Hannah’s Career Journey

The application process…
“Until I found out about the Choosy scheme through my university careers service, I had never known that Argos was a graduate employer - but now I know that the scheme has a great profile within the business and is probably underestimated by the graduate community.”
“I really enjoyed the assessment day, which told me that I definitely wanted my place. I came home so positive about Argos that my Dad said he was convinced I must have been successful.”

Why Argos and Home Retail Group…
“I was looking for things like breadth of experience, a clear path of progress and exciting opportunities.”

“I knew that I wanted my place on the graduate scheme after my assessment day because I was struck by the supportive but challenging environment. It says a lot about the culture of Argos that some of the very senior individuals I met that day are still offering me support, advice and encouragement two years on.”

“Having worked as part of the wider Home Retail Group, I have seen that the collective desire to build a successful market-leading business is not just limited to Argos. Additionally, the work I have been doing on corporate and social responsibility has shown me that there is an ever-increasing focus on internal colleague engagement as well as the impact the Group has on customers, communities and on the environment.”

Being chosen…
“Obviously, I was really proud and excited but I was also made to feel very welcome and that Argos truly wanted me.”

“At first my friends were surprised that I would be working at Argos – now they are surprised at how great the scheme is and they are impressed by all the different things I have worked on.”

Getting started…

“For me, it’s the leadership element that’s the key to the scheme. This is true from the word go, when you take your place as a member of store management for five months over peak trading. Also, if you’re not sure what you’re interested in or good at, the rotation helps you to understand more about your own competencies and preferences.”

“The exposure to various key parts of the business over just two years is another differentiator between the Choosy programme and others that I looked at and this would be difficult to re-create without the support of the scheme.”

“I can’t pretend it wasn’t daunting, but the opportunity to lead in a store with eighty colleagues is not something many 21-year-olds get to experience! Once I found my feet, my store experience was dynamic, fun, challenging and incredibly rewarding. The perspectives and contacts I gained from it have helped me on many occasions in my other rotations. Most importantly, I met and served hundreds of our customers face-to-face!”

Development & training…
“I have now completed a rotation in Cusomter and Marketing Insight, Commercial Trading within the iExtra team and Direct Marketing in Financial Services. I then moved to a role in Product Marketing to work on developing and implementing our promotional plan for peak 2010. Currently, I am working in the same team but in a different role which, among other things, concentrates on managing and driving promotional opportunities. customers ‘more choice’ online. It’s a very fast-paced and reactive part of the business.”

“I am currently doing a rotation in the Home Retail Group Financial Services division. My immediate team do the direct marketing to Argos Cardholders but the wider team is responsible for the selection and promotion of a whole range of insurance and credit products.”

“I plan, brief and manage Argos Card Direct Mail Campaigns. A typical day might see me briefing our agency about the next campaign that is coming up: what are our objectives, what do we want the letter to tell our customers, when is it going to land on doorsteps etc. I will then be receiving creative ideas from our agency for previous briefs, which I review with my manager. If I have any final copies of campaign creative, I have to ensure that this is signed-off by all the internal stakeholders before it is sent to the printers to be printed and distributed. Part of my day might be ensuring that the printers get all the customer data they need to distribute effectively. I may also be tracking how any Financial Services emails are doing or conducting some competitor reviews.”

“After this rotation, I will be gaining experience within the Supply function to ensure that I have an understanding of stock management and its impact.”

Mentors …
“My mentor has provided me with help, advice and support on various levels and platforms. He encouraged me to move house so I that was happier on a personal level. He gives me insight into the types of decisions and discussions that go on at a Director level. He has worked with me on technical aspects such as presentation skills and by offering feedback where he can. He has also encouraged me to push myself out of my comfort zone on a couple of occasions.”

What the future holds…
“I aim to progress up to senior-management level within a marketing/trading role.”

Why you should apply…

“Home Retail Group is full of inspiring and supportive people, as well as exciting opportunities. Whether you are interested in brands, in buying product, in project management, in promotion, in credit provision, in distribution or in stock management, there are opportunities that will interest you. Colleagues are always encouraged to move and gain experience in other areas so there is the potential for a graduate to progress through the company without limiting their CV in any way.”