regional
trends generates the greatest
interest for me in my job.
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.29) for
an insight into the challenges faced by
real businesses, and for the opportunity
to help solve problems faced by local
firms.
+ + Volunteer in a charity shop for customer
service experience.
157