Matt's Career Journey

Argos...
“My understanding of Argos has changed as I’ve understood the scale of the business – just how big it really is. We’re number one in numerous markets and have the second most visited retail website in the UK. There are a lot of facts and figures about Argos that you just wouldn’t believe unless you actually work here.”

“Argos is fantastic. It’s fast-paced, it’s competitive and we’re the leaders at pioneering multi-channel retailing.”

“There are lots of opportunities. It’s a real ‘can do’ culture. My team is also particularly good at supporting one another.”

The programme…
“The Choosy scheme evolved from the very top, from our managing director Sara Weller, and it was inspired by her own experiences at the start of her career. It’s just so flexible, they work with you to identify your individual development needs and create opportunities or interventions to help you. Besides this we have each had mentors and ample opportunities within the business to develop any skills that we need.”

“What sold the programme to me was the level of 1:1 attention that you receive, from mentoring to personal development planning and training. The fact that it’s a bespoke scheme. You’re not just another number.”

“There is a lot of commitment from the company - we are seen as a real investment for its long term success, not just a scheme for the sake of having a scheme.”

Being chosen…
“The application process was really fast and efficient. They replied quickly at each stage. The most impressive bit was the response – a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ was given the day after the assessment centre.”

“The assessment centre itself was intense. Obviously there was a lot of attention put on each of us, which was great; it showed the commitment they were willing to give. During the day there were lots of people to talk to and question about what it’s like to work at Argos and delve into their career journeys to date.”

“Being chosen felt like I’d imagine winning The Apprentice would feel (minus Alan Sugar pointing across the table).”

Getting started…
“We did a one week induction at Head Office, where we were hobnobbing with the top people in the business, with presentations and tours to gain the bigger picture of what goes on. Then suddenly you’re out working in a store, where you’re working face to face with customers.”

“There was constantly a new challenge to face, whether it was motivating a varied team of individuals or managing a sales change over / catalogue launch. The greatest benefit for me was learning how the business operates from the front end and seeing how the customer proposition is pulled together in the stores.”

“I really enjoyed it because it’s a good team environment. That experience is something that you’ve got to have, I believe, when you come to work at Head Office, so you can understand our customers. The stores are the main touch point that customers have with the business, and what happens there directly impacts how they feel about us. That’s the essence of what retail is all about – delivering a great service for our customers.”

The opportunities and exposure…
“My expectations for the scheme were very high and they have been met in all areas, if not exceeded. As we‘ve gone on, we’ve realised how many doors are open. Even though you’ve come as a graduate on a scheme, you can just go and talk to a director – and I really enjoy getting their views and seeing the bigger picture.”

“I like the opportunity to develop myself and have a real input, working on projects I actually see end-to-end and delivering a real difference to the business. I get to see the results of what I’ve done. You see things all the way through. Now I can pride myself on having a creative mind for problem solving – finding new and better ways to deliver results, whether those are sales or happy customers.”

“The biggest selling point of the scheme is the flexibility. It is customised to your needs, so you can achieve whatever you want to. If you want to develop certain skills, they’ll help you. Obviously, everyone’s goal is to be a future leader of the business and there is someone there to really help you do it.”

The support…
“I’ve got a really good mentor, who is high up in the company. The great thing is the mentors are not your direct line managers – you can go to them and talk to them about anything. They can give you the low down on the business, tips and advice.”

“My mentor is a real role model - really outgoing and with a great attitude. A great example to follow.”

Ten years to director…
“Now I’ve completed the scheme and moved into a permanent role as White Goods Merchandiser, I can aim to move up within the supplier chain while also looking forward to expanding my cross functional experience in the future with potential moves into Marketing or Trading.”

“My priority now is to convert all of the demand for White Goods into sales and to keep our customers happy. On a daily basis I motivate and set the focus for my team, who then liaise with our suppliers and place the orders etc. We have had great success to date, directly driving an additional £6m+ of sales year on year through better availability of stock, which is a fantastic result. I also work closely with the buying team to plan promotions and catalogue launches. This can involve longer term strategic initiatives to improve the way we work or short term reactions to any problems that arise.”

“Rather than success being solely dependant on my own efforts I now lead a team so I am dependant on everyone doing their part. It’s very satisfying to see how far individuals in the team have come and to be able to trust them with greater and greater responsibility.”

“The plan is still to be a senior business leader within the 10 years. Longer term I’d love to make it to the top tier of the business world and become a CEO or Chairman of a major UK business such as Home Retail Group.”

Why you should apply…
“This is an opportunity not to miss. The breadth of experience you can gain at such a well respected blue chip company - the focus and attention you will receive on the scheme – it’s all second to none. You’ll see from the assessment centre just how much effort is invested in each of the graduates who apply. You could be one of them.”