Iarla Burke, Marketing Graduate at Applegreen

Why did you apply for Applegreen?

Firstly, Applegreen has an unbelievable track record of achievement, starting from one store in Ballyfermot to becoming the largest Irish roadside retailer in Ireland and this is an inspiring story for any graduate to hear.

The Applegreen graduate programme is a fantastic opportunity to launch your career as it is a unique and broad experience that allows you to gain knowledge working across a range of roles including Marketing, Trading, Fuel & Analytics, Human Resources and more.

This cross functional structure really appealed to me as I was looking to expand on my commercial acumen having graduated from university.

What are you favourite parts of the programme?

My favourite part of the programme is the endless opportunity available to graduates if they put the work in. This programme gives graduates the chance to live and work abroad in their second year which is an amazing learning experience so early on in your career.

Also, due to Applegreen’s flat structure I have had experiences that would not be possible on a different graduate programme. Within my first six months I have interacted with CEOs, worked with commercial directors, and even taken the lead on a high-profile marketing campaign.

What is the culture like?

The flat and open structure of Applegreen is something that is unique in comparison to other graduate programmes. Graduates are given early exposure to senior managers and directors which allows us to understand how they make decisions, allocate budgets and drive innovation.

One thing which I love is that all the different departments work seamlessly together which creates a very happy and positive work environment.

What do other graduates/new starters enjoy when they start working here and what do they find most challenging?

I think the graduates and new starters enjoy how welcoming and friendly the other employees are. It can be daunting starting a new job and joining teams that are already very well bonded, but they make you feel part of the team straight away which made it very enjoyable from the beginning.

I think the most challenging thing is learning your new role, adjusting to the business, and completing tasks that you may never have dealt with before. While going through your different rotations there’s a lot of new things to learn along the way which can be demanding but it is certainly worth it.

How have you found the training and development?

The training and development plan that has been put in place for graduates at Applegreen is first-class, which is crucial for an employees’ growth and success in any organisation. Upon joining you are matched with a buddy who is there to help with any day-to-day issues that you may have during your time at Applegreen. You are also paired with a mentor who is a senior member of staff there to provide advice for your career goals and objectives.

Getting exposure like to senior leaders is an incredible resource and hearing their career journeys and how they ended up at Applegreen helps you understand how your role fits into a bigger picture. On top of fostering these relationships, Applegreen invest a lot of time and resources into helping their graduates develop new skills. We get the chance to earn a diploma in leadership and in another in Microsoft Excel for example, two things that will help graduates achieve their career goals in the future.

What are the benefits of starting your professional career in the retail industry?

Retail is an ever-changing industry and retailers have to constantly stay on their toes to be able to react different market trends. This makes every single day working with Applegreen unique in its own way and while it can be challenging at times, it is such an exciting opportunity for personal and professional growth.

Retail provides an excellent opportunity to develop a well-rounded arsenal of business skills in short period of time like problem-solving, multitasking and communication.