Your questions answered


What type of characteristics does Wolseley seek in a graduate?

We need people who can think strategically and bring an entrepreneurial attitude to their area of the business.

We look for individuals who have held leadership positions or are active in campus organisations and/or extracurricular activities. It is also desirable to have work experience via internships or part-time jobs, and generally have a strong record of accomplishments. Intangible qualities are extremely important, such as good attitude, enthusiasm, assertiveness, initiative and a desire to take ownership in your work. In order for you to fit well with our culture, you'll probably be a well-rounded person who displays qualities such as diverse communication skills, good interpersonal skills and a strong work ethic.

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What disciplines do you consider?

We choose graduates primarily for their characteristics such as leadership skills, accomplishments, initiative, enthusiasm and the desire to be the best. So we consider all disciplines for our entry-level training programme. Across the company, you'll find successful people who have studied a wide and diverse range of subjects.

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What qualifications do I need?

You'll need a good degree in any subject. More importantly, we'll want to see strong leadership skills, personality and drive.

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When will the 2008 programme start?

September 2008

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And where do you do it?

We operate in the following countries: Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Greenland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Poland, Puerto Rico, Romania, San Marino, Slovak Republic, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad & Tobago, UK and the USA. This list is likely to expand as we make acquisitions and move into new areas.

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And how long will it last?

Approximately 2 years

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What can I expect during Wolseley's recruiting process?

Typically, your first interview with Wolseley will be an initial screening interview combined with general questions. This interview will take place on campus, in one of our branch locations or over the phone. We involve sales and management employees, as well as a corporate recruiter in some cases, in the interview process. So you'll have an opportunity to learn about Wolseley from both a big-picture and a branch perspective.

No matter which interview path you follow, all candidates will have an opportunity to visit one of our locations as the interview process progresses. We believe it's critical for you to see a facility and interact with our people before you make your decision.

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Where are the career opportunities geographically?

Because we are an international company, you may have the opportunity to work in areas that are new to you. Openings are filled based on the company's needs and overall fit within a location. Although we will always consider your geographic preferences, a willingness to relocate is essential if you are going to fulfil your potential at Wolseley.

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Do you help with relocation?

Yes. As your training includes time in the UK and a European country, we provide relocation and housing assistance to candidates in the European Graduate Programme.

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What time of the year do you typically recruit?

We recruit on a continuous basis and will accept CVs throughout the year. However, the formal start date for the EGP is September.

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What is a typical starting salary for the European Graduate Programme?

Starting salaries are reviewed each year and are competitive within the market sector. Further details of the overall package will be outlined in your individual offer letter.

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What type of job could I have once I complete the programme?

Our programme is designed to give you an overall exposure to many business areas. Your assignments during the 2-year programme will allow you to experience such areas as marketing, supply chain, finance and general management. Final placement after the programme will take into consideration your skills and our business requirements.

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What about training beyond the graduate programmes?

If you join Wolseley, you'll often hear or read that people are our competitive advantage. In fact 'developing our human resources' is one of our key strategies and the one that underpins all of the others.

Beyond the graduate programmes, we offer a range of management education and development programmes in the US and Europe. The aim of these programmes is to provide Wolseley with the expertise and experience that will enable us to grow. And to provide our graduates with a worthwhile, enjoyable and challenging career.

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Does Wolseley support study for external qualifications?

Yes we do. We'll support you and encourage you to work towards qualifications that will help you in your work and also in reaching your personal objectives.

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Why have I never heard of Wolseley?

Our business is built on trade brands, all of which are well-known and trusted in their home marketplaces. So although you may not know Wolseley, you will probably be familiar with at least one of our brand names.

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What does Wolseley do?

We are distributors, not manufacturers. We supply a diverse range of plumbing, heating and building supplies to meet a wide spectrum of needs.

Our customers are drawn from across the industry: large construction businesses, governments and self-employed contractors all depend on Wolseley expertise.

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What products do you distribute?

From major companies building new apartments in the suburbs of Paris, to a self-employed plumber fixing a leaking tap in London and NASA engineers working on the Space Shuttle Programme, people rely on us to provide the right products at prices that help them achieve their objectives.

Those products include stunning showers and bathroom accessories; high-end lighting fixtures; blocks and boilers; tubes, flues and felts; pumps and septic tanks; plywood, softwood and hardwood. We carry every type of fixing and ironmongery you can imagine – and plenty more that you can't!

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And where do you do it?

We operate in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Switzerland, the UK and United States. This list is likely to expand as we make acquisitions and move into new areas.

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