You could be running your own store by 22 on the Uniqlo grad scheme

A lot of graduates go into roles where their responsibility is limited, progression is slow and they are sat behind a desk all day. Some of us won’t even manage the paperclips in the office, let alone a team of people at the age of 22. 

Warwick grad Kate Nicholas went straight into the UNIQLO grad scheme after graduating two years ago with a 2.1 in English Literature and French. 

Now, she runs her own UNIQLO store in London, leading a team of 20 people and has been to Tokyo twice.

Kate on a company trip to Japan

The Uniqlo Store Manager Candidate Programme (UMC programme)

The graduate scheme has three key stages: Customer Advisor working in-store on the shop floor, Store Supervisor and then Assistant Manager. At the end of the year long programme there is the chance for promotion as Store Manager.

Kate said: “The programme is very much start from the bottom, learn everything quickly and you’ll progress very rapidly through the ranks. 

“UNIQLO works in six monthly cycles with management, so every six months you could potentially move store and that’s when the promotion period happens as well. So grads can be promoted to Assistant Manager at this point.”

“Assistant Manager is the stage where you really take a step up, you have six months to master everything on the day to day operations. You’ve still got a Store Manager above you, but you’re working as a manager alongside them.”

The UMC programme is only a year long and after the year it’s decided whether you are ready to run your own UNIQLO store.

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Kate said:  “I think it’s probably every grad’s aim to become a Store Manager straight away, which I was very lucky enough to do. The aim is after a year, when the grad scheme finishes, you’ve got your own store.”

Apply to the UNIQLO Manager Candidate Programme today, applications are open all year round

Progression

The UNIQLO grad scheme has only been running for four years in the UK, but Kate says that the progression within the company is a lot faster than other grad schemes.

“Progression could happen in theory every six months. Someone in their third year with the company they could be managing maybe two or three stores!”

Company perks

Kate says travel is a huge bonus of working with an international company like UNIQLO, and once you reach Independent Store Manager level all candidates are invited to Tokyo.

Kate said: “I’ve been to Paris three times and Japan twice. There are also different business projects that run alongside work that if you apply you can spend a lot more time in Tokyo as well.

“The 30 per cent discount is also a great perk. We also have a New Year party as Christmas is very busy. In January when everything has calmed down we have a party. There’s also a really good individual bonus scheme which is very much performance based.”

Apply to the UNIQLO Manager Candidate Programme today, applications are open all year round

Kate with other graduates working in Japan

What type of person does well on the UMC programme

Kate says her involvement in Warwick’s societies such as Warwick Snow, Warwick Surf and her role as President of World of Warwick helped her with her application.

She said: “We always joke that you’ve got to be prepared to hustle, you’ve got to be a bit of a hustler and that you’re not afraid to get your hands dirty because it’s such a hands on grad scheme. You definitely have to be ambitious in the sense that you’ve always got your bigger goal ahead of you.

“One of biggest things I’ve learnt is how to manage people, like how you need to talk to someone if you need them to get stuff done or how you need to talk to someone if they are in trouble. Also, you need to not forget about the people who are silently getting on with their job and are amazing – all of those different things.

“You have to have communication skills, that’s where previous experience in part-time jobs comes in handy because you’ve got experience speaking with customers.”

Apply for the UNIQLO Candidate Manager Programme today, applications are open all year round

Life after the grad scheme

Kate, after finishing the graduate scheme last September is now working as a Store Manager in Kingston, London.

She said:”You’re in charge of literally everything from layout to sales. I’ve got a big team around me – one Assistant Manager, six Supervisors and then about 20 staff members all together.

“Each store is kind of ran as it’s own business and you get a say of what is put in your store. You get a lot of independence and you’ve got your Area Manager above you who is a really good support. Quite a lot of the time you’ll try something, see if it works and if it doesn’t work try something else.”

Advice for anyone applying

Kate said:”I think you just have to be really passionate and have to be the type of person that wants to succeed in whatever you do. You just have to show that in your application.

“Once you start it’s about embracing every single moment as it comes and throwing yourself into everything you do, taking on the advice of people who have done it before. You’ve always got that support to mentor you on the way.”

Apply for the UNIQLO Candidate Manager Programme today, applications are open all year round