‘Boots UK, the UK’s leading pharmacy-led health and beauty retailer, is part of the Retail Pharmacy International Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. Our customers are at the heart of our business. We’re committed to providing exceptional customer and patient care, be the first choice for pharmacy and healthcare, offer innovative products ‘only at Boots’, with great value our customers love… We aim to always be the employer of choice, attracting and retaining the most talented and passionate people.’ Boots UK Website, 2015.
With an average score of 4.2/5, Boots is rated particularly well for colleagues (4.5), company culture (4.4) and enjoyment (4.2), with one graduate simply putting it that Boots is ‘..a big company with great opportunities!’ whilst another added that the company has a ‘friendly, welcoming atmosphere’ with a ‘good working environment’.
The average graduate salary comes in at £23,000 – £25,000, with a trainee store manager explaining that ‘You’ll be given a £1000 signing bonus as well as a starting salary of £25,000, depending on your location’. Average working hours are from 8am to 5pm, although a buying manager added that ‘depending on your line manager hours can be flexible, but often in busy periods longer hours will be required’.
‘The environment in which I work is fast paced and innovative; it allows for me to bring in new ideas and challenge ways of thinking. Supply Chain within the company is becoming a prevalent part of the business, in which the customer comes first. This means that there is plenty of leadership potential. I get to meet new people accross a variety of areas within the business which creates a ‘buzz’ in my day to day role. Our company is undergoing a culture change which provides hurdles to overcome for the ways in which we work.’
Supply Graduate, Retail Supply at Boots
‘Opportunites to move around within the business and during the graduate programme. Great company culture. Sometimes we work really late- although I suppose this is the same in every job.’
Downstream Analyst, Control de Gestión at Boots
‘The variety is wonderful to develop different skill sets and learning different areas of the business. Within such a large company with global reach the possibilities are endless for future career development and I really like the ethos that the company has, working to enable people to look and feel better. Nottingham traffic can be tricky so the commute can be a bit frustrating but hopefully once all the road works/tram works are completed this will get better.’
Assistant Manager, Commercial – Brand/Buying/Marketing at Boots
Finally, interview tips given by Boots graduates include:
Application Advice: Be confident in your knowledge of what Boots does and what it means to work in Supply Chain. Demonstrate a pro-active nature and willingness to share your ideas with others.
Interview Advice: Go in with a strong idea of current challenges within retail and current trends in supply chain. Be prepared to answer questions about how your work and what makes you ‘tick’. Understand how you would fit in with the Boots culture.
Supply Graduate, Retail Supply at Boots
Application Advice: Be honest and answer the questions using real examples. As long as you have completely explained your examples and can demonstrate the behaviours asked for in the question, you will have answered the question.
Interview Advice: Be yourself, which sounds cliche but is the best advice! Make sure you speak but also listen to others.
Buying Manager, Trading at Boots
Application Advice: This career will be for you if you want to learn applicable leadership skills to an extremely high standard. Like all companies, this only comes to those who apply themselves, however the graduate programme offers support, networking and some fantastic opportunities for those who do well. There is immediate exposure to some of the top senior leaders, who all have time to listen to what you have to say. If you can picture the future, want to grow as a leader and do so whilst building strong experience in a corporate company, this is certainly for you.
Interview Advice: Be yourself, speak your mind, and listen to what people have to say. First impressions are extremely important, so smile, but know that interviews only (usually) come once, so make the most of this great opportunity!
Trainee Store Manager, Stores, North Yorkshire at Boots
Click here to view the full range of job reviews for Boots and take a look at the introductory video below.
Experts from the best companies in the UK share their experience and advice on how to boss the interview process
Jazz Panesar is a Digital and Technology Apprentice at Severn Trent. Read Jazz’s story here.
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Have your own questions prepared.It's your turn! As the interview comes to a close, one of the final questions you may be asked is "What can I answer for you?" Your interviewer will expect you to have...
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Research the Company.Do your homework about the employer and the industry so you are ready for the interview question "What do you know about this company?"
