Catapulting careers

THINKING OUTSIDE THE SQUARE: Pranay Sundarji believes success in retail means providing a service that exceeds expectations and thinking innovatively.

The retail industry has seen many people's careers catapult from small beginnings to senior management positions. Loads of retail companies offer fantastic training, ranging from internationally recognised sales programmes to custom-designed, NZQA-accredited, on-the-job training courses.

The speed at which you can progress is determined by your attitude and willingness to learn. Often you will enter a business and work through a structured induction programme.

At Telecom, the induction includes attending a STAR School (School of Telecom Achievement in Retail). Here, employees learn about products and receive comprehensive training in a simulated retail environment.

The training can quickly lead to greater opportunities, after one year on the shop floor, employees are eligible to move into head office, or transfer into the wider business following a variety of paths depending on where their interests lie.

Pranay Sundarji is a perfect example of an employee making the most of the opportunities available within retail. He began his career in retail with part-time jobs while studying. His first job was with Pizza Hut where he loved the customer service aspect of the role. From there he moved into jobs with Electronics Boutique and a telephone sales role with American Express. His sales skills were then honed by a role with a property and financial company.

It was from this background that Pranay joined Telecom Retail as a communications consultant at the Queen St store. He loved learning new information about products and services in order to give better customer service. He learnt about merchandising, processes, technology, management skills, opening and closing the shop and the financial skills required for the daily running of a store.

After just a year, he has moved into a newly created role as retail service specialist, working within a team to provide solutions and improvements for the retail stores.

Pranay is looking forward to a bright future, with opportunities within his reach ranging from product management and buying to marketing and advertising.

He attributes his success so far to a "hunger and drive for knowledge'' and constantly providing a service beyond normal expectations through thinking outside the square.  

Mike McClure demonstrates another retail success story. Starting his career as an assistant manager at Hallensteins, he progressed through the Hallensteins business over 10 years in various store management roles. He moved into roles as regional training manager and regional support manager, then store manager in Queen St. This role involved training and development of staff, increasing sales, refining store processes and operating guidelines, and stock control.

After a year as a store manager McClure has accepted a new position as learning specialist. He says he loves the retail industry. "It has taught me to work hard, have fun and, most of all, promote my situation and celebrate my own success.''

Many retail businesses have training programmes ranging from short courses to three-year modern apprenticeships or management trainee programs.

To explore the options, research the websites of retail companies that interest you or contact the human resources departments directly.