Our People Testimonials

"At Makro you are learning the job by doing it, and it's up to you how far you progress. You get to run your own area, and it's down to you to prove yourself. You really can drive your career here. It's the classic small/big business. Absolutely huge in terms of turnover but still small enough to make your mark. You need to make you mark from the start. The Board members and senior management are all there looking out for you, tracking your progress, but you need to be determined and ambitious to succeed. If you want a traditional 9-5 job, then Makro's not for you. And you've got to be flexible - so far I've worked in four stores.  This year I made it to Store General Manager, which at 25 was a major achievement. It is hard work, but as long as you're prepared for that you can go a long way here."

Richard, Age 25, Store General Manager

"When I became a trainee manager, I knew how high the expectations were. I was hoping to develop my managerial skills greatly and gain an insight to the wholesale environment. I wanted fast progression and obviously a salary that matched.  After promotion to my first management position in Bristol after 9 months I quickly moved on to become Front of House Manager.  After moves to Poole and Exeter I recently participated in an Assistant General Manager Development Centre.  I will be ready for my promotion panel in January and so I look to take an Assistant General Manager position after only 3 years on the course.

You can push your own development. I always hoped for a training package where your progress is down to yourself rather than others and this is it! Real responsibility is given to you from the first day. If you want a hands on training programme where you can push yourself as much as you want choose Makro. It will be YOUR training scheme not something that has been scripted a few years ago that you are just following. Each day is different and it is highly recommended to anyone who is genuinely interested in a career within the retail/wholesale industry.

David, Age 25 Trainee Manager

"I joined Makro straight from university and became a management trainee. I progressed to AGM within 3 years. At age 26, I was asked to go to China to help train our colleagues on Cash and Carry wholesaling principles. Based initially in Shanghai, I had amazing experiences both on a personal and professional level. While I was able to pass on the experiences and knowledge I had learnt in the UK, I have also learnt how to live and work in a culture completely alien to my own. After one year in China, I was promoted to Store Manager and asked to open the new store in Xian. Opening a new store in the UK is hard enough, but doing it in the middle of China where many of your suppliers are 2000km away and have to cross desert and mountain to get to you, presented challenges of a different sort. However, the opening was a great success and initial sales are encouraging. Being a Store General Manager in China is very demanding. Besides the regular duties of a Store Manager, it is also necessary to control local buyers and a large marketing department. Due to the size and diversity of China, getting the product into your store is as much of a challenge as selling it to the customers. Much time is spent developing guanxi (relationships) with local officials and suppliers in order that operations run smoothly. My experience in China is an opportunity that I never thought would be opened to me when I first applied to Makro .I now realise though what an international company Metro is and will continue to be in the future."

Paul Store General Manager

"I applied for Makro through the website when I was still at University, I was studying for a BSc in Business Studies and also worked part time for another retailer. I always knew I wanted a career within the retail/ wholesale sector and after reading through the testimonials on the website, it became apparent that Trainee Managers in Makro could progress very quickly if they were focused enough to go for it. I started out in Cardiff Store, learning the business from the ground level. Without an understanding of the basics of the business you can't manage effectively and make good decisions to make an impact upon the business. I then completed a trading attachment on the Fresh Food department where I was responsible for managing the entire department throughout the Christmas Trading period, a vital period for the success of the department and the store. I completed a secondment at Head Office managing a twelve strong team of staff, responsible for a key marketing initiative. Each day brings a new problem and a new learning opportunity however the key to success is having a grasp of the commerciality of the business and always ensuring that your department is succeeding in satisfying customer needs. The scheme is an exciting rollercoaster - your career progression and achievement is dependent on you. You really get to apply some of the theory you learned at university as well as picking up some very practical skills as well. The key is to forge the two to create an impact on the business. Your future career is dependent on you proving yourself; it takes commitment and a passion for the business to succeed. Right now, I'm on track to become an Assistant General Manager after passing my promotion panel, if you are prepared to put the work in, Makro gives you the rewards you deserve. The hardest thing to adjust to is taking ownership and control of your own learning. Makro has a structured programme but you won't get spoon fed. You have to want to learn and you have to look for challenges that will provide that learning for you."

Mark, Age 22 Graduate Trainee Manager

I applied through the Makro website while still at University. The position of trainee manager sounded very hard work but the challenge and the rewards made it appealing.

My training started in Manchester store.  After a short induction course my basic training gave me a feel for the wholesale environment and business processes learning lots in a very short space of time. My training programme ensured that I learnt about the business from the ground up which gave me a great insight into the organisation. It quickly became apparent that at Makro we do not get the training on a plate – you have to actively want to learn and develop new skills and use your own initiative. Makro give you a lot of responsibility and expects a lot from you from an early stage which only helps to build commerciality and character.

After my structured initial programme my first trading attachment was the Housewares department.  This proved a great challenge but also taught me a great deal about the actual operation of a department and what is expected of a manager at Makro.

Further challenges followed including supervising an in-store marketing campaign.  This was a great attachment as the success of the new customer campaign has implication upon the store’s trading throughout the year.  I then moved on to the role of acting manager of ambient food which again was a huge challenge.  I have now moved on to a head office project working on a marketing initiative, again there are no ‘closed doors’ at Makro.  Within Makro the job roles and opportunities are immense and the chances are out there to gain experience in different areas.

The graduate scheme is hard work with a demanding work schedule but the rewards follow when you get it right and that is what makes it worthwhile.  As a graduate trainee the expectation is high for you to succeed but with all the support in place and your personal drive and enthusiasm then you certainly can make it.

Chris, Age 23 Trainee Manager

"I started as a Trainee manager and quickly moved into a Head Office role in the finance department. From there I moved into Marketing as an analyst then became a Marketing Development Manager then a full-on Marketing Manager before moving into my present role as Head of Buying - Food.  I have recently been accepted for fast track international development to Director.  It's been incredibly hard work. I've been given loads of responsibility throughout my career and thrown into situations where I've had to solve problems fast. If all you want is to be a Department Manager then Makro isn't for you. You can move anywhere in the business, but it's down to your own motivation and attitude. The challenges are massive, but so are the opportunities. I'm happy to put in the hard work because I know I'll be rewarded."

Jonathan, Age 29, Head of Food Buying - Food

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