All of the below information comes directly from job reviews written by WH Smith employees based on 32 reviews.
 
 
Responsibility:
3.7/5
 
Work Life Balance:
3.6/5
 
Environmental Awareness:
3.2/5
 
Benefits:
2.8/5
 
Company Culture:
3.3/5
 
Career Progression:
3.3/5
 
Colleagues:
4.1/5
 
Training:
3.3/5
 
Enjoyment:
3.5/5
 
Overall Rating:
3.5/5
 

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Retail


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Salary Interview Tips Working Hours Best & Worst
Industry: Retail Department: Buying/Business Development Job Title: Graduate Buyer

What are the best and worst things about your job?

Opportunities to get involved across the business in a number of tasks, and a real influence on the business from the go.

Read more


Industry: Retail Department: Marketing Job Title: Commercial Graduate

Industry: Retail

Industry: Retail Department: Project Management Job Title: Graduate Project Manager

What are the best and worst things about your job?

High levels of responsibility
Good career path
Opportunity to work with senior people

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Industry: Retail Department: Buying - Food Job Title: Assistant Buyer

What are the best and worst things about your job?

Real responsibility.

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Industry: Retail Department: Finance Job Title: International Finance Graduate

What are the best and worst things about your job?

In the International business, there are so many challenges that we haven't faced before in our UK business. Having so many completely different, refreshing tasks every week is really motivating for me, and I'm never bored, or completing the same, mundane tasks.

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Industry: Retail, Retail (Sales) Department: Seasonal Stationery Job Title: Graduate Trainee Buyer

Industry: Retail, Retail (Business Management) Department: International Job Title: International Project Manager

Industry: Retail, Retail (Buying) Department: News and Magazines Job Title: Graduate Buyer

Industry: Accountancy & Insurance, Accountancy Department: Finance Job Title: Graduate Finance Analyst

Industry: Buying and Selling, Retail (Buying) Department: Core Stationery Job Title: Trainee Buyer

Industry: IT Support & Telecoms, IT Project Management

Industry: Retail, Retail (Business Management) Department: Commerical Job Title: Commercial Planner

Industry: Retail, Retail (Rotational Graduate Scheme)

Industry: Retail, Retail (Business Management) Department: International Job Title: International Business Development

Industry: Retail, Retail (Business Management)

Industry: Retail, Retail (Business Management) Department: Buying Job Title: Assistany Buyer

Industry: Retail, Retail (Rotational Graduate Scheme) Department: Books Job Title: Graduate Buyer

Industry: Accountancy & Insurance, Accountancy Department: Finance Job Title: Finance Graduate

Industry: Accountancy & Insurance, Accountancy Department: Finance Job Title: Occupational costs Accountant

Industry: Retail, Retail (Buying) Department: Stationery Job Title: Graduate Trainee Buyer

Industry: Retail, Retail (Operations) Department: Space & Format Job Title: Project Management

Industry: Retail, Retail (Business Management) Department: Business Systems Job Title: Graduate

Industry: Retail, Retail (Buying) Department: GM Job Title: Graduate Buyer

Industry: Retail, Retail (Buying) Department: Stationery Job Title: Assistant Buyer

Industry: Buying and Selling, Sales Department: Confectionery Job Title: Graduate Buyer

Industry: Transport, Logistics and Distribution, Supply Chain Job Title: Graduate merchandiser

Industry: Retail Department: Travel

What are the best and worst things about your job?

Teamwork.
Good feedback and praise.

Read more


Industry: Retail Department: Books

What are the best and worst things about your job?

The people I work with

Read more


Industry: Retail

What are the best and worst things about your job?

Colleagues

Read more


Industry: Retail

Industry: Retail Department: Sales

What are the best and worst things about your job?

Everything.

Read more


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Based on 27 reviews

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Based on 5 reviews

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WH Smith

Average start time: 8:45

Average end time: 17:00

Average number of working hours: 8.25

Based on 32 reviews


Earliest start time

Latest finish
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Please use the below to filter the reviews by career sector:

Application Advice:

I, in particular, got the role as I had a lot of retail experience (not essential) but I would go into detail on any experience and learning gained from this environment. Definitely, submit a covering letter as this is optional.

Interview Advice:

Everyone at the assessment/interview day was very friendly. Be as engaging as possible and ask questions to show your interest in the business. Remember that on the day assessors will be looking at your ability to work and contribute to a team as well as individually.

Graduate Buyer, Buying/Business Development at WH Smith
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Application Advice:

Be prepared for a phone interview

Interview Advice:

Be confident

Graduate Project Manager, Project Management at WH Smith
Read the full review »


Interview Advice:

Think about the retail industry as a whole, particularly around WH Smith's areas of business (eg. food / drink / news & mags / books / stationary). Don't just focus on Smith's.

Assistant Buyer, Buying – Food at WH Smith
Read the full review »


Interview Advice:

Do research on both High Street and Travel beforehand. I was asked what is WHSmith Travel's most sold product.

International Finance Graduate, Finance at WH Smith
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Application Advice:

WHSmith is very data driven and so you should be aware that numbers are involved in most decisions.

Interview Advice:

Prepare for a SWOT analysis, team interview, do research about the business.

Graduate Trainee Buyer, Seasonal Stationery at WH Smith
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Application Advice:

Be able to show you can work with others.
Communication needs to be evidently high.
Show self confidence.
Don't worry if your degree/uni/qualification is not the highest level. There's a range of backgrounds, you just need to show you can do the job.

Interview Advice:

Show you can communicate with others.

International Project Manager, International at WH Smith
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Application Advice:

Ensure that you have as many transferable skills on your CV as possible, and make sure you also submit a cover letter to make you stand out against other applicants.

Interview Advice:

Make sure that you give a clear answer to interview questions, and provide a specific example when asked a skills based question.

Graduate Buyer, News and Magazines at WH Smith
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Application Advice:

Demonstrate good commercial awareness.

Graduate Finance Analyst, Finance at WH Smith
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Application Advice:

Don't be worried about the phone interview; it is more like a conversation than an interview.

Interview Advice:

Be yourself! I knew nothing about IT before I went to the interview but with my bright and friendly personality, I got the job over someone who studied IT at university.

WH Smith
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Application Advice:

Make sure that the role that you are applying for actually interests you so you will enjoy doing the roll you are in.

Interview Advice:

Read up on what skills the position requires and make sure you can provide clear evidence that you have those skills. Also research the company and the company values.

Commercial Planner, Commerical at WH Smith
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Application Advice:

Show your personality as well as ability.

WH Smith
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Application Advice:

Make sure the role you apply for is something you are really interested in. Decide if a fast paced company which gives you a lot of accountability is really for you.

Interview Advice:

Phone interview - not too hard, interviewer was really friendly - Ran through CV and asked questions about teamwork, project management and how you work as an individual i.e. what drives you?

Online tests - Numerical and others - Very difficult although I think if they like you on the phone interview and your CV is good then they will progress you to the assessment centre.

Assessment centre - Assessed by 6+ managers/directors who have the roles you will be working under - Group activities (8-12 candidates for 3 roles at a time), interviews (some with two interviewers) and a presentation.

Group activities - those who dominated did not get through, just be yourself and be prepared to answer questions from the 6+ managers who observe the tasks.

Interviews - make sure you know you're CV and the obvious questions of why you want the role at WHSmith.

Presentation - was not a powerpoint presentation - guided the audience through the presentation slides - can be towards one person or more depending on your time slot and if people are busy. Make sure you read the brief properly - a few people read it wrong or did not do any research.

Assesment centre advice - don't worry if you don't shine at everything but make sure you at least do well in 2/3 of the tasks - be confident and justify your answers in all the activities.

International Business Development, International at WH Smith
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Application Advice:

Be prepared to be thrown straight in to something you may never have done before, this is great for development, but may come as a shock to some.

Interview Advice:

Be honest and open, prepare well and voice your opinon when involved in the group discussions, whilst trying to involve as many other candidates as possible.

WH Smith
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Application Advice:

Be prepared for a very demanding job role which is often very flexible. Be open minded and also prepared to interact with people to develop working relationships.

Interview Advice:

Be confident but very honest about who you are and what your strengths are and what you want out of the job, as well as what you can bring to the company.

Assistany Buyer, Buying at WH Smith
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Application Advice:

If you are looking for a rotational scheme probably this is not the right scheme for you.

Graduate Buyer, Books at WH Smith
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Application Advice:

Be prepared for a mini phone interview- this is after you send your application but before the online tests. It isn't anything to worry about, simple questions about yourself but is very unexpected!

Interview Advice:

Be confident and make sure your voice is heard during the group activity- don't focus too much on the outcome of the activity you're given as that isn't what they are looking at.
Interview questions are the usual type you would expect, be prepared to structure answers in the STAR format.

Finance Graduate, Finance at WH Smith
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Application Advice:

The best advice that I can give for a candidate applying for this role would be to make sure that you are passionate about the role, willing to work hard and to ensure that you are confident in working with a variety of different people inside and outside the business.

Interview Advice:

Questions that I was asked included areas around:

1. Teamwork
2. Ability to respond to pressure.
3. Overcoming a challenging situation.
4. Organisational skills
5. Ability to mange a project or task from start to finish.

Occupational costs Accountant, Finance at WH Smith
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Application Advice:

Research the company.

Interview Advice:

Understand what it is you will bring to the role

Graduate Trainee Buyer, Stationery at WH Smith
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Application Advice:

If you are highly organised, love variety in a job, and like working with like-minded, hard working people, I would definitely consider applying for the graduate scheme at WHSmith.

Interview Advice:

Make sure you familiarise yourself with the company, especially the four core values, as in my experience, these always come up at interview. Think particularly about how you have demonstrated these values on a day-to-day basis.

Project Management, Space & Format at WH Smith
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Application Advice:

Research the company and it's retail offering, do not generalise with other retailers or certain competitors.

Understand the contraints of the business, from a customer's perspective and think how you can manage or challenge them if you were to work for th organisaton.

Interview Advice:

Positive and negative things about the business, what you would change or address.
Compentency based, example questions

Graduate, Business Systems at WH Smith
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Interview Advice:

Visit as many WH Smith stores as possible, including speaking to store managers to get a feel for the retail side of the business. Visit competitor retailers, to understand where the opportunities for growth lie.

Assistant Buyer, Stationery at WH Smith
Read the full review »


Application Advice:

Gain store experience as this is really valued when applying for any job in retail.

Showcase everything about you, whether that be your qualifications or that you headed up a committee group - it all adds

Link your skills to what the job would entail so the reader of your application knows you are a good fit

Interview Advice:

Make sure you know the company inside out, especially it's values and what you would be expected to do on a day-to-day basis.

Visit WH Smith stores prior to any interviews so you understand the product offering, the customer type and the difference between the high street and travel business.

Don't be nervous!

Prepare for any questions that may be asked.

Be talkative, friendly and ask lots of questions.

Graduate Buyer, Confectionery at WH Smith
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Application Advice:

They will take responsibility from day one, ask questions about how things operate, be results driven and take initiative to challenge and change things

Interview Advice:

in the assessment centre I enjoyed the whole process and the exercises as I felt very relaxed. be prepared to explain why you want that role and which are your skills to succeed. Try to remember the four core values of the company and to have an answer for all of them. Commercial awareness help in some of the exercises but also the ability to be methodological, organize or lead in the group exercise

Graduate merchandiser, at WH Smith
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Application Advice:

Interview Advice:

Sales assistant, Travel at WH Smith View »

Application Advice:

Interview Advice:

Team Leader, Books at WH Smith View »

Application Advice:

Interview Advice:

WH Smith View »

Application Advice:

Interview Advice:

WH Smith View »

Application Advice:

Interview Advice:

Team Leader Development, Sales at WH Smith View »

Best:

Ability to make a real difference from the start

Graduate Project Manager, Project Management at WH Smith
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Best:

Great flexibility to do whatever you like (within reason) to increase sales.

Worst:

Very sales focused, and short term focused.

Assistant Buyer, Buying – Food at WH Smith
Read the full review »


Best:

Good career progression opportunities, ability to transfer internally easily, good head office location.

International Finance Graduate, Finance at WH Smith
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Best:

The ability to move and develop quickly across the business.

Worst:

The office building isn't as nice as others I've been in and is quite dated.

Graduate Trainee Buyer, Seasonal Stationery at WH Smith
Read the full review »


Best:

IS a very experienced retailer and therefore has extensive knowledge/skills to learn form. WHS is also very positive and motivated to hit targets. Staff appear to be proud to work for WHS.

Worst:

Can be too target focused and become very pressurized on employees

Graduate Buyer, News and Magazines at WH Smith
Read the full review »


Best:

Fast paced

Worst:

Lack of change

Graduate Finance Analyst, Finance at WH Smith
Read the full review »


Sales assistant, Travel at WH Smith View » Team Leader, Books at WH Smith View » WH Smith View » WH Smith View » Team Leader Development, Sales at WH Smith View »