Profiles
"I knew if I joined Tesco there was scope to take my career in whichever direction I wanted."
Hannah
Technology
Leadership
Programme
Nick
HR
Masters HRM & Business, Aston University
Joined Tesco Sept 2005
To me the graduate programme is a fine balance between learning and doing. My time at Tesco has incorporated both elements and I've had significant responsibility. One of my major projects to date has been around the delivery of the UK and international bonuses to the 13 countries. This involved calculating each country's bonus and communicating this effectively to the Personnel teams in each country. I ensured some 15,000 people across the globe got the correct bonus and got it on time.
I've also contributed to the international graduate programme. I had to market, recruit and develop ten UK-educated Chinese nationals to eventually help the development of the Chinese business.
I've had plenty of contact with the different cultures and countries we operate in. Personnel is really internationally focused and Group Personnel govern and spread best practice across the Tesco business. It makes for an exciting life - the most unusual job involved jumping in a taxi to meet a visa runner outside the Chinese Embassy! This international dimension has been great exposure for me and I've gained a large amount of knowledge in such a short space of time.
The programme has given me a springboard to hopefully what will be a successful career at Tesco. I've been given the opportunity to get on, and had exposure to key internal decision makers. I think the possibilities inside Tesco are fantastic, whether that be in Personnel, across functions or at an international level. In the medium term I'd like to specialise in Personnel, then try my hand in Retail running a smaller Tesco store. Eventually I'd like to work internationally.