From temp to the top
My first experience at Dixons Carphone was as a Christmas temp through a recruitment agency. I was only signed up to do two weekends, meeting and greeting customers coming in-store. I wasn’t expecting too much, but at the end of it, the manager offered me a part-time 20-hour a week position. I was 18 at the time, and a part-time role involving tech sounded like the perfect fit for me. Eventually, I moved to full-time and by the time I was 25, I was already looking at my first Assistant Manager position. Three months later I was offered a Managerial position, which I was ecstatic about.
The next part of my career was a bit of a whirlwind - I moved around so many stores it made my head spin! Obviously, moving to a new store every six months doesn’t sound ideal to everybody, but I loved it. It gives you a great perspective and insight into the business, because every store has its own quirks and personality, plus it really helps you to understand the different challenges that crop up in retail.
Not only that, but I was also a part of an in-store initiative and was given one of the first 10 three-in-one stores to set up. Starting with a completely blank canvas and ending up with a store ready to trade was a unique experience, and taught me a lot, because unsurprisingly there’s a lot that goes into creating a Dixons Carphone store. I also met the mother of my two kids at work - so to me, Dixons Carphone is more than just a job, it’s a way of life. I’m not the only one who’s met their significant other on the job, so I’m sure in 10 years we’ll be providing the company with the next wave of future Managers!
Store-to-store, business to business
After moving from store to store, I eventually got a call from our Area Manager offering me a role in B2B. The job was amazing. I would be working 9-6, and no weekends. For someone who’s worked in retail all their life that was a great lift.
I’ve been the B2B Direct Sales Manager for just over two years now, and the role has boosted my commercial acumen massively. There are so many skills I’ve developed and learned from scratch; from identifying opportunities and creating detailed plans for the next six months, to analytical skills. It’s been just as hectic as moving to a new store every few months, but this time all my learning has happened in our Poole office.
One of the biggest achievements we’ve managed in B2B is the 30% plus growth we’ve seen year on year. A huge part of that constant and continued success is thanks to the culture, environment and staff at Dixons Carphone.
More than ‘just a job’
I’ve already mentioned that I met my partner through work, and that sense of family encompasses the whole of Dixons Carphone. It sounds cliché but it’s true. We’re a tight knit team and that has been pivotal to the success we’ve had in B2B. Having a team that does more than just work well together is a big part of why everyone enjoys coming into work. Having a strong and cohesive team is so important, that when interviewing, one of the biggest things I consider when hiring is how that person is going to fit in.
That family feeling is no more apparent than when we’re off celebrating our successes, whether that’s our monthly outings or bigger events like our Christmas parties. Last year’s Christmas party saw my whole team all dressed up in the same Christmas suits. I also picked up an Excellent Contribution award which is one of the top end of year awards. Whilst it was amazing to be recognised for my efforts, it truly was a team effort that got me the award as it wouldn’t have been possible without their combined talent, dedication, and enthusiasm. We’ve done some fantastic work within the business, and when you get to the end of the year, it’s awesome to be able to look back at all the success the team has created and developed.
Working for Dixons Carphone has been a lifechanging experience that has given me so much. From a wonderful girlfriend and two beautiful children, to a career. Dixons Carphone is more than a job - it’s family.
Looking for a career that will provide you with more satisfaction than that of an ordinary job? If you enjoy working in a close-knit environment, discover the roles available here