Sales representative Review

Learned a lot of different skills from my degree, had comprehensive training from day one and always had a good amount of contact time with managers and senior management. Got a good sense of how the company is run and wasn't made to feel like just a small member of the company. Great HR support throughout my time there.

As a newcomer to sales I knew I was never going to be the most proficient but was always keen to learn. Everyone was more than happy to teach and share knowledge despite having a competitive nature. Good team spirit in each region and as a company as a whole.

Weekly conference calls made sure you performed your best and also gave good, new tips each week. Plus had to take some time out due to personal reasons and they were massively accommodating and understanding.

You were given the freedom to do as much or as little as you decided. Obviously the less you do, the smaller chance of earning as much. It was good having the commission bonus as an incentive as I'm competitive it allowed me to work as hard as I could, push myself and get paid accordingly. Lots of competitions happens within the company so there was always something to make you push yourself. They trusted you to be your own boss in store as a rep, sort things out that needed doing (were there to support you if you didn't know how) - great for people who perhaps are looking to improve on their independent nature and their ability to conduct themselves professionally in store as a semi-managerial position. If you're driven, you'll thrive.

Essentially you were your own boss in store, if you wanted placement changes, stock checks, whatever really, it was up to you to take initiative and get it done. There was always a guiding hand if you didn't do something quite right or if you needed help changing something though. Plus you took breaks as and when you wanted, but as with the competitive nature of the job, you snooze you lose - the more time on the shop floor will get you more money or the chance of more money so you can go home and know you actually earned your wage.

Considering I'm not looking into going into the labs after I graduate, sales of pharmaceuticals and lab equipment is now much more of a real possibility. Learned a lot about sales, massively improved interpersonal skills and got a higher mark on a presentation than I'd previously got for any presentation. I would have said I know how to act professionally in the workplace, but being forced to conduct yourself at a higher role than a standard sales rep definitely helped me learn more in that respect.

Always had a good time when visiting the main office in London, lots of like minded, driven and enthusiastic people so always a good atmosphere to learn in. In store you could make the atmosphere how you wanted, personally I enjoyed getting to know all the John Lewis partners and it pays to have good friendships in regards to favours with stock or product placement. But if you wanted to just go in, get the job done and go home, you could, the responsibility was placed on you to choose your approach.

They had a 4 week training program and trial period so that if you performed well enough, you could carry on. Made sure you focused and stayed driven to do the best during that period and then once it's instilled in you as habit its just natural to carry on in the same fashion. Never had any bad moments I can think of, everything always happened as was laid out so a very easy company to work for in that respect.

Considering I was a complete novice when it came to sales, my area manager helped a lot personally in the first few weeks and then when the apprentice program started up there was weekly conference calls with training to make sure we all developed quickly and thoroughly. Plus two great team sessions in the London office that were very in depth and helped me a lot.

Considering I'd never done sales properly before and therefore never really thought about it as a career prospect, it's massively opened my eyes about opportunities for the future. Plus a great company to work for, so will happily carry on.

Had a group chat for each event (ideal home show, area manager's group chat, TFC awards event chat etc) so there was always a professional side in regards to support an help - tips from other colleagues as well as long standing managers. An informal side that made the team bond more and friendly banter to keep competitiveness up. Good mix overall.

Free as it was home so the only cost was commuting from uni back home to work in the local John Lewis. When working in London, travel was paid.

Never really enjoyed nightlife in Cambridge but that's more because of the people in that area thinking they're something special. Colchester just has squadies so it's hit and miss in both. London was great though

Local area manager set incentives if you sold over a certain amount he'd buy you dinner, or if your team won certain competitions overall, you'd get a group event paid for (paintball ing etc).