Buying Associate Review

The internship very much felt that it was a new project for the business and that they needed to learn from our experiences. therefore, the placement was perhaps not as organised or structured as it could have been but I feel that I still gained a valuable insight and developed skills necessary to my future career.

Although there has been a lot of movement within my team I have formed strong relationships with the buyers and admins. The company as a whole provides a very friendly atmosphere.

You are expected to use your own initiative a lot of the time as buyers are constantly out of the office but training and support is on hand so that you can do your job.

As a result of the retail industry there are always peak times and quieter times but everyone helps out other departments during these periods if they are quiet.

I was expected to answer vendor queries and be their first contact which makes you responsible for maintaining a good relationship. I have also been responsible for raising some repeat orders from looking at sales reports. However in vendor meetings I felt that i was there to observe and learn how buyers approach their vendors.

My degree is in fashion buying and so the year placements has provided me with an invaluable insight into the world of buying and helped to develope the skills that are vital to achieving my goal as a buyer. I have also learnt many valuable skills that will assist in all aspects of my life such as organisation, people skills and computer based skills.

As the buyers are only really in on a Monday, the rest of the week is fairly quiet but the admins (who are always in) are always approachable and friendly.

We had some training days planned for the mid placement transition from buyers' admin to buyers' assistant but these were never carrried through. This could be due to the relative newness of the placement and I am aware that the company has made many changes for next year.

At the beginning of the placement we were fully trained in all of the TK Maxx computer systems as well as excel. We also had many Q&A sessions with company leaders in different departments to gain an all-rounded knowledge. Apart from the mid internship training sessions I don't think TK Maxx could have done anything differently.

I have been offered a contact to return as a trainee allocation analyst which would eventually lead into a buying position.

My flat cost my partner and I £775 a month and a night out could cost around £20.

I didn't go out very often and my phone got stolen on one of the nights out.

Around comic relief there was an endless amount but not too much otherwise.