Frequently Asked Questions

If you would like to know the status of your submitted application, log in to your personal Application Centre via the 'Returning Applicants' links on the 'Applications' page.

Please note that we may send you an email requesting that you return to your online application to book yourself a place on a Selection Centre. You will have a limited period of time to do this, so do keep an eye on your incoming emails!

The John Lewis Partnership defies most conventional ideas about companies. Its culture is relaxed and informal, partly because it is one of the UK’s largest industrial democracies – everyone is a Partner in the business and can have a say in its running. The variety of social activities on offer makes it easy to meet people and make friends.

It is a requirement that you are eligible to work in the UK. If you do not hold an appropriate work permit, regretfully we cannot take your application further.

Please use the link to the Apply Now page to revisit your application form or to check the status of your application.

WebSAF is a type of online application form. If you have already applied to another company who also use a WebSAF form, your personal details will be completed automatically when you enter your existing WebSAF username and password into our online application form.

If this is your first time using a WebSAF form, keep your username and password safe as you may find you can use it for applications elsewhere.

For more information about WebSAF, consult the application form FAQ section and technical assistance.

You can apply for a graduate scheme once you are in the final year of your degree or after you have graduated. All graduate schemes start in September.

Industrial Placement students can apply within the second year of their degree to undertake a scheme within the penultimate year of their degree. Placements will start in July or September dependant on the scheme.

You can apply for a John Lewis Retail Summer Internship whilst studying in any year of your university course. Placements will be six weeks and will commence at any point over the summer.

Applications usually open for all schemes from September.

Be prepared to perform from the start of the centre

Try not to focus on the assessors or what they are writing as this will only put you off.

It's intense and draining (both physically and mentally) - make sure you have a good night's sleep.

We only take up references from your current employer once an offer has been accepted. We make no contact with them prior to this.

You can apply again after a period of 12 months has passed.

We will only accept one application for any of the Partnership schemes. If you apply for more than one of the schemes, we will take the first application we receive as being the correct one and you will receive an email notifying you of the withdrawal of any subsequent applications.