Career Progression at a Centra Store

Aaron97

Hi all, I'm living in Cork and just after completing the leaving cert and I am not interested in going to college, I'm just wondering does anyone know if there is a chance for people who work in Centra stores to work their way up to manager position or supervisor, I'm really interested in starting as a sales assistant at a Centra Store and would love opportunities to work up to Supervisor or manager position. Thanks for any help

Mehaffey1

Aaron97 wrote: »

Hi all, I'm living in Cork and just after completing the leaving cert and I am not interested in going to college, I'm just wondering does anyone know if there is a chance for people who work in Centra stores to work their way up to manager position or supervisor, I'm really interested in starting as a sales assistant at a Centra Store and would love opportunities to work up to Supervisor or manager position. Thanks for any help

Stick at it long enough while always being enthusiastic about the job and polite with customers. Couple these together with being good at dealing with difficult customers and working a till etc and that's pretty much supervisor level.

Although if you're genuinely still enthusiastic after a month working in retail then I'd be very impressed. Been away from retail two years and would break my spirit to go back to working with bloody customers!

Aaron97

Mehaffey1 wrote: »

Stick at it long enough while always being enthusiastic about the job and polite with customers. Couple these together with being good at dealing with difficult customers and working a till etc and that's pretty much supervisor level.

Although if you're genuinely still enthusiastic after a month working in retail then I'd be very impressed. Been away from retail two years and would break my spirit to go back to working with bloody customers!

It might be hard dealing with customers on a daily basis but if people stick it out in the long run it might be worth it, e.g supervisor position. Where have you worked yourself in retail??

Phantasos

How about the Lidl/Aldi shops? Lots of career progression in those places if you work hard enough.

Aaron97

Phantasos wrote: »

How about the Lidl/Aldi shops? Lots of career progression in those places if you work hard enough.

I would prefer to start somewhere small like a Centra Store, would really like to work in a Centra Store and progress further

NicoleW85

Excellent customer service, efficiency on tills, ability to work at replenishing stock on your own initiative and reaching out for more responsibility in general will likely make you a great candidate for promotion. If you're a 'people person' you won't mind dealing with awkward customers, and to be honest having worked in centra & Supervalu - there's not that much drama really! Good luck

Aaron97

NicoleW85 wrote: »

Excellent customer service, efficiency on tills, ability to work at replenishing stock on your own initiative and reaching out for more responsibility in general will likely make you a great candidate for promotion. If you're a 'people person' you won't mind dealing with awkward customers, and to be honest having worked in centra & Supervalu - there's not that much drama really! Good luck

Thanks for thr reply, How did you find working in a Centra Store??

seamus

Depends on the size of the shop as much as anything, obviously. If you're in a small family-owned shop with 6 staff then you'll need to look outside of the shop (i.e. to the Centra head office) for help in moving forward.

But if you're in a larger shop not directly managed by the owner, obviously you have more scope.

One thing to remember is that there's no point in waiting to be "spotted" and promoted. Some managers will do this for good staff, other managers will just let you work away, assuming that all you want to do is clock in a clock out. You have to put your head above the parapet and make your intentions known in order for things to happen.

I assume you're not already working there. They get teenagers in all the time handing in CVs. But these are people looking for a job to make money to go drinking. They will be gone again in six months time. An applicant who actually wants a full career will instantly be put to the top of the pile. So you need to show you're that applicant.

Do up a short CV and a cover letter too. The cover letter should set out who you are, what you want out of the application, and what you can offer the company.
Then pick the shop you'd like to work in and ask if the manager is available. When they come out, tell them you're interested in starting a career and would they have 15 minutes to chat. They may not, they may just take your documents, but at least in that case you'll have set out your stall in the cover letter.
If they're open to sitting you down for a chat, then you can properly explain what you're looking for.

They may still not have space to offer you a job, but they may provide you with useful insight and help in what steps you need to take next.

Mrs OBumble

Phantasos wrote: »

How about the Lidl/Aldi shops? Lots of career progression in those places if you work hard enough.

If you want to go for these (Lidl's retail management degree looks impressive), then don't be starting in Centra.

From what I've heard, Lidl et al aren't interested in taking people who've learned to do retail the wrong way (in their eyes) and having retrain them. They'd rather people who are totally trainable from the start.

NicoleW85

To be totally honest with you, as much as I love retail, grocery isn't my favourite. The shop I was in was centra and then about 6 months after I started they expanded the store and became Supervalu. It was grand but I spent most of my days on the checkouts and as much as it's easy, it's not challenging and pretty repetitive... Fashion retail is more my thing and Next in Mahon Point was the best I've had

doc11

I'd say it's salary progression rather then career progression is the main problem in retail. Managers can be on peanuts.

MrBobbyZ

To follow a career path in retail you will have to be prepared to work long hours for a small wage. It can be rewarding. I have spent 20 years in retail and I dont regret it for a minute.
LIDL and ALDI will teach you how to be a manager. Dunnes produce some of the best retail managers I have met. A good SuperValu or Centra will teach you how to be a retailer!