Career in Retail/Argos

djb215

Hi all, sorry if this seems like a long post but would just like to hear the thoughts of others on my "dilema" as it were!

I am currently in my 2nd year (undergrad) of university studying Business Information Technology (BSc Hons), and have a part time job at Argos, and have had this job for nearly 3 and a half years.

Business IT is a degree that has a mixed focus - it is part IT and part business but not pure business (like supply, demand etc.), so topics such as project management and information management are taught as well as some technical topics such as programming, databases, networks etc.

Part of this degree allows me to take an extra year between my 2nd year and final year, where I can get a full time, paid placement/internship for 12 months and gain academic credit, then go back and do my final year, then hopefully graduate!

At the moment I have applied to 3 placements, 2 of which were unsuccessful but 1 where I went for a group assessment, and have recently found out that I was successful in that and they want to see me for a second interview.

Now to my job at Argos. I joined the company as a Christmas temp in 2006 as a weekend customer advisor on a 7 hour temp contract. After making a good impression (that's what I think anyway!) I was fortunate to be kept on. Since then I quickly made big strides, and I am now one of the most experienced advisors there, where everyone (even some of the managers!) comes to you and ask questions about what to do about something if they don't know.

I have experience in every store department, often selected for training opportunities as a "key" member of staff, trained in cash office/admin procedures, I get on well with everyone and (I hope) I am well respected by all members of staff (as I do them), and often perform management duties such as supervising the salesfloor, ensuring operations are being handled correctly, directly working alongside other managers. I am now on just above a 15 hour contract for weekends. The main boss (store manager) does acknowledge all the work I do and has said he would be more than willing to make me a supervisor (and give me supervisor pay!) if he had the funds (payroll) to do so. He has also said that if I was to join the company and progress to advancement I could become a manager in a short space of time and would support me all the way. However, as I can only work weekends at the minute and i'm on the maximum 15 hours I can manage - i'm effectively stuck at a glass ceiling. I sometimes moan, but I have to say I love my job.

Here's where my dilema starts - thanks for reading this far!

If I was successful in gaining a placement, it would be a full time job, and it would probably kill me working 7 full days a week. I would have to give up working at Argos, and therefore potentially loose my respected position/rank, and could jeopardize my development by leaving the company, or even reducing my current hours.

My other option is to go on placement, do my final year, come out of it at the end and say it's something i've done, but then potentially be stuck without a job after graduating.

I have become good friends with one of the managers in my store and she enjoys her job too. The problem is going back to the glass ceiling issue. All the managers I know who have worked at Argos are "Argos lifers", ie they have been with the company since leaving school/college and started work, so pushing for development hasn't been an issue in the same sense.

Whatever happens I want to finish uni and get my degree; the placement is optional and getting my degree is something that I have commited to. I had decided right from the beginning, however that I would not be interested in doing a masters/postgrad/PHD etc after undergrad studies.


SO! My dilema!! Do I go on placement and risk losing everything for a career that I think I would enjoy, OR do I finish my degree, less a placement and potentially academic additional credit, and then press on to my career in retail.


I'd appreciate your views, especially anyone who has been in the same situation or anyone with experience in retail/Argos.

kingfisherblue

I can see your concerns! From a personal point of view, I loved retail for many years - I only gave up work when I had three children and one of them was born with complex needs. I couldn't work and bring up my family at the same time, as my son needs 24 hour care.

I didn't get my degree when I was younger, as I went straight into work after my A levels. It was something that I always planned to do, and fortunately - with help from family and friends - I managed to study part time for five years. I graduated last year.

So, to the point, only you can make up your mind, as I'm sure you know. Will you regret not completing your degree? It seems a shame that you are so close to achieving it but might not finish. On the other hand, although no job is guaranteed for life, Argos don't seem to be suffering too much in the recession, so it's probably as secure as any job can be these days.

Is there any possibility that you could study part time? It would take an extra year, but it would mean that you can have both your degree and your job. You might not be able to do this at your current university, but it might be possible to transfer your credits to the Open University and complete your degree there.

I think it would be worth contacting your university careers service and looking at the option of part time study.

Good luck with making your decision x

Oldernotwiser

Have you discussed the possibility of doing your placement year with Argos with a view to going into management with them after graduating?

vixarooni

What happens if all of the prospects at argos are talk? I know from personal experience large companies can feed people a load of rubbish and false promises because they never have the money or there are too many people in a high position to offer it to anyone else.

If you think that the chance of progressing in argos is really going to happen for you then i would probably be inclined to take it over the placement, depending on how good or not good the placemet is, but i supose its your choice at the end of the day!

wontfallforit

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Have you discussed the possibility of doing your placement year with Argos with a view to going into management with them after graduating?

That's what I was going to suggest.

Even if it's not possible, and you 'lose' your place at Argos, the experience you have there is already under your belt. Provided you get a good degree, you could apply/re-apply to the Argos graduate scheme, or look into a management position there when you graduate. People who have never been to Argos manage to secure higher-level employment there, so your own experience is bound to help.

I'd pursue the optionn of taking your placement within Argos. If not, I'd 'quit' Argos, and take the official sandwich year elsewhere - whilst at the same time trying to keep on Argos' roster somehow (i.e. casual? holiday temping?).

Good luck x

djb215

Hi all, thanks for your replies.

I should've mentioned that I did discuss a placement with the HR department, and they are planning to introduce something in the long run but at the minute they only provide placements for graduates in head office roles, which is something at the minute i'm not interested in.

My degree is available part time but i've just missed the change deadline if you like, meaning i'd have to start again from year 1 on a part time course because the content is taught differently. I'm not urgently wanting to leave uni so I'm happy to carry on at least for another academic year full time and finish.

I spent a bit of time thinking about it and i've decided that I'll go to interview with the placement company and see how it goes, and depending on the outcome make my decision then.

lukiedude

Hey,
I seem to be in a very similar situation to you, I started off as a Christmas temp with Argos in 2004 working weekends while I was at college, not necessarily with the intention of going to uni. I was promoted to sales team leader about three years ago and was doing really well and all that, but then (kinda out of the blue) dropped it to go to uni! I thought that in the long run I’d be limited to what I could potentially do if I stayed with Argos, and although I’m glad I did it now, but I do often think what may have happened if I’d have stuck with it...
I have a placement year next year as well, and although I’d love to do my placement year with them it doesn’t really seem to be an option (which sucks!) The store I work at now which is where I go to uni have said that they would take me on again once I’ve finished placement though- have you asked your store if they’d consider that for you? I’m sure that they would take you on as a Christmas temp at the very least next year, and if they know you and what you can do then it’s quite likely they’d keep you on afterwards. Maybe have a chat with your manager and see what you’re options are...
But definitely still do a placement while you have the option; it’s too good a chance to pass up!