Know what to expect

Part of being prepared means knowing what to expect. At Primark, there are two types of interviews: telephone interviews and face-to-face.

Almost every role requires a face-to-face interview, though not every role requires a telephone interview.

A telephone interview is really about breaking the ice. It’s about getting to know you and seeing whether you’d be a good fit, before taking it further.

The face-to-face interview is more in-depth. It gives us the chance to meet you and see what you’re like. To ask questions and check if you’re right for the role. At the same time, it also gives you a chance to ask us questions and get a feel for whether we’re right for you.

My proudest moment

Opening a new store is a fantastic project. I had always wanted to do it, and then late last year I got the chance. Planning every aspect of the new store and recruiting some 200 members of staff was a huge undertaking, but after about six months we were ready to go.

The day before our grand opening, we held a black tie event. It was for staff and their family, company directors and, of course, the media. It was an amazing experience. I remember looking around the store, my 200 employees, my nine managers, and feeling a huge sense of achievement. It was the proudest moment of my career so far.