Established in 1849, Boots has grown into one of the most successful pharmacy-led health and beauty retailers in the UK. In 2006, Boots merged with Alliance UniChem, forming the Alliance Boots parent company.
Boots offers graduate programmes in the following sectors: Finance, Digital, Commercial, Supply, Software, HR, and Global. Competition for roles is high.
Benefits for Boots employees include discounts on numerous products and services (including childcare, health insurance, electronics, sports and fitness amenities, and travel arrangements). Employees are also offered bonus and pension schemes, as well as confidential employee assistance programmes through the Positive People Company (PPC).
Boots is part of the Stepping Stones professional development programme, which gives employees access to tailored training modules.
To apply for a role at Boots, or to enrol onto one of its graduate schemes, you must be prepared to undertake a multi-step application process.
Your initial application will involve sending your name, contact details and CV, as well as answers to a number of qualifying questions. After this has been submitted, you will move onto the next stage – a series of three qualifying tests.
These tests are completed online via a link that will be sent to your email address. They comprise a general cognitive ability test, graduate scenarios and a personality test.
Should you pass these, you’ll move onto the final stage: an assessment centre.
The online application asks for some of your personal and contact details, and some initial questions to check that you match the minimum requirements for the role. It will also give you an opportunity to upload both your CV and a relevant cover letter.
To progress, you will need to be clear on Boots’ company values and also pay attention to how you can craft your answers and CV to fit the role or scheme.
Most importantly, check your application thoroughly before sending it, as you risk an unprocessed application if any details provided are incorrect or inaccurate.
Once Boots is satisfied that you have fulfilled the minimum requirements, you will be invited to take some online assessments.
Depending on exactly what you have applied for, the tests will vary slightly. Some of the assessments are timed, so it’s important that you practice these tests beforehand to become accustomed to the timed conditions.
The cognitive ability test evaluates your numerical, problem-solving and critical reasoning capabilities.
As well as being tested on these individual skills, you will have to shift between different subjects. This can be quite challenging at first, so it’s a good idea to practice this kind of mixed assessment beforehand.
You will also be undertaking this assessment where you choose under timed conditions, so make sure that before sitting the test you have everything you need to hand and that you have minimised noise and distractions.
This assessment (which is part of the graduate scheme application process) is designed to assess your capability at dealing with different workplace scenarios, and is similar to a situational judgement test. These will typically be based around your competencies in problem-solving, decision-making and communication.
This part of the assessment is not timed, and you will be given a choice of four different possible answers.
The personality test provides Boots with some insight into how you might fit into its company culture as a team member.This part of the assessment is not timed, and answers will be arranged on a sliding scale between ‘Most True’ and ‘Least True’.
Unlock our complete testing platform and get ready for your Boots Assessment
Once you have successfully completed the online tests, you will be required to attend an assessment day at Boots’ Support Office at its Nottingham HQ.
Within this final stage of the process, you could be asked to complete some or all of the following exercises: an interview, a group exercise, and a case study (see details below). You will also be given more detail on embarking on a career with Boots.
The interview will be one-to-one and will follow a traditional interview format. It is competency-based and you should expect questions that focus on your drive to solve problems and to be a supportive individual and team member.
You may also be asked questions that are specific to your individual application, so it is wise to be aware of what information you have previously supplied to Boots earlier in the application process.
The group exercise is a chance to let yourself shine as a member of a team. You will be given a brief that contains a fictional business scenario and the necessary information to go with it. Your team then needs to make a reasoned decision on how to proceed.
During the given time period, candidates will be observed by Boots recruitment specialists. You will be tested during this process for how you interact within a group setting.
This exercise will centre on a case study that you will be given on the day at the centre. This will focus on the area of business that you are applying for, and will typically require a decision and an explanation of it.
This exercise is a chance for you to demonstrate your speaking skills and your ability to understand information. When practicing for this stage, remember that confidence and clarity are key; rehearsing with friends or family members who can give an objective opinion beforehand will help.