Do you need a degree to work in retail head office?
Interestingly, most retail careers don’t require a degree. “Retail is one of those industries where you can walk in with nothing, learn and develop on the way, and make it right to the top – if you’re prepared to put the effort in,” says Jon Gregory, a job search, application and interview specialist.
HR specialist Lydia Fairman agrees that retail has few barriers to entry. “It’s one of the best industries to get into and progress quickly without a degree,” she says.
Have a clear focus and contact recruiters directly
It’s important to build experience related to your chosen area in retail. “If you are looking for work experience in a particular field, my recommendations would be to be clear about the area you want experience in. Is it buying, merchandising, or store management?” says Janine Jenkinson, head of talent acquisition for River Island.
“Be clear and focused on what role you want to do in head office, and do as much research as possible. Identify companies you would love to work for and try to speak to someone in their HR team,” she adds.
Kate Barron, retail specialist and founder of Frame, agrees that being direct is the best approach. “Contact retailers directly. Walk in store, write to someone in head office, tell them how great their brand is. Retail is really competitive, but the one thing that sets apart graduates is their passion for the brand.”
Get experience on the shop floor
If you’re starting out in retail, the best thing you can do is to get experience on the shop floor, says Barron. “From store you can always progress into head office retail positions.”
Fairman adds that you should research the likelihood of career progression in the company before applying: “Do some research and get into a business with a good training scheme – you’ll have a great career before you know it.”
Demonstrate a passion for retail
Researching the industry is a good way to show your commitment in a job interview. “I changed career into retail and throughout the application and interview process I had to demonstrate a lot of commercial insight on retail. That came entirely from my own research about retail,” says Sobayha Valli, founder of Sobayha.com, an online fashion retailer.
The key is to show a real interest in retail. Gregory says: “Think about things such as: how is the economy, relative to retailing, at the time you’re applying? What are the challenges your retailer faces? Where do they win, over competitors?” Another tip is to look at any transferable skills you may have built up and show how these apply to the retail role.
Apprenticeships or courses can boost your applications
Apprenticeships and specialised college courses are a good route into retail. “Apprenticeships can be a great way of getting practical on-the-job training and a qualification that helps with a career in retail,” says Michelle Burton, human resources director for Poundland.
Likewise Katie Owen, owner and managing director of Sargasso and Grey, found evening courses gave her a better understanding of retail. “When I started my shoe company I had zero knowledge of retail or of the shoe industry. I wanted to learn more but was working full-time in finance so had very little time – so I started an evening course at the London College of Fashion.”
For certain areas of retail there are also college courses that teach applicable skills. “There are many colleges that offer dedicated one to two-year courses on buying and merchandising,” adds Jenkinson.
Don’t rule out starting your own business
Many retail workers eventually go on to start their own business. “We need more independent retailers,” says Christopher Suitor, partner of Suitor Menswear and owner of the Belfast Tailor. “So please don’t rule out starting your own business. If you have an idea, get in contact with a local business coach or mentor and see how to take that forward.”
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