My life as a... Project Manager

What is your job title?

I work for John Lewis Plc as a Point of Sale Project Manager.

What qualifications do you need to get where you are?

At John Lewis, employees can work their way up from almost any level within the organisation, which is very rare. But, it did help that I joined with internal and external experience and had a degree in 'arts' which helps me relate to the design part of my department.

What qualifications do you have?

I have a first class honours in BSc Textile Design with Design Management and a CIM Marketing Diploma.

What does your job involve?

I am responsible for receiving applications from anyone in the business who requires assistance with new and existing branch refurbishments. That can include, for instance, the marketing or buying departments (each of which could be working on a refurbishment on behalf of any part of the organisation). During that process, I find out what the department requires and suggest a solution using graphics.

I work on every area from fashion to nursery to homeware. I help set-up new branches and make sure that they adhere to new standards. I also spend time with existing branches, ensuring that they stick to the brand guidelines and I am also therefore a brand guardian who protects the image of the organisation by making sure that the departments don’t do anything which doesn't fit in with our brand image. 

What do you most like about your job?

I am very involved with different departments in various ways and enjoy all of that. I also like getting out and about, visiting existing branches and seeing new developments through from start to finish.

What is most rewarding about your job?

I really enjoy seeing the results of completed projects, particularly the extent to which they work successfully. I recently worked on producing all of the new graphics for the opening of our Cardiff branch, which was a really big project. It was a real challenge, but it looked great in the end and was very rewarding!

Is there anything about your job that you don’t like?

Working for John Lewis is great. Sometimes my job requires a great deal of patience as everyone has an opinion, so this sometimes slows work down.

Do you have a typical day?

Never, but that is the way I like it!

What qualities do you need to be a successful Point of Sale Project Manager?

Patience, determination and dedication.

What advice would you give to other people wanting a job like yours?

Make sure that you get some work experience under your belt before you start applying for your first role, as it will help build your confidence and you'll hopefully also stand out from all of the other candidates. Also, try to be a people person and communicate, communicate, communicate… You can never do this enough at John Lewis.