Which skills and what kind of knowledge does s.Oliver expect applicants for the s.Oliver trainee programme to have?

A real enthusiasm for fashion and trends is indispensable for all trainee programmes, regardless of the skills acquired in a particular trainee programme. For all programmes, some practical experience in the fashion industry (such as an apprenticeship, work experience placement or casual employment) is a great advantage. Our trainees are distinguished by the fact that they do not just want to improve their professional competence, but that they also want to develop on a personal level, and are not afraid to think outside the box.

What tips can you give applicants, as far as their application documents are concerned?

The covering letter should make it clear that the applicant has really thought about the trainee position he or she is applying for. Serial applications, serial letters, inaccurate or grubby documents, and holiday snaps (instead of a proper passport-type application photo) are all absolute no-nos. Applicants should make absolutely sure that the applications are 100% complete. Missing references, reports and so on do not make a good impression, so even if you are applying for a casual or a marginal job, please include all relevant references and reports. To make the application process as smooth as possible, we advise applicants to send us their documents via email in the form of a single PDF file.

Exactly how does the application process for a trainee position at s.Oliver work?

The first step of the application process is always the submission of a complete, written application, either via email or by post. Once we have examined the documents, we invite applicants who meet our criteria to a first interview. If an applicant impresses, both in terms of personality and professionality, the selection process then varies according to department (working for a trial period, for example). The last step in the application process is invariably a second interview.

How is the s.Oliver trainee programme structured?

Apart from a comprehensive, on-the-job induction, the trainees receive job-specific training, and attend interdisciplinary workshops together with the trainees from other departments. Each programme follows a job-specific training schedule with tailor-made, interlinked modules. Each trainee programme encompasses several one- to three-month-long phases in the respective job-specific departments, plus a few weeks spent in important cross-functional departments.

What can the trainees expect once they have completed the programme?

Assuming a positive personal development, almost 100% of our trainees are taken on by the company in the job that they have been trained for. On qualification, they can expect a responsible and exciting position. The number of traineeships we offer is need-oriented to make sure that we can offer all of our trainees a job at the end of their training period.