Retail Managment Any Experience
Discussion
Hello just wondered if anyone on here had some experience of retail management at all. Currently I study a degree in Business Studies at Lincoln University and work as a supervisor in Sainsbury's petrol station with me working for the company since I was 16 making it 3 years now aged 19. Manager has said as part of my gap year I seriously should consider the placement they offer in logistics as can put in a good word for me and then said that after this as long as I don't cock up I should be offered a place on the graduate scheme.
Looking at what they offer it appears the placement (in retail) is around 15k a year and then when you move onto the graduate scheme which will when I am 22/23 the wage is 25 - 30k depending on the area but ideally I will be based in a store nearer home so can save up some money for a couple of years before moving out. After that prospects are that the idea of the scheme is to get your to a deputy management role within 18 months which will then be paid a wage of circa 35 - 40k. After this store management is the next stage with a potential wage of 60k+ and onwards from that into head office.
The upsides to me seem that the money is good I could quite easily be earning 35 - 40k by the age of 25 which to me seems pretty good and also it is an area I already have a bit of experience in and seem to enjoy. The downsides appear to be that the holiday is pretty crap (23 days a year) although this can increase as time goes on and the fact hours can vary and be longer than expected.
Any experience of this type of role and good and bad points is much appreciated as have to start sorting my placement's out early next year and wherever I go will highly influence where I end up in the future and need to decide whether this is the correct route to go down or not
Looking at what they offer it appears the placement (in retail) is around 15k a year and then when you move onto the graduate scheme which will when I am 22/23 the wage is 25 - 30k depending on the area but ideally I will be based in a store nearer home so can save up some money for a couple of years before moving out. After that prospects are that the idea of the scheme is to get your to a deputy management role within 18 months which will then be paid a wage of circa 35 - 40k. After this store management is the next stage with a potential wage of 60k+ and onwards from that into head office.
The upsides to me seem that the money is good I could quite easily be earning 35 - 40k by the age of 25 which to me seems pretty good and also it is an area I already have a bit of experience in and seem to enjoy. The downsides appear to be that the holiday is pretty crap (23 days a year) although this can increase as time goes on and the fact hours can vary and be longer than expected.
Any experience of this type of role and good and bad points is much appreciated as have to start sorting my placement's out early next year and wherever I go will highly influence where I end up in the future and need to decide whether this is the correct route to go down or not
Okay thanks for the advice here paint's a more realistic picture of what I can expect. Think I am still going to apply anyway for the placement anyway as it still seems interesting to me and will be good as a back up if I don't get one at a car company which is what I would ideally want. If not I think I would still be pretty pleased with a career in retail as I do enjoy it at the moment albeit on a far smaller level and that starting wage for the graduate scheme aged 22 of 25k does seem very appealing to me.
It was the scheme below I was looking btw
http://www2.sainsburys.co.uk/graduates/schemes/ret...
It was the scheme below I was looking btw
http://www2.sainsburys.co.uk/graduates/schemes/ret...
VeeFour said:
Word of advice... don't.
They always have vacancies, because they turn over managers at a horrific rate. You'd be lucky to last 12 months.
Their 'training' involves running a store, which means being in at 6am to take in deliveries, before mopping the floor, cashing up the tills, etc.... and you'll finally get out when the store closes.
I'm sure the rewards are there when you get to regional manager with them - but something like only 1 in 100 make it - the rest bail out to companies offering a better work / life balance.
I have already been warned away from aldi meant to be a horrible company to work for despite the decent money even on a fairly basic level job you are required to do a hell of a lot more work than you would at a rival company. They always have vacancies, because they turn over managers at a horrific rate. You'd be lucky to last 12 months.
Their 'training' involves running a store, which means being in at 6am to take in deliveries, before mopping the floor, cashing up the tills, etc.... and you'll finally get out when the store closes.
I'm sure the rewards are there when you get to regional manager with them - but something like only 1 in 100 make it - the rest bail out to companies offering a better work / life balance.
JustinP1 said:
"There is no such thing as a free lunch" applies here.
25k may be generous now - but look at the reasons behind offering that.
And consider how generous 25k sounds when you are 32 instead of 22. As that is the reality. From the link you've shown highlight all the times that 'have the potential to'. 'could' and 'might' suffix these timescales.
Then ask them how many people they take on each year, and how many 25 year old deputy store managers they have and how many 30 year old store managers they have.
Yeah if I was still on 25k at 30 + I would be slightly more than pissed off I aspire to earn a lot more than that. Think I need to speak to my manager about more realistic prospects of the scheme as he seems a pretty nice down to earth bloke and hopefully wont feed me rubbish.25k may be generous now - but look at the reasons behind offering that.
And consider how generous 25k sounds when you are 32 instead of 22. As that is the reality. From the link you've shown highlight all the times that 'have the potential to'. 'could' and 'might' suffix these timescales.
Then ask them how many people they take on each year, and how many 25 year old deputy store managers they have and how many 30 year old store managers they have.
Edited by JustinP1 on Sunday 5th June 20:09
Thanks for the advice however certainly given me a lot to think about and need to start looking into different area's as not appealing as I first thought. As said I would love to get a job in the automotive industry but as I am studying business studies I am not sure if this will be possible especially in terms of a placement.
slipstream 1985 said:
a degree to run a "department" of a supermarket. sack that.
I see your job is within retail management are aged around 26 judging by your username and have a decent fleet already so what have you done to get to the role you are in today? And are you happy with a career in retail? I agree though with all the money a degree is costing me I certainly don't wont to be stuck aged 30 running a single department on a crappy 25k salary and if that is what realistically what is going to happen I am going to look at other sector's. I am course willing to work hard and put a lot of effort in wherever I work as I strive to get good money as soon as possible to enjoy some nice car's and get on the property ladder younger in life. I have always had the silly aim of no matter what to own a Ferrari by the age of 30 now matter how silly that sounds for example
JustinP1 said:
Well, to make your choice easy, you just need to ask Sainsbury's how many people on their graduate scheme are store managers at 29.
When they tell you the number is zero (in all likelihood) you won't need to ask them how many drive to work in Ferraris.
Seriously though, it strikes me that you have high long term goals, but you are fulfilling that on a mundane 'short term' job backed up with the hint that you might progress to a higher level in a store sooner or later.
My store manager is look's late 30's and drive's a 911 Carrera S. But yeah I see your point to be honest I am striving to achieve something with a high level of pay at an early age and this industry is probably not the way forward from how it appears. I also having the option of getting into the construction industry as my dad is pretty high up and a good company and could get me a place quite easily so need to consider this as well I really don't know. My mind is a mess at the moment I am probably going to get a 2.1 in Business being realistic and I have not an idea where to aim for. I have a placement year next year and need to start looking for it and applying for it in a few month's time and thinking of a suitable sector to aim for that meet's my needs of a decent wage earlier in life is killing me. Open to suggestions of course although I suspect what I am aiming for and what is possible is very different...When they tell you the number is zero (in all likelihood) you won't need to ask them how many drive to work in Ferraris.
Seriously though, it strikes me that you have high long term goals, but you are fulfilling that on a mundane 'short term' job backed up with the hint that you might progress to a higher level in a store sooner or later.
Okay thank's for the help
Think I am going to go for it the money seems decent and I will learn a good range of skill's to help me in the future and its a guaranteed job for a few years which is better than being stuck unemployed. If it is not the thing for me I can always try and switch career path in the future to something else as I am only young and the more experience I get on early in life the better. Hopefully if I put a lot of effort in and do the hours I will get the rewards but only time can tell that
Think I am going to go for it the money seems decent and I will learn a good range of skill's to help me in the future and its a guaranteed job for a few years which is better than being stuck unemployed. If it is not the thing for me I can always try and switch career path in the future to something else as I am only young and the more experience I get on early in life the better. Hopefully if I put a lot of effort in and do the hours I will get the rewards but only time can tell that
Well just to update this did a placement year at a construction company called Lakesmere and I am due to start on a graduate scheme at a company called Cofely UK (Part of GDF Suez) when I finish University in September
Was offered a retail role (not Sainsburys) but decided the unsociable hours were not for me and it was all too easy to get stuck at one level in the foodchain.
This scheme I am on offers 4 x 6 month placements in different areas of the business before moving onto a pretty decent role afterwards (varies depending on what areas you prefer etc) pay is around £25k to start and for my age (just gone 22) and I am really rather thrilled to be honest and can't wait to start
Was offered a retail role (not Sainsburys) but decided the unsociable hours were not for me and it was all too easy to get stuck at one level in the foodchain.
This scheme I am on offers 4 x 6 month placements in different areas of the business before moving onto a pretty decent role afterwards (varies depending on what areas you prefer etc) pay is around £25k to start and for my age (just gone 22) and I am really rather thrilled to be honest and can't wait to start
LooneyTunes said:
I think you've hit the nail on the head here ^^^. I nearly went into retail in a similar way straight after university and whenever I look back am convinced I made a much better call by not doing it. That's not to say it won't work for everyone but the base of the corporate pyramid is very wide in retail.
If you're going into engineering, worth trying to get close to some project management work early on. If you like it (and are good at it) you can build a skill set that is transferable between industries and very much in demand both for permies and contractors (even more so if you end up getting security clearance).
Yes I agree and to be honest the prospect of having to work weekends and unsociable hours having come from a placement that was a more traditional mon-fri role really did not appeal at all.If you're going into engineering, worth trying to get close to some project management work early on. If you like it (and are good at it) you can build a skill set that is transferable between industries and very much in demand both for permies and contractors (even more so if you end up getting security clearance).
It is called a business graduate management scheme so project management will be a major part of it from speaking to a current graduate, projects I could get involve in include queen elizabeth hospital and various nucleur power plants etc... which they all provide intergrated services for. They did say if placed on a power plant I will need security clearance and will have to send of forms very soon if I want to be vetted in time for my September start date.
Other placements may include things such as procurement and logisitics etc... but from speaking do think they is the chance to move into areas you find of more interest as time goes on.
My Dad is currently a contruction manager so will be able to give me some good advice along the way as well and company itself also provides me with a mentor throughout and a regular chance to meet directors etc... so really hope it is something I can thrive in
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