Arcadia group - Assessment Centre

Hey

I'm through to the assessment centre stage for a BAA. Has anyone got any tips for this? Will be doing it in 2 weeks.

Yes definitely. You need to do your research, on Arcadia, the fashion retail industry in the UK, Arcadia's competitors and you need to consolidate your knowledge of Philip Green - his history, which shops/chains he owns, etc. You will be asked questions such as why is the retail industry struggling right now, what problems Arcadia is facing and why, and what they can do to improve their performance in the current climate. Be prepared for competency interview questions too. Be confident - they are looking for outgoing people who would be nice to work with who understand the fun side of fashion (style, etc) as much as the business side of fashion retail.

Hey Essebella,
I recently had a phone interview with Arcadia for the BAA role.
I was wondering how long it took for them to invite you to the assement centre??

Thanks in advance!

I went to the finance assessment centre got rejected and never got any feedback.

Thought that was a complete joke considering they don't even pay for travel expenses.

hey guys is anybody coming for the assessment centre on 16th in London and also has anybody done a maths test at the AC I have one and dont know what to expect. I would really appreciate some help. Thanks.

Hey nikki400

How did the assessment center go? What kind of questions were asked?

Hi Nikki400

how did the assessment centre go?

I am also worried about the maths test and would appreciate any advice and information you can offer on the test or other aspects of the day.

Thanks .

Hi people,

The competencies were the same as other interviews. I dont remember very clearly since its been a long time. I did not get through but yes I can say the Maths test was easy like dead easy so there is no need to worry.
Be prepared to talk about your experiences in the Retail or Fashion industry.

hi there,

Ive got an assessment centre coming up on the 16th in london and i just want to know if anyone has been to one? if so what was the group excersie and math test like? im actually quite worried about the math test as i suck at it.
The role i applied for is the branch merchandising analyst meaning i will be working with numbers.

Can anyone help me out? any advice or tips?

Thanks :)

Hey everyone!

I have my assessment day for the MAA role soon and im really worried, ive read about a lot of people who have gotten through ot the assessment but not one person i have spoken to has got further than that. Any tips on how to wow them?!

Fizz - my assessment is the week after yours but for the MAA role. Could you please let me know how it goes, i am especially worried about the maths test more than anything.

Would really appreciate it! x

Hey guys!

I have recently applied for the MAA role and have been shortlisted for the telephone interview. Was hoping whether anyone could give me tips as to how to respond to their criteria?

Bassness and Fizz - How have your assessments gone and what branch have you applied for?

Would be grateful for any help.

Thank you.

HI LFC4Life!

Have you had your telephone interview already????

Hi syleena38,

Yup, I had it about three weeks ago. :D

And how did it go? What kind of questions were you asked? Are you going to the assessment centre? Loads of questions I know lol

It went great!

The person I spoke to was really nice. I think you have to remember that they really want you to pass. My assessment centre is coming up soon.

She asked me questions based on the following:

Why I chose to apply for Arcadia and my motivation behind it.

Aspects of the role itself. What I believe the merchandising role will entail.

The challenges/competition Arcadia are facing at the moment.

That was all, it lasted approximately 15 minutes. I know that's what they tell you on the email to prepare for, but that is actually all they asked me about.

What role have you applied for with Arcadia and what branch? If you need any help in answering the questions just let me know. :D

Thanks a lot for your answer!

 I've applied for the MAA role as well.

I arrived in London 3 months ago and I never heard about Arcadia before (know Topshop through Kate Moss and that's it :-)). Btw I'm French.

I'd really like you to help me answering the challenges/competition Arcadia are facing at the moment.

Thanks a lot

Well for challenges I mentioned how the retail sector faces challenging times with the VAT increase by 20%. Their leading competitors are Marks and Spencer, Asda and Next I would say.

She might ask you about the biggest online competitors, so ASOS might come into mind.

Also, other challenges are how food retail sectors such as Asda have clothing ranges such as George. Sainsburys sell clothes as well.

You have mentioned that you do not know much about Arcadia, make sure you do your research on them. At this point you should at least be aware of their brands. These are:

Topshop
Topman
Burton
Miss Selfridge
Dorothy Perkins
Wallis
Evans
Outfit

BHS is being integrated into it too.

Hope that helps. :D

Oh Thank you for your help.

I did some research on the group, the different brands and their target populations etc...

Hope everything will be alright.

I will let you know how it went.

Good luck! All the best :D

Hi!!!!

Just got my telephone interview and it went well.

I got the assessment centre coming soon..

Maybe I'll see you there.

Thanks again for your help.

Hey Guys, I have my telephonic interview next... can you give me some additional information about it to attain the interview.....

As far as I'm concerned, there is nothing more to add. LCF has already said everything....

hey syleena thanks for the comment... by the way have u done with ur assessment centre??????
I have my telephonic interview tomorrow.

hey guys just wanted to know how much days they take to tell you the result of telephonic interview. I have given mine today.. so just wanted to know about it..

@ Syleena 38 : when is your assessment centre???

Hi Everybody!!!!

I've been to my assessment centre today and I think it went well, at least I hope so...

First of all I had the one to one interview (20-30 min). Questions were about the same ones than over the phone:

Why Arcadia?

- As a MAA, what do you think your daily tasks will be? Who will you be in contact with regularly?

- Why is it important to build long term relationships with them?

- How do you cope with repetitive tasks?

- What challenges is currently facing Arcadia?

-Think about one of the group's brand and tell me which are its competitors, the target population....

Then we moved on the group excercise (15 mins preparation + 5min presentation). We were supposed to be 4 but only 3 of us were there.

And finally the math test (20 min). 2 of us didn't have time to finish. It's all about being fast and accurate. You need to know about ratios and percentages and currenc

Hello all, I've also managed to get to the assessment centre for Arcadia and I had a question about how people dressed for this? I noticed it said to not go in business dress as it's obviously a fashion business, but do people go all out and make sure it seems they're "down with" the current fashion trends or is it more of how you dress as a person??

Any feedback as to what sort of thing you guys wore would be appreciated xx

hey guys I have a assesment day next tuesday for the BAA position,

I had the same this time last year and didnt get trough! I think it is a really difficult stage to pass and you dont hear of many people who get through so fingers crossed! anyone else got one coming up soon?

Hi everyone, congratulations for your achivements so far. I wish I was at that stage by now.
I applied for maa, seems like ages ago, and haven't heard anything back yet. How long have you been waiting for the first contact Arcadia made with you? Shall I give them a call, or it would just make it worse?

Thanks a lot for any feedback.

Hey!

I actually heard back on the same day I submitted my application,I have some experience in merchandising With tkmaxx
so not too sure if that got me through right away!

Have u heard anything from them?

Hi!!!

I heard back on the same day I submitted my application too. And I had an online test before to be shortlisted for the telephone interview.

But since I've been to the assessment centre last week I haven't heard from them.

And regarding the outfit, I would say it should reflect your style and personality and not be a copy-paste from a magazine. But that's MY opinion.

Voila

Oh my gosh well done!!!
How was your assesment centre???

I would say give it until Monday or Tuesday next week then maybe call them?

I shall keep my fingers crossed for you!

Can you give me any tips for the interview?

Thanks,

The HR lady told me I would get an answer between 5-10 working days, so if I stick to that I should wait until next Thursday. But since they're not rushing to get back to me..... lol

Regarding the interview, I don't know if I can give you tips, but I'd say try to be yourself, show that you do know your subject. You understand fashion and you're good with numbers. You're outgoing and can work with people...

Basics I know, but I don't know what you could say to wow them. Unless you wow them with your style lol.

Good luck!!!!!!

cool keep me posted!

good luck!

I also heard back the same day I submitted with the link for that online test, then it was the day after that that I got the email regarding organising a telephone interview.

Thanks for the comments about the whole what to wear thing. I guess I'm just concerned that I'd go along and be far too casual or far too over-dressed!

Fingers crossed that they get back to you soon with positive news!

Thanks for the comments. And well done everyone:)

I think I just need more experience then, and try it again later.

Take care
lol
Colette

Hi again everyone,

I was just wondering if any of you could give me some advices on what prior experience one needs to get a job in merchandising. What did you do before?
Will a degree in economics and a little experience in retail do? I'm just trying to get to the right direction.

Any reply appriciated a lot....

hey!

I had my assesment centre last tuesday and think it went okay, have you heard anything yet?

im sitting waiting by my phone and constantly checking my email!

hiya.

I worked in merchandiasing for four months for TK MAXX (and absolutely hated it!) you basically need to be very analytical and vvvvv good at figures.

I have worked for a various numbers of retailers and did some work experience, i would say just apply for entry level allocation roles to get your foot in the door!

Thanks very much:) lol

Hi
I have an assessment centre coming up for MAA and Im just wondering regarding the maths test..how hard is it...also beside from fractions, decimals, percentages...what comes up?
Thanks!

hey for the BAA assesment centre it was literally percentage increases and decreases and some basic formulaes which they provide and you have to use to work out exchange rates and that was it, it was only 15 questions x

Great thanks a mill jphili10...I hope its the same for MAA!

Hey guys, just to let you know I passed the assesment centre but have been placed in a talent pool for BHS and when a vacancy arises I will be selected for a brand interview - however she did say on the phone it could be weeks or months - this is actually really annoying - has anyone else faced this in the past? I feel like it was abit of a waste of time if i find something else now,arrrgh!

Hey,
I had an AC yesterday!! How long was it before they got back to you? I know what you mean, the whole process is so long as it is then you have to hang on even after you've been 'offered a position.' It's like they want to keep you in limbo for as long as possible, just another hoop to jump through!

I waited for two weeks and had to call them! hope it goes well!

A talent pool??! So you don't even know when you will be able to start ? I'm not very happy with that. I have an assessment centre in October, and I thought that if I'm successful they will tell me the date when I can start :( Ohh... I'm sure they have a few people in that talent pool, so how will they choose who to choose ? And why will you have a brand interview if they already know that the brand you will be working for is Bhs ? I just don't understant that...

jphili10 - i recently heard about the talent pool as well which i am really disappointed about especially as their interview process is so long! Have you had your second part to the brand interview - did you have to do a SWOT analysis? x

Hey guys nope not even had the 2nd brand interview yet!does anyone actually know anyone who has passed this?!I interviewed work tk maxx and literally found out within 2days I had the job at head office!it's quite frustrating and apparently bhs is in a tottaly seperate office,I previusly worked in allocation and have to say buying is horrificly competitive I can't even find unpaid buying placements anymore!

Hi have you heard anything back form BHS yet about a job?
vicky x

Hi everyone

I have my telephone interview for the finance position coming up very soon and I was wondering if anyone could give me some tips please.

It would be very helpful :) :)

Thanks x