Work Experience Review
at Primark
Work Experience
Customer Service
Leeds
Review Submitted: November 2020
Overall Rating
2.7 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
3/5
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Overview of the Experience
2/5
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Skills Development
1.5/5
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Company Culture
Overview of the Experience
Please give an overview of what your work experience involved:
3/5
During my time at Primark I had various tasks every day. I would work at the tills as well as helping in the back with stock. Working at the tills you would have to be fast working as sometimes the queues will get too long and you would want to make sure people don't get annoyed at waiting too long and that everyone will be able to get the items they want and have a positive experience.
To what extent did you enjoy your work experience?
3/5
The experience went fairly well for me. I enjoyed smaller parts such as chatting to customers and having team meetings to learn more about the staff and become friends with them. Some of the jobs i was given were a bit mundane and sometimes working on the tills can be fairly stressful but i knew what sort of jobs i would be doing before i applied for the work experience at Primark so i didn't mind it too much.
How well organised was your work experience?
3/5
It was fairly organised and i was never short of jobs or tasks really. there wasn't much organising to do however i sometimes found it difficult to get help or assistance if i was struggling with a job or task i was given as a lot of the supervisors and managers are really busy. apart from this i was able to get on with the work i was given and it was pretty straight forward.
How much did your work experience help you in deciding on your future career path?
3/5
As it currently stands, i don't have a definitive future career path yet. after graduating university i have been unsure as to where i want my career to go. I enjoyed the experience within primark and met a lot of people i have become friends with however i don't think a store worker is best suited to me. I enjoy integrating with customers but i would like work to challenge me a bit more.
Were you paid or reimbursed for this experience?
3/5
Yes i was paid £8.50 an hour. unfortunately the plan for me to work within primark for 6 months was cut short and went a bit awry since covid-19. As i could not work from home my manager tried to get me into the store helping with stock and such so i didn't feel like i lost out a whole lot. unfortunately it was not Primark's fault but it made the experience a little less enjoyable
Skills Development
What training and skills development did you learn from your work experience?
2/5
I already knew a fair bit about working in retail as i have previously worked in Morrisons and other clothes shops. I knew how to work a till, however it was very slightly different within Primark but i quickly picked this up. I didn't really learn a new skill however i improved on skills i already had really. I wish that i could have been given other responsibilities but it was only work experience.
Company Culture
How much did you learn about the company culture and what it would be like to work there?
2/5
With the time I was there I didn’t learn a lot about the company in its self but I learnt the basics within Primark. i think that i could have learned more about the culture if i had stayed for a longer period of time however because of Covid restrictions and cut backs within the store my work experience was cut a bit shorter than expected. if it was a longer experience i would have asked for more information.
Were there opportunities for networking and meeting other employees?
1/5
No, not really. I met a few members of staff and I enjoyed talking to them and learning about their interests etc. however there was nothing set up in order to network with staff and have team building days or something similar. it would have been nice for the managers to organise some workshops or evenings out to get to know everyone a little better and become a closer group to help within the work place.
Recommendations and Advice
Would you recommend Primark to a friend?
No
Why?
Personally i didn't mind working at Primark however as a retail company i think there are others which are better to work for and better in terms of work, integration and learning more about the staff and business altogether. I appreciate the work and help i received at primark but personally i would prefer to work at another retailer such as Marks & Spencer or John Lewis as I have been told by numerous people they are wonderful to work for and very well organised.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Primark?
i would say that make sure it's an experience you want and if you want to go into the retail industry then perhaps think about looking into other retailers first and not just Primark. I would advise to apply to all retailers in your local area and even other retail and supermarkets as well. Hopefully there will be better organised experience weeks and a chance to expand knowledge and skills within other these other companies and places.
