What degree did you do and where?
Marketing (BSc) Lancaster University (1st Class Hons)
What were you looking for in your first job as a
graduate?
I got a job soon after graduation but I wasn’t getting the
responsibility, experience and exposure I was after – so I carried
on searching.
What other graduate programmes did you apply
to?
Boots was the only one!
Why did you apply to Boots?
The graduate
package looked great – particularly the training and salary. It was
the chance to work for an illustrious company with fantastic
brands, and enjoy accelerated career development in the
process.
How did you find the assessment process?
It was challenging but enjoyable. It started with an online
application form and ended with a full-day assessment. The day of
the assessment centre was very busy: we had to negotiate with
current buyers, work in groups to present ideas, have an interview
and do a maths test!
How did you find the training programme?
It’s been really interesting, and very thorough. Some of the
training helps you day-to-day (everything from finance to brand
management to merchandising). The rest is developmental, so you get
to learn soft skills and how to become a future business leader.
There’s also residential training where you immerse yourself in
personal development, away from your day job. My line manager
showed me how to get the most from my training and apply it going
forward.
What are you moving on to do now that you have
successfully completed the programme?
I’m still halfway through! As an Assistant Manager, in year one, I
worked on the Advantage card and enjoyed high-level responsibility
straight away. In order to deliver my projects I had to network
with peers right up to senior director-level. I’ve also been given
the freedom to lead and shape the projects I’ve worked on, while
developing my business acumen and marketing skills. In year two,
I’ll be working in the seasonal Buying team. This will expose me to
a whole new area of the business and develop my commercial and
negotiating skills. After that, I’d really like to continue my
career at Boots in marketing.