Why did you choose the John Lewis Partnership and this role?
I chose the John Lewis Partnership because of its democratic structure, the behaviours it stands for and the emphasis on the happiness of its partners. The values and behaviours the John Lewis Partnership promotes strongly resonate with me and it is exciting to know that I work for the UK’s largest co-owned business. I joined the John Lewis Partnership during my final year at University as a part-time Customer Assistant at Waitrose and loved the company’s positive and supportive culture. I knew I wanted to continue working for the Partnership after my graduation.
I chose the Technology Graduate scheme because technology is not only an enabler in retail but it also underpins everything we as Partners do and provides us with the opportunity to influence back office operations along with front line consumer experience. Additionally, the varied content of the scheme appealed to me because I will be exposed to the wider business, from working across different IT streams to working on Corporate Social Responsibility projects.
What was the toughest part of the application process? And your favourite part?
The toughest part of the application process was completing the video interview, mainly because it was my first time doing one. However, I prepared in advance, read a number of articles and tips on how to be successful in video interviews. I actually really enjoyed the process because it challenged me and it was rewarding to find out that I did well in it.
My favourite part was the assessment day because I got the opportunity to meet a number of senior Partners from the IT department who were very friendly and helpful which helped me relax and be myself.
Were you surprised by anything in the process?
One thing that surprised me was the fact that the aptitude tests stage had to be completed before the application stage that included both generic and role specific questions. Usually, it’s the other way around. However, this did not affect my performance because I prepared in advance and practiced completing a lot of aptitude tests online and spent sufficient time researching the company.
What three top tips would you give to graduates applying now?
Tip 1: Be passionate about the role and the company
Apply for schemes and companies that you are really passionate about. This will help you do the extensive research required and will enable you to go the extra mile. This is very important especially when you have to complete application forms whilst having additional University deadlines.
Tip 2: Prepare and put effort in
Take your time when answering the application questions. The more time and effort you put in this stage of the process, the more likely it is that you will be successful. I spent roughly three days completing the questions as I wanted to do a bit more research to perfect my answers, that enabled me to move on to the next stage.
Tip 3: Be confident
This is especially important during the interview and assessment centre stages. Although these parts of the application process could be very intimidating and stressful, be yourself and have positive attitude that will help you to perform to the best of your ability.