Marks & Spencer (M&S)

Marks & Spencer (M&S) is a British retailer, with 760 stores in more than 30 countries around the world.

Graduate Schemes

M&S graduate schemes offers candidates classroom training alongside real life work (including placements in several different areas of the business), and a fast-track route into senior-level management.

There are two types of scheme available to graduates:

Store Based

• Retail selling scheme - Graduates on this scheme will end up becoming a manager in a store. Any degree discipline is accepted.
• HR programme - Graduates spend 18-months on this programme, based in-store. Any degree discipline is accepted.

Head Office Based

• Head office scheme - Graduates may apply for a specific head office role, including: IT, Buying, Merchandising, Garment technology, Food technology and Food product development. Applicants must have studied a relevant degree.

Application process

The M&S application process is as follows:

• Online application
• Online aptitude tests
• Assessment centre

Online Application

Candidates must complete the M&S online application to register their interest and apply for graduate jobs. Candidates must provide information about themselves, their experiences and their academic grades.

Online Aptitude Tests

After making an online application candidates are invited to take verbal and numerical tests, also online, and to complete a talent-screening questionnaire. All of this has been created by SHL and will be of GCSE standard.

Assessment Centre

The M&S assessment centre takes place from mid-January to the end of February each year.

The assessment centre will consist of:

• Group exercise
• Role play
• Presentation session
• Competency interview

Candidates will usually be invited to a dinner and to stay in a hotel on the night before the assessment centre. This will be hosted by current M&S graduate scheme trainees, and offers a useful opportunity to ask questions, find out about the working culture at M&S and find out more detail about the job you have applied for. This part of the assessment centre is not officially assessed.

Group Exercise

The M&S group exercise will be a mock board meeting. You and the other candidates will be given information about a fictional company, and be asked to make suggestions about particular issues that may be concerning them. Two assessors will be monitoring and assessing this exercise, taking notes about each candidate's input and interactions.

Role Play

During the role play you will be given about 10 - 15 minutes to read about a fictional M&S employee, and then be asked to give them a performance appraisal. An assessor will actually play the part of the M&S employee during this exercise. Be prepared for them to be argumentative or difficult during their assessment, or to act as you might not expect.

Presentation Session

for this exercise you will be given information on another fictional company. You will be asked to spend 45 minutes writing a report about how this company should:

• Re-design its store, and;
• Respond to its competitors

During this time you should also make separate notes and prepare to give an individual 10 minute presentation about your plans to one assessor.

Competency Interview

The final stage of the interview process is a 30 minute competency interview, during which you will be asked to give examples of times when you have demonstrated teamwork skills and other key competencies. You will also be asked exactly why you want to work for M&S.

Preparing for the Assessment Centre

As well as researching M&S also investigate the retail industry as a whole. Find out about Marks & Spencer's main competitors and how they are placed within the retail sector. Research trends within the fashion and food markets to help you in the presentation and role play stages of the assessment centre.

For further information see - Assessment Centre, Role Play and Group Exercise.