Mr Price Group graduate programmes: prepare your CV
A practical way to compare Buying and Planning, organise your evidence and prepare for suitable graduate opportunities.
Compare the work you enjoy most—product choices or numbers—and collect examples that show it. The next page gives a practical Buying-versus-Planning checklist and the official careers route when suitable roles appear.
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Begin with the kind of work you want to learn
Buying and Planning sit close to one another in retail, but they invite different starting strengths. Buying may appeal if you are curious about products, customers, ranges and the reasons people choose one item over another. Planning may appeal if you enjoy working through numbers, spotting patterns, setting priorities and explaining what information could mean for a decision. You do not need to claim that you already know everything about either path. Your task is to show that you can learn, think clearly and take responsibility for the work you have done so far.
On this page
Use your course work as evidence rather than as a list of module names. A marketing assignment can show how you considered a customer group. An economics or statistics project can show how you handled data and reached a conclusion. A group presentation can show planning, communication and follow-through. The same project may be useful for both directions, but the explanation should change. For Buying, explain the customer, product or range question you explored. For Planning, explain the figures, assumptions or trade-offs you worked through.
Make a simple choice without locking yourself in
A useful first choice is not a lifetime commitment. It is a way to focus your preparation. If you are drawn to the customer-facing story behind a product, start by building Buying examples. If you naturally ask what the numbers say, start by building Planning examples. If both interest you, prepare one core CV and keep two short versions of your profile paragraph. That lets you tailor the opening of an application without changing the facts of your experience.
- List projects Write down coursework, part-time work, volunteering and society responsibilities from the past two years.
- Choose evidence For each item, note the problem, your action and the result or learning point.
- Create two angles Describe the same evidence through a product-and-customer angle and a numbers-and-decisions angle.
- Keep it honest Remove inflated claims and be ready to discuss every example in your own words.
Build a CV that is easy to scan
A graduate CV works best when a reader can find the essentials quickly. Put your current qualification, expected completion date and relevant coursework where they are easy to see. Then add experience and projects that demonstrate transferable skills. Avoid filling space with generic phrases such as ‘hard worker’ or ‘team player’ without an example. A short, specific line about what you analysed, organised, improved or presented is much more useful than a long list of personality traits.
Keep a separate preparation folder as well as the CV itself. Store a current academic record if you have one, copies of project summaries, links to presentations where appropriate, and a short note explaining your contribution to each project. Check filenames and contact details before you need them. This is not about creating a polished portfolio website; it is about being able to locate accurate information quickly and submit only what an application asks for.
Prepare for an application conversation
Practice explaining your interest in plain language. Instead of saying that you are passionate about retail, name a real observation: perhaps you notice how product choices affect shoppers, or you enjoyed turning a messy spreadsheet into a recommendation. Then connect that observation to a skill you are developing. Keep the explanation short enough to say naturally. Recruiters can ask follow-up questions, so choose examples you understand rather than impressive-sounding examples you cannot explain.
It also helps to prepare a few questions of your own. You might ask how a team supports learning in an entry-level role, what a typical piece of work involves, or how priorities are set. These are not promises about a programme or a vacancy; they are sensible questions to use if an official opportunity invites applications or a conversation. The Mr Price Group careers page notes that the experience may differ by role, so read the detail of any specific opportunity rather than assuming every role will be the same.
Use official information when opportunities appear
The official careers route is the place to check the wording, requirements and application steps for any opportunity you are considering. Do not rely on reposted adverts, screenshots or social posts for deadlines or eligibility. Read the official description from start to finish, then tailor your CV only to requirements that are actually stated. The next page shows a focused checklist for choosing your emphasis, preparing documents and using the official route without assuming that a role is currently open.
Your aim is readiness, not a guaranteed outcome. A thoughtful application can make your evidence easier to understand, but it does not create a vacancy or ensure selection. Keep improving your examples through study, work and practical projects. When an official role appears, you will be able to decide whether it fits and apply with a clearer picture of what you can offer.
Before you move on, save one version of your CV as a clean master copy and another as a working copy for tailoring. That small habit prevents last-minute changes from overwriting useful information. It also gives you a calm starting point when you need to review an official role description.
Frequently asked questions
Should I choose Buying or Planning before I apply?
Choose an initial direction so you can prepare relevant examples, but stay open to the wording and requirements of any official opportunity. Your first preference can guide your CV without limiting your learning.
What can I include if I have little work experience?
Use coursework, group projects, volunteering, student societies and part-time responsibilities. Explain what you did, how you approached it and what you learned rather than using broad claims.
Do I need a portfolio for an entry-level application?
Prepare a small evidence folder, but send only the documents requested in the official application. A clear CV and accurate project examples are more useful than extra material that was not requested.
Where should I check for current opportunities?
Use the official Mr Price Group careers route and read the specific listing carefully. This guide does not confirm that a particular graduate role is currently open.
