grad INTErVIEW 33
campaigns to tackle crime and reduce youth
offending. “It’s a really positive company that
does things for the right reasons, because it’s
a co-operative,” adds Philip.
When you talk to people like Philip you can
see there is real substance behind The
Co-operative’s words. At the same time,
when you look at the business pages of the
newspapers, and read about recent mergers
and acquisitions (United Co-operative,
Somerfield), you’re left in no doubt that this
is a seriously ambitious, commercially driven
enterprise. For graduates like Philip, who
want the challenge of business leadership
in highly competitive markets, but also
the chance to put something back into
the community and the wider world, The
Co-operative would appear to be very
well-positioned. Even the company culture is
said to shine with graduates forming a close
bond. As Philip says: “We’re a very social
bunch, regularly meeting outside work. Inside
work there are regular graduate events,
which bring us together, not to mention the
development weeks every four months.
We’re constantly in contact about each
other’s projects and progress, and we offer
support and guidance to each other. We
really do co-operate with each other!”
Join the Co-op
To make it onto either of The
Co-operative’s Graduate Programmes,
you’ll need at least a 2:2 degree in any
discipline. It’s not just about academic
achievements, but it’s also about the
experiences, opinions and beliefs that
make you who you are. You will need to
show that you are as passionate about
a career in business as you are about its
values and principles.
Both programmes present a wide
array of challenges, so you’ll need to
be confident, tenacious, resilient and
flexible. In return for early responsibility
and a high profile, you’ll need to work
hard to earn credibility and respect. The
result of your efforts will be a leadership
role in a unique enterprise that continues
to innovate and lead the market.
For more information visit the website:
Phillip and a colleague enjoy the work ethic at The Co-operative Group www.altogetherdifferent.com
GradJobs Magazine | Autumn 08
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