John Lewis Partnership

Graduate Schemes at John Lewis

The John Lewis Partnership offers a Management Development Programme for both its John Lewis and Waitrose stores. The tailored programme is designed to equip its graduates with all the skills needed for successful management. If you pick John Lewis, then the long term aim would be to integrate you into a store’s senior leadership team responsible for executing overarching brand strategy at a local level. Senior management roles tend to be divided between customer-facing departments – including selling departments, catering and customer service – and operational support functions such as finance, supply chain and administration.

Both John Lewis and Waitrose offer positions as department managers and section managers. Those that have supervisor experience from a commercial environment can develop their leadership skills in the Horizons training programme or by joining as a Section Manager Trainee.

If you don’t fancy working on the shop floor, there are several graduate roles available at Head Office through the Buying, Finance, IT and Merchandising schemes. Those undertaking the Buying scheme will develop their skills over three to five years – progressing to Assistant Buyer in their second year before becoming a fully-fledged Buyer by the end of the programme. Graduates interested in working across John Lewis’ three main buying categories of home, fashion, and electrical and home technology will need a minimum 2:1 to stand a chance of making the scheme. This academic prerequisite also applies to the company’s other Head Office schemes, with the exception of IT. Plumb for the Merchandising programme and you’ll make the rank of Merchandiser within three to five years. Based out of the HQ in Victoria, successful Merchandising applicants will be good with numbers, capable of planning and reaching targets and have great communication skills.

The recruitment process varies from scheme to scheme. However, no matter which role you apply for an online application kicks off proceedings, with graduate schemes then holding assessment days. Held over two days, hopefuls will only make the second day if they pass the first. The first day is group based, with graduates being put through their paces in a number of exercises. The second day involves a series of individual activities. One Project Manager states that two interviews is the ‘standard’; expect questions focussing on your ‘flexibility, mobility and… past experience’.

Internships and Placements

For those keen to gain some real hands-on work experience in retail management, count yourself lucky as John Lewis offers one-year placements and six-week summer internships for penultimate year students of any discipline. These schemes primarily focus on retail management and will significantly expand your business skills in trading, product presentations, stock control and selling techniques. Expect to gain a comprehensive understanding of life as a manager on the shop floor and find out what it takes to run a successful retail company. And guess what? If they like you, you may even be fast-tracked through the hiring process for the Retail Management graduate scheme – so make sure you give it a go!