Halfords

The questions on everyone's lips

• There’s a lot of employers out there... What made you choose us?

  I started Halfords as part of the Graduate Scheme in 2013 and have progressed since then. I originally chose Halfords because I really liked the idea of being able to move between departments as part of three different placements engaging cross functionally across the business.

• Tell us a bit about your role…

  I have been lucky enough within Halfords to have spent three years on the trading floor however I have just recently moved into In-Store Marketing to look after activity planning, including promotions and range reviews as well as tactical events ensuring a customer focused approach whilst delivering our commercial objectives. 

• What do you get up to on a typical day?

  A typical day will normally involve talking to a range of different teams whether in Trading, Operations, or in shops to ensure we are meeting our customers’ needs as well as ensuring all the different stakeholders are on the same page and working towards the same objectives. This includes working with some of our external marketing agency partners too.

• What’s the best thing about working here?

  The people! It may be a cliché but it really is true. Everyone at Halfords genuinely wants to do a brilliant job every single day and will go out of their way to ensure they are putting the customer first. Halfords really is a great place to work, the culture is really friendly and inviting and even when challenges present themselves there is a real sense of teamwork not only within your department but throughout the business.

• Tell us about the training and development...

  The training and development opportunities at Halfords are great. You can do as much or as little as you like and really tailor your own development to you, it really is up to the individual to drive their own development. An example that stands out for me was the opportunity to go to Oxford Summer School where I had the chance to network with over 200 delegates from other retailers and learn about different functions within retail, as well as hearing from some truly inspirational retail leaders.

• What do you think makes someone successful at Halfords?

  A can do, positive attitude. Someone who isn’t afraid to challenge and ask lots of questions – there are many acronyms here at Halfords so it’s best to ask!

• And, to anyone thinking about applying, what would you tell them?

  I’d really encourage anyone who is willing to push themselves out of their comfort zone, enjoys being part of a team and is up for a new challenge to go for it. One of the best things about Halfords is the ability to try new things both inside your own department and across the business too.