Harrods Careers: Employment Process/Job Assessment/Job Openings
Updated July 17, 2023
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Harrods is one of the most famous department stores in the world and is known for the luxury items it sells. While the store is often visited as a tourist attraction, there are those who frequently use one of Harrods’ many services.
As such, Harrods is a great company to work for, especially if you are looking for a career in luxury fashion.
For those considering a position at Harrods, this article will give you insight into Harrods careers and roles, the application process and how best to prepare.
Why Work at Harrods?
Harrods has been in business since 1824. In 2022, it reported an annual turnover of over £580 million and employs just over 3,000 people.
As well as being a famous London landmark, Harrods is also the primary shopping destination for celebrities, sports stars, royalty and anyone else with an income to match.
Outside of fashion, Harrods sells luxury properties through Harrods Estates and aviation/private jet services through Air Harrods and Harrods Aviation.
The brand prides itself on selling only the best products and offering customers a discreet and high level of customer service.
Its core values are:
- We are human – Employees are warm, curious, show a genuine interest in their customers and are humble.
- We strive to exceed – Employees are expected to go above and beyond for their customers.
- We build trust – Employees are expected to continuously develop knowledge and relationships while maintaining integrity and discretion.
- We take pride – Harrods is a British heritage brand with a well-known reputation. All employees must maintain this and take pride in their work.
- We are one – Harrods is a shop for all people regardless of background and culture. The store motto, Omnia Omnibus Ubique, means ‘all things, for all people, everywhere’.
As with any retail business that caters to the wealthy, there are mixed reviews.
However, the majority of past and present employees state that Harrods is a great place to work, as no two days are the same and there is always something to learn. Plus, there’s an employee discount of at least 33%.
Other employee benefits include:
- Cycle-to-work scheme
- Discounts on flights and hotels
- Access to a 24-hour employee assistance programme that helps with mental health, childcare and financial issues
- Paid time off
- Discounts on gyms and health plans
- Access to workshops such as managing finances
For those considering one of the Harrods careers, you can choose from:
- Personal shopping and sales assistants
- HR
- PR and communications
- Buying and merchandising
- Chefs
- IT
- Estate agent
- Security
And many more.
As Harrods is a retail store, there are also plenty of full-time, seasonal and Harrods part time jobs.
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How to Find Harrods Vacancies
You can find all Harrods vacancies on the Harrods career website.
There is no definitive or single list. Instead, you will have to select the department and position you want and see if there are any vacancies available.
For in-store Harrods jobs, there are individual pages for:
- Retail management
- Sales associate
- Personal and private shopping
- Retail operations
- Retail services
- Store services
- Store operations (with additional pages for engineering and project management roles)
- Security
- Visual Merchandising
There are also pages for positions in:
- Customer service
- Distribution and warehouse
- Buying and merchandising
- IT
- H Beauty
- Harrods Estates
- Gatwick and Heathrow
- Front and back of house Chef
Head office vacancies include:
- eCommerce and Digital
- HR
- Finance and Internal Audit
- PR and Corporate Communications
- Creative, Marketing and Partnerships
For each department, there is a brief description of daily activities followed by the current vacancies.
When you click on a specific vacancy, a pop-up will appear asking if you want to receive alerts for similar vacancies.
Christmas and Harrods summer jobs on the shop floor are needed to accommodate the extra footfall and tend to be temporary but will still be advertised and recruited in the same way as Harrods part time jobs and full-time positions.
You can also find Harrods job vacancies on websites such as LinkedIn and Indeed.
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What Is the Harrods Careers Recruitment Process?
Depending on the role you are considering, there are a potential six steps in the Harrods recruitment process.
- Online application
- Online assessment
- Telephone screening
- Interview and assessment
- Trial shift
- Feedback and offer
1. Online Application
The initial application asks for you to submit a cover letter and CV, as well as answer some basic questions regarding your skills and relevant experience.
It should take no more than two weeks for you to receive details about the next stage of the recruitment process.
Before submitting, ensure you have written a cover letter and CV specifically for the Harrods position. Generic applications are not successful.
To improve your chances, use exact phrases and keywords from the job description to show you have the experience and skill sets.
2. Online Harrods Values Assessment
Upon submitting your initial application, you will be asked to complete the Harrods Values Assessment to measure how well you fit into the Harrods culture.
The questions will be centred around Harrods’ values and will use common workplace scenarios.
While it is advised that you research the values before completing the assessment so you have an idea of how you should answer, you should never lie when it comes to your Harrods online assessment answers.
If the Harrods environment is not one you align with, you will not succeed or have a good experience.
3. Telephone Screening
If your application and Harrods online assessment answers match what recruiters are looking for, you will be invited to a telephone screening.
During this call, the recruiter will ask you more questions about your experience, skills and values.
You will also have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have regarding the role and working at Harrods.
4. Interview and Assessment
Depending on the role, this stage will look very different.
Some candidates will be invited to an in-person or video interview. Others will be required to complete an assessment day with additional interviews, presentations, role-plays and written assessments.
Your recruiter will provide you with all the information you need.
5. Trial Shift
Those applying for chef and hospitality roles will need to complete a trial shift before the recruiters make their final decision.
This shift will be decided and agreed upon by both the recruiter and the candidate.
6. Feedback and Offer
After you have completed all of your assessments, interviews and trials, your recruitment manager will give you feedback either through an online document or in person.
If your feedback is good and they want to hire you, you will receive a verbal offer and confirmation, as well as a letter.
How to Prepare for the Harrods Careers Assessment
While completing the Harrods recruitment process, you should:
Step 1. Fully Research Harrods and the Role
Harrods has lived through two world wars, recessions, terrorist attacks, fires, new technologies and changing consumer habits, yet still remains profitable.
To understand how Harrods remains relevant and what your role in the company will be, you will need to research the company and fully understand its values and culture.
The more you learn, the better your cover letter and interview answers will be.
The majority of candidates will answer questions with the same answer or write the same generic information.
If you can show you have more knowledge and understanding of Harrods, your recruiter will be very impressed.
Step 2. Tailor Your CV and Cover Letter for the Role
You should never submit a generic cover letter and CV. For each role, you need to tailor your documents to reflect the company culture and values.
When writing your cover letter and CV, use words and phrases from the job description and the about section of the Harrods website.
The recruiter reading your application should instantly be able to picture you working at Harrods just from the way you present yourself in your cover letter.
Step 3. Practise Aptitude Tests and Interview Questions
Harrods vacancies follow the same recruitment process with some exceptions. Don’t leave it until the last minute to start preparing for the next stages.
If you have never completed an aptitude test before, search online for free tests. The most common are:
There are also common interview questions that you will more than likely be asked.
Prepare your answers ahead of time so you know which experiences you are going to use to demonstrate your skills.
If possible, run through interview role-plays with friends and family so you get used to saying your answers out loud.
The more you prepare and practise, the more confident you will be.
Step 4. Be Polite and Follow Post-Interview Etiquette
Regardless of how your interview or assessment day went, be gracious and thank the recruiters for their time.
When you get home, send a thank you email reiterating your skills and suitability for the role with a call to action stating you hope to hear from them soon.
This will leave a good, lasting impression and will help you stand out.
Step 5. Learn From Feedback
Harrods makes it a priority to offer feedback to all candidates it has interviewed or administered an assessment to.
This is incredibly rare, as many companies will either send you an automated unsuccessful email or not reply at all.
If you receive your feedback through an online document, take the time to read it and make a note of the areas you can improve and the areas you excelled in. This way, you know exactly what to say in your next application.
If your feedback is with the recruiter, make notes on what they deemed your strengths and weaknesses and ask questions.
Every stage of the recruitment process is an opportunity to impress. Even if the outcome is negative, still ask questions about how you can improve your chance of securing a Harrods career.
There are lots of job opportunities available at Harrods. The most common are retail and personal shopper positions.
However, there are also roles in IT, security, marketing and PR, HR, hospitality and merchandising.
You can apply for a job at Harrods through the Harrods career website. You will need to submit a cover letter and CV, as well as answer a few simple questions about your skills and experience.
Harrods do offer entry-level positions that don’t require experience, especially in the retail department.
So long as your cover letter and CV demonstrate the skills needed for the role, and you pass the Harrods Values Assessment, you should make it through to the interview stage.
Overall, Harrods is a good place to work. There are lots of employee benefits and having a brand such as Harrods on your CV can lead to other opportunities.
As Harrods is in the UK, it has to follow the country's employment laws. Harrods' salaries and wages are in line with the law and industry standards.
Harrods states that it wants candidates to dress as they would for a typical workday. Your outfit should be comfortable and practical, but, as Harrods sells luxury fashion, you should show some personality and style. Your grooming should also be to a high standard.
There are mixed opinions about what it is like to work at Harrods, depending on the department and person you work for. However, you can expect it to be very busy and varied.
You have to be at least 18 years old to work at Harrods Beauty.
Harrods offers a variety of employee benefits, including a 33% discount in-store, discounts on gyms, health plans, flights, commuter travel and hotels.
It also provides access to an employee assistance programme that offers educational and personal support for financial issues, mental health, child care and other personal problems, and a cycle-to-work scheme.
The recruitment process at Harrods is quite rigorous and requires you to submit an initial application, complete the Harrods Values Assessment and complete a telephone screening.
You will also need to attend an interview or assessment day, work a trial shift (for hospitality roles), receive feedback and then hopefully a job offer.
Typically, Harrods employees wear all-black clothes and their grooming must be to a high standard. Some staff, such as the doormen, wear the traditional green Harrods uniform.
You can prepare for a job interview at Harrods by researching the company culture and values, understanding the role you have applied for, preparing answers to common interview questions and completing practice aptitude tests.
Final Thoughts
Working at Harrods can be a rewarding experience and a great entry point into the fashion or luxury industries.
Depending on your career goals and skill sets, there are several potential Harrods vacancies for you to apply for.
When completing the recruitment process, ensure you have done enough research and prepared interview question answers ahead of time.
