Trainee commercial manager Review

I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to be a business placement student at Marks and Spencer.

The graduate programme offers you the opportunity to gain real responsibility on a large scale within a store. The great thing about the scheme has been the chance to work with colleagues to achieve a store wide approach. On the spot feedback from my colleagues has really helped guide me in the best way.

Coming in externally from the company without prior M&S experience meant that I was a bit nervous pre arrival. The great thing that the company offers, is an in store mentor for the entire year you are here. The in store mentor that I had was great, providing regular catch up sessions on my progress throughout. My line manager, the store manager has given me a number of great opportunities throughout my time with company, such as sending me to help with a new store opening. They have worked hard to keep my best interests at heart and have supported me throughout my journey with the company.

Very busy. You have a year to learn a lot of information! That being said.... When you do get to the other side you do feel like you have soaked a lot up.

The responsibility given grew over the time I was with the company. When you arrive you go through a lot of training and attend a lot of courses. Once you have had time to settle in you will be given your own department to look after and then the responsibility given increases.

The most valuable part of my time here has been leading different teams. This has really helped develop my Leadership skills, my team working skills and communication skills. These skills will help me going forward when I return to University to complete my final year project with a team of students as well as lead the business society.

As a trainee commercial manager I was based in the office with other commercial managers in the same store. I was given my own desk to use throughout which was great. It was great to be in the same office as other commercial managers as it meant that I could be exposed to their knowledge and experience on a daily basis.

Before you officially start your year, you are invited to meet with the store manager for a day just to meet the team. You are then given a booklet in which has the training modules that you will take part in and the timescales you have to learn these. You will have a regional representative where he/she will organise milestone days to catch up with you on your progress. It was well organised.

Amazing amounts of investment. Training courses across the region/country. Milestone days to find out how you are progressing. The opportunity to visit different parts of the business was really easy. Line manager and in store mentor.

So much opportunity, I hope to come back to the business after Uni.

Definitely. In my region there was 9 other trainees on similar schemes to myself where we would catch up on milestone days. The colleagues in work have been great to catch up with outside of work.

More expensive than my University city, but I am getting payed! :)

Good

Yeah, it was in a city so the opportunities were endless.