China Graduate Programme 2012/13

Details of Development Programme

The China Graduate Programme is a 12 month Fast-Track scheme.  There is a 6 month development programme in Hertfordshire in the UK, followed by a permanent move to China. The UK Development Programme will give you a chance to work in business situations and develop skills in your chosen business area.

Once selected, you'll join us in China during August for a 6 week induction, followed by 6 months on a structured development programme in the UK. This will include time in our UK stores where you will learn how our store operations work. You'll then develop skills in your chosen business area, before moving to China to complete your programme.

This programme gives you the specialist technical skills and Tesco leadership skills needed to excel in your chosen area.  In the UK, you will also learn about the Tesco group processes and the 'Tesco Way' of doing things.  You will have a senior sponsor in China and the UK and lots of opportunities to demonstrate what you can do and what you're made of.

When you return to China after your 6 months in the UK, you will demonstrate the core skills you have learnt, as well as bringing ways of working into your new role.

The programme will be challenging and stretching and we are looking for motivated and driven individuals who will contribute to the business from day one. You'll need to show that you can work effectively in a team, but that you are also able to take responsibility and use your initiative.

What does the UK development part of the programme look like?

As part of the programme you will spend 6 months in the UK, learning the foundation technical and leadership skills required for their roles in China. You will learn about Group wide processes and principles which will be key to ensuring your success.

As a graduate you will take on a trainee role within your allocated Functions and will each have your own line manager. 

Key objectives will be set by the China business and agreed with the UK Functions.

The 6 months will include the following:

• A general Tesco UK induction and overview of the UK placement, as well as an induction within your specific Function
• Overview of store operations, which may include some time working in a store (up to 2 weeks in total over the full 6 months)
• Training courses - this would be a combination of short, 'on the job' training within your functions, full day Tesco workshops covering technical and leadership skills as well as off site external training
• Three Development Days to include leadership skills training
• Group meetings with key directors within the business
• Regular 1 to 1 meetings with your line managers to review your objectives and to discuss any areas of development

Where are the opportunities?

• 10 jobs in total in Commercial, Marketing, and Operational functions
• The roles are split between Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and within the East Region

What are we looking for?

• Qualified or expecting at least a 2:1 degree (or equivalent) for the following roles:
  • Commercial - Buyers - Any discipline degree
  • Space, Range & Design – Space Insight & Planning Analyst - Mathematics/Statistics discipline
  • Marketing - Price Analyst/Grocery Home Shopping Analyst - Marketing/Economics/Business Studies discipline
  • Operations - Store Department Head Grocery - Any discipline degree

• Fluent in both English and Mandarin
• Willing and legally entitled to work permanently in China
• Interested in, and with an understanding of, Retail
• Driven and determined to learn and deliver for the customer in a challenging environment
• Confident in your analytical skills
• Able to influence others and have excellent interpersonal skills
• Mobile according to the needs of the business (although you will initially be based in one location)

Ideally, you will also have work experience in a customer-facing role (retail experience would be a real advantage!)