There are many large retail stores in South Africa that run graduate development programmes for students completing degrees or diplomas in Fashion, Industrial Design, Commerce, Merchandising and more. As a springboard to a career in fashion design, interior design, sports retail, HR, buying and merchandising, a grad programme offers intensive development across all areas of a given business. It’s an opportunity to launch a career with an established institution – and not one to be missed.

Available local graduate development programmes include:

Truworths careers

“Whether you're a Graduate ready to start a career or a Professional looking for a new challenge, you will have various career options and paths ahead. What do you do? Where do you start? What routes should you follow to take you towards a successful career you can be proud of?”

Truworth offers a Merchant Trainee Programme which includes fashion buying and planning for the analytically inclined. In order to qualify, you will need a tertiary qualification in fashion design (or a related qualification or experience), plus creative flair, a commercial eye, excellent organisational ability, well developed interpersonal skills and a love of fashion.

“At Truworths, we work in a fast-paced, creative environment where ideas are heard and challenges embraced. We're a company full of smart, talented, passionate people striving to do our jobs better every day.

For more information, read up about Truworth’s Merchant Trainee Program

Ackermans

Ackermans offers graduate development programmes in Retail/Operations and Buying/Planning. These programmes are designed to draw out graduates’ creative and strategic thinking abilities, their knowledge of market trends, general business acumen, and ability to cope under pressure.

Retail/ Operations
“In the operations team we aspire to develop high potential individuals that will add value to our Operations Management Structures… Initially fulfilling the role of a Trainee Store Manager, your hard work will see you progressing into Management positions within the operations that are suited to you.

“As a successful Trainee Store Manager you will receive:
• Formal training
• On the job training
• Practical learning and exposure
• Mentoring and coaching”

In order to qualify for this programme, you will need a Matric/ Grade 12 with maths SG, a relevant NQF Qualification within the service industry (desirable), and the ability to effectively communicate in English. Find more information and to apply, visit Ackermans Careers

Foschini graduate development

Foschini has a well established graduate development programme, with many oppurtunities available for trainees. The programme runs for between one and two years, and each new recruit is given a personal mentor to guide them, with regular “team chats and motivational mantras” to guide them along the way.

Graduate trainees will be permanent employees and can expect to be paid according to other market-related positions. In turn, Foschini expects a high level of performance, with regular performance reviews.

In order to qualify, graduates will need a good academic record as well as the skills becoming of a successful trainee.

“We want and look for the very best. Interpersonal skills, merchant thinking, business understanding, analytical and interpretive skills, communication skills and organisational skills are a few of these key competencies.”

Launch your career and become the person you’re meant to be. Visit I am me for more information.

Edgars/Edcon

Edgars offers a development programme through its mother company, Edcon. The Merchant Development Programme allows trainees to combine the world of fashion and business by both buying (looking at trends and fashion, sourcing products, meeting customers’ needs) and planning (understanding commerce and analytics).

In order to qualify for this programme, you will need an accredited Bachelors Degree or BCom, or have completed a diploma in Fashion or garment construction. For more information, visit Edcon Graduate Programmes

The Mr Price group offers a graduate development programme that runs across the group in the Buying, Merchandising, Planning, Design, Marketing, Systems or HR departments. It runs for approximately 12 months and graduates are then placed in positions where opportunities are created both formally or informally to make sure they are trained, developed and coached.

Three basic beliefs got us where we are today - passion, value and partnership. Our Graduate Programme expresses all three... you bring your passion and as partners we’ll add value to each other’s lives. Here, your energy and talent will find a perfect springboard for a dynamic career in fashion clothing, home fashion and sport retail, with intensive development and learning across all areas of our business, including individual and group projects.”

Look out for information about the graduate programme at various tertiary institutions career exhibitions and publications like GRAD X.

For more information check out Mr Price Group Career