New research from Skillsmart Retail finds that graduates are eight times more likely to consider working in retail if they have good experience working in shops as students.

The new study found that 64 per cent of students who had a good experience of working part time in retail would choose it as a career after university compared to just eight per cent of those who had a bad experience.

As retailers prepare to attract new graduates for the coming year, Skillsmart Retail urged them to show off the perks of a career in retail while they are students to attract them into the sector upon graduation.

Anne Seaman, chief executive of Skillsmart Retail, said: “Retail is in the unique position of having nearly half a million students experiencing what it is like to work in the sector before they enter the world of full time work. It is therefore a golden opportunity to show that the sector offers promising careers while young people are working in the industry during school, college and university.”

The study also found that nearly two thirds (65%) of students had worked in retail before graduating, and that 40 per cent had generally had a bad experience of the sector.

Anne Richardson, careers strategy manager at Skillsmart Retail, said: “A shrinking labour pool means that we have to ensure that we get as many young talented people into the sector at a young age as possible. If we can prove that there is a good career to be had in the sector, rather than just a Saturday job, there is a better chance of our attracting the very best people.”

In order to assist with the process of choosing the sector as a career of choice, Skillsmart Retail is currently working on a careers ambassador scheme which will see employees of all levels going into schools and colleges to promote the sector as a career of choice. For more information see Skillsmart Retail or phone 0207 462 5060.