2019 Asda Graduate Programme - Applications will be opening soon!

At Asda, you’ll have a chance to work with colleagues from all walks of life, learn everything about teamwork, and discover real decision-making. This is a unique graduate retail scheme, where you’ll benefit from the combined experience of Asda and Walmart, two of retail’s biggest names.

Are you ready to become a future leader of our business?

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Our two and a half year Graduate programme begins with six months experiencing life on the shop floor. Why? So you can get to the heart of a massive Retail organisation and understand Asda. You’ll then follow one of five streams; continue in Retail, explore Operations or get to grips with our Commercial, Technology and Finance pathways.

In all five areas, you’ll gain exposure to the highest levels of corporate decision-making, and be exposed to a variety of demanding challenges. By taking real responsibility, you’ll make a tangible contribution to our success. All the while, you’ll constantly build up the understanding and knowledge to become a future leader in our business. It’s tough, testing and hugely rewarding.

Afterwards? Well the possibilities here are endless: from Store Management and progressing to Area Management, to Buying or Supply Management, to one day potentially becoming the next Commercial Director.

Click Here To Apply

You’ll kick-start your Asda career with a six-month immersion on the shop floor in one of our Retail stores. During this time, you’ll understand the heart of Asda, work together with your team, and put customers first to achieve our goals. This immersion will allow you to truly appreciate the Retail business and gain invaluable knowledge to share throughout your Asda career.

You’ll experience:

Seasonal trends and what it is like to succeed during retail’s busiest season
Different shifts, from early starts to late-night shopping with our 24/7 operating model
Managing colleagues in different teams
Making critical, in the moment decisions, while also planning for the next quarter.
The wide-reaching impact you can have on our business.

You’ll then have the opportunity to continue your journey in Retail, or join one of two other business areas. However you choose to specialise, you’ll gain a better understanding of Asda, and build your leadership skills for the future.

Retail & Operations

Retail

Retail is at the heart of everything we do, and we are always on the lookout for retail managers and leaders of the future. Our retail pathway is perfect for those who have a genuine passion for retail, and helps to ready graduates to become either a store manager in one of our supermarkets - or a deputy in one of our superstores, by the end of the two year programme.

After spending time on every department within one of our stores of excellence, you'll gain firsthand experience of what it is like to run your own! - taking charge of a department within one of our biggest stores over the Christmas and new year trading period. You'll also be given unique development and growth opportunities, benefiting from regular one-on-ones with both your own General Store Manager, as well as some of our Senior Directors.

Operations

No matter how strong our retail and commercial branches are, they would be nothing without our fantastic operations function. As a business that is looking to revolutionise customers’ home shopping experience - whilst keeping out stores as strong as ever - a solid operations core has never been so important.

Whether it’s a role in one of our Home Shopping Centre’s, working in e-commerce, dealing with our ever expanding grocery home shopping operation, or retails logistics and compliance, there is a role for anybody that is looking to explore a career in retail operations

Commercial, Technology & Finance

Commercial

Our commercial functions cover almost every aspect of retail, from trading, buying, and negotiating with suppliers, right through to space optimisation and retail analysis. After their first six months in retail, our commercial graduates will embark on two six month placements – working across the wide variety of commercial roles available – before completing a final 12-month placement; aimed at further deepening their level of commercial acumen. At the end of their two-and-a-half-year journey, we aim for the graduates to be ready to step up into their first managerial position, and apply their diverse knowledge to help shape the future of our commercial function.

Technology

Technology is becoming ever-more key to everything we do as a retailer, and we are looking for graduates who can help accelerate our digital evolution. As with our Retail, Operations and Commercial pathways, no specific degree or classification is needed, just a positive and innovative approach to problem solving, and delivering excellent service through project management.

Finance

Our finance pathway is perfect for those with a strong financial or economic background, who are looking to kick-start their career within one of the UK's largest retailers.

An accountancy qualification is not required to apply, a but a relevant degree - business management, business studies etc. - in which a classification of at least 2:1 or above was achieved is necessary.

At Asda, it’s not all about degree classification and what you studied. It’s more important to us that you have the potential to shine in a dynamic Retail business like ours. After all, we’re looking for a special kind of Graduate.

Are you:

Passionate about Retail and giving customers great service?

Hungry for responsibility and able to stay calm under pressure?

Positive with a can-do attitude?

Able to find simple solutions and ways around problems?

Full of new ideas, with the curiosity and confidence to challenge the way we do things?

Resilient and excited by the opportunities change can bring?

On track to gain a degree in 2018?

Along with building your business and leadership skills, you’ll enjoy a huge range of fantastic extras:

Competitive Salary
Colleague discount
Annual bonus scheme
Stakeholder pension
Discounted travel services
Specially built development plan and events
Reviews with senior business leaders
Real business challenges
Corporate Social Responsibility projects

Not sure if the programme’s right for you? Well, it’s not the only way to join our business.
Take a look at these options:

DIRECT ENTRY

If you know exactly which part of Asda you want to join, Direct Entry gives you the chance to go straight into one of our Stores or Head Office teams. You could be looking after colleagues in HR, keeping an eye on the figures in Finance, building brilliant systems in Technology, or helping us stay on top of our game in any of a number of areas.

Online application

You will need to complete an online application form and answer a number of questions to assess and analyse your skills. Take your time and consider your answers.

Situational Judgement Test

We will send you a link to complete our situational judgement tests. These are designed to give you a taste of what it's like to work for Asda and ensure that you have the qualities that we look for in our colleagues and future leaders.

Virtual interview

We will arrange a virtual interview with you. This is to help us learn more about you, what motivates you and give you the opportunity to talk us through your experience and aspirations. We understand interviews can be a nerve-wracking experience. All we'd ask is that you prepare and be yourself. We look forward to speaking with you!

Group assessment

During the group assessment, you'll be asked to complete a number of activities that relate to tasks you may be presented with if you were to join Asda. This will be an interactive day and your first chance to get to know us properly. We will be keen to meet you, learn more about your team-working skills, your leadership potential, how you approach new ideas and how you'd seek to serve our customers.

Click Here To Apply

We’re one of the UK's largest and best-known retailers, with over 600 stores around the country. From Superstores with a range of departments and overall sales in the millions every week, to smaller local Supermarkets. You could join any one of them as you gain valuable experience on the Asda front line.

You could build your experience managing an entire department in a larger store, or as a Deputy Manager of a smaller one. Wherever you’re based, you’ll be a key member of the store team, honing your operations and leadership skills so you’re totally ready to run your own store.

Even though Asda has stores across the country, Leeds is still very much our home. In fact, it’s where our Head Office – known as Asda House – is today. With colleagues spanning across so many functions, it’s a dynamic hub of activity full of the finest technology, ideas and professionals in the retail world.

As for the city itself, Leeds is a fantastic place to start a career. From shopping and sport to restaurants and museums, there’s something for everyone. And with one of the highest student populations in the country, you’ll find a whole range of exciting social activities in this vibrant city.

When does the graduate programme open for applications?

2018 Asda Graduate Programme - Applications Now Open

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When can I expect to hear about the status of my application?

You should receive an email thanking you for your application shortly after you apply. This confirms that your application’s been received, but it might be a number of weeks before we get in touch with you again. As you can imagine, we receive thousands of applications and it can sometimes take a long time to process them all. We really appreciate your patience and will confirm the status of your application as soon as we can. We’ll also keep you in the loop as your application progresses.

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When do the assessment centres take place?

Assessment centres will be taking place early 2018.

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Can I find out more about why my online application was unsuccessful?

Unfortunately, we can’t provide feedback at this stage due to the high volume of applications we receive. But we will provide feedback after the assessment centre should you get to this stage.

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If my application is successful, when do I start?

You’ll start in September 2018 and we can't wait to meet you.

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Will Asda sponsor me through the graduate programme?

Unfortunately, we don’t provide sponsorships for any of our graduate vacancies.

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What are the minimum degree requirements?

You’ll need a degree pass in any subject and any degree classification is considered. We’ll need to see your original degree certificate before your start date.

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Do I need to provide evidence of right to work in the UK?

By law, we have to make sure every Asda colleague is entitled to work in the UK. Should you be invited to attend an assessment centre, we’ll need to see proof of your entitlement to work in the UK. Your entitlement will need to last for the entire duration of the graduate programme. Please bring the relevant documentation with you to the assessment centre.

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I have a disability. Can you help?

Of course. Asda is an equal opportunities employer and we welcome all applications. If you need any reasonable adjustments, then just let us know before you apply - we are fully committed to supporting your application to our programmes.

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I am a part-time/seasonal colleague. Can I still apply for one of the graduate programmes?

Of course. You’ll need to arrange an endorsement interview with the relevant person for your business area. For Retail, this is your General Store Manager; for Logistics, it’s your General Manager; and for Head Office, it’s your Senior Manager. You will be asked as part of your online application if you already work for Asda. From there, you'll need to provide your Walmart number and the system will guide you through the remaining steps. In 2017, 16 of the 46 graduates on the programme were existing colleagues.

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