Next Careers Assessment Guide: Recruitment Process & Interview Tips

Whether you are looking for an entry-level job with no experience, a flexible summer job to earn some cash before university or you are a graduate ready to take the next step on the career ladder, UK fashion and homeware brand Next may have a suitable job role for you.

What Is Next?

Next is a high-street fashion brand with over 500 retail stores across the UK supplying:

• Menswear
• Womenswear
• Children’s clothing
• Homeware
• Garden equiptment

It is a FTSE-100 company that employs over 35,000 people across the UK and Ireland.

The Next website now allows customers from abroad the option to purchase online in over 70 countries.

As the UK’s 2nd biggest fashion retailer, Next has hundreds of vacancies available throughout the year, these include:

• Entry-level retail jobs (including team members who work on the shop floor and back-of-house in the stockroom)
• Store manager
• Customer service representatives
• Manufacturers
• Cleaners
• Online support staff

More skilled roles across the company include:

• Jobs at Head Office
• Buying and merchandising
• Distribution and logistics
• Marketing and digital marketing opportunities
• Human resources
• IT roles
• Accountancy professionals
• Design and product development

Next also offers a select number of graduate job opportunities. Next graduate jobs include opportunities for graduates within their design and finance departments, including digital designers, fashion designers and merchandisers.

In addition, Next offers a range of full and part-time contracted hours, permanent, fixed term and temporary jobs.

Benefits of working for Next include staff discounts at Next, Lipsy and Victoria’s Secret. Employees also benefit from deals and exclusive offers through the ‘Perks at Work’ scheme, Digicare+ Health and Wellbeing scheme and an optional allowance for buying work clothes from the brand.

What Is the Next Recruitment Process Like?

Next has kept its application process relatively simple. You can apply for Next jobs via recruitment websites. However, the bulk of Next job vacancies are listed on its website. Here is the general process you will go through:

Search and Apply

You can search for career opportunities at Next using specific job titles by contract type, weekly hours and preferred location to see the most relevant search results for you.

To apply, you will need to enter your email address and begin creating an online profile. You do this by entering some basic information, such as your:

• Name
• Address
• Date of birth
• NI/PPS/Social Security number

You can skip part of this process by importing a profile from LinkedIn or Indeed, if you have one.

After the previous step is complete, you will be asked a series of short questions, including your current salary and whether you have the legal right to work/reside in the country.

The third section allows you to upload your CV, cover letter and any supporting documents.

Take the time to write a professional-sounding cover letter that lists any information that relates to your suitability as a candidate. Always proofread everything before you hit send.

The final page asks some diversity questions and allows you to sign and submit your application.

Assessment

Assessment plays a crucial role in the Next recruitment process as it allows the company to further evaluate candidates' skills, abilities and fit for the position.

If you pass the initial screening of your application, you can expect to be invited to participate in various types of assessments that are tailored to assess your qualifications and suitability for the role.

Here are some common assessment methods used by Next:

• Online Tests – These assessments are conducted via online platforms and can cover a wide range of topics depending on the nature of the job. They may include aptitude tests, cognitive ability tests, numerical and verbal reasoning tests, situational judgment tests or logical reasoning tests. These tests are designed to measure your problem-solving abilities, critical thinking skills, and how well you can apply your knowledge to practical situations.

• Technical Evaluations – For technical roles or positions that require specific technical skills, Next may conduct technical evaluations. These assessments evaluate your proficiency in relevant technical areas, such as programming languages, software applications, data analysis or any other technical skills essential for the position. They may involve coding exercises, technical quizzes or practical assignments to gauge your technical expertise.

• Personality Assessments – Next may utilize personality assessments to gain insights into your personality traits, work style and how well you may fit within the company culture. These assessments are designed to evaluate your behavioral tendencies, communication style, teamwork skills, leadership potential and problem-solving approaches. They can be in the form of self-assessment questionnaires or structured interviews that explore your personality traits and preferences.

• Case Studies or Simulations – In some cases, Next may present you with hypothetical scenarios or case studies relevant to the role you have applied for. These assessments allow you to demonstrate your analytical thinking, decision-making abilities, and how you would approach and solve real-world problems that may arise in the position.

• Presentations or Group Exercises – For certain roles that involve public speaking, presentation skills or teamwork, Next may incorporate presentations or group exercises as part of the assessment process. You may be asked to prepare and deliver a presentation on a given topic or engage in group discussions or activities with other candidates to evaluate your ability to collaborate, communicate effectively and contribute within a team setting.

Interview

If you are successful, you can expect someone to be in touch to arrange an interview. This may be done remotely via video or could be an in-person interview.

The recruitment process for Next is also relatively short, according to 3,273 respondents on Indeed. 51% reported that a job offer was made to them within two days. The second most popular response was that they had an offer within a week.

If you manage to wow the hiring manager at the interview stage and all of the information you have provided checks out, you will be able to start the onboarding process and commence an exciting career at the UK’s 2nd biggest fashion retailer.

The company may perform reference or background checks .

What Questions Are Asked at a Next Interview?

If your initial application is successful and you are invited to take part in the next step in the recruitment process, be prepared to answer some basic questions at your Next assessment or interview, such as:

• Why do you want to work at Next/ What attracted you to the brand?
• Can you talk about a time that you provided excellent customer service or received excellent customer service?
• What skills do you have that would enhance the day-to-day operations of the store?
• How would you deal with a difficult or unhappy customer? What would your priority be in this kind of situation?
• What are your goals for the future?

It is important to give answers that talk about your transferable skills that would be valuable in a workplace. You can do this whether or not you have any work experience.

This might include:

• Problem-solving
• Timekeeping
• Communication
• Organisation
• Confidence

Other desirable skills that might be more specific to the brand might include having an eye for colour or keeping up with the latest trends and fashion must-haves.

The hiring manager will also need to know about your expectations, flexibility and availability. Some roles at Next are paid hourly and others are salaried. Their weekly contracted hours vary from 6 hours a week up to full-time (38.5), although they may offer overtime on occasion.

Tips for Applying for a Role at Next

1. Sort Your CV

Once you have searched Next jobs online and found a vacancy that you want to apply for, you will make the recruitment process quicker and easier for yourself if you already have a professional-looking and well-written CV.

It should be tailored to suit the job role you are applying for but avoid being creative with the truth.

2. Know Next's Core Values

When you are answering interview questions at your Next interview, try to keep the company’s values and expectations at the forefront of your mind.

The company's core concept is ‘Let’s take it on’ and it believes that employees who live the core concept through their day-to-day work are more likely to reach their full potential.

Other important Next values to learn if you are interested in Next careers are:

• For our customers: always think customer
• Impact: make it happen
• Innovation: push the boundaries
• Respect: we’re all human
• Integrity: keep it real
• Openness: invite collaboration
• Growth: learn to evolve

Research and learn the core concepts that define life at Next (Let’s take it on) – be prepared to discuss what this means to you.

3. Wear Appropriate Interview Attire

The company desires applicants who have an interest in fashion. However, it is still best to choose a professional-looking interview outfit and avoid anything that is too flamboyant or flashy.

Think fashionable but functional.

4. Research the Job Role

To increase your chances of success, it is crucial to gain a comprehensive understanding of the job role you have applied for, including the desired characteristics of the ideal candidate.

This information can typically be obtained from the original Next recruitment listing or job advertisement.

By conducting thorough research, you will be better equipped to tailor your application and showcase how your skills, qualifications and experience align with the specific requirements of the position.

5. Don't Be Late

Arrive for your interview promptly, preferably a few minutes before your allocated time.

This avoids rushing and stressing and suggests to the hiring manager that you are a good timekeeper.

Working in fashion does not mean being fashionably late!

6. Rest and Relax

Get plenty of sleep the night prior to your interview and practise self-care, including eating a healthy and balanced diet and staying hydrated.

Try to stay calm – going through the recruitment process at any company can be stressful but try not to worry or stress too much.

This will have a negative impact on how you perform on the day and will put an unnecessary strain on your mental health.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Next is a dominant company in UK high-street fashion and, as such, offers a diverse range of career opportunities and options.

The recruitment process is relatively straightforward and providing that you have a strong CV and cover letter and do some research about the company prior to your interview, you stand a chance at getting hired to work at Next.

You can find out more about career opportunities at Next by visiting its website and clicking the Next Careers button, where you can sign up for job alerts and browse Next vacancies.