UK talent hunting with Yoox Net-a-Porter Group

E-commerce, considered by experts as one of the sectors with the most potential within the fashion industry, is a very interesting employment area. International retailers such as Yoox Net-a-Porter group (YNAP) offer many working opportunities for young talent in numerous countries. For example, YNAP recently opened its new technology hub in White City this June. The new Tech Hub in West London is a key element in YNAP growth strategy and is part of the group's 500 million euro investment plan in technology and logistics to double its business by 2020. In order to learn more about its career paths, FashionUnited spoke to Alessandro Salustri, Yoox Net-a-Porter group’s HR Director, about the most popular career paths, such as which areas offer greater career opportunities and what you need to do to impress your future boss during the interview.

Which job openings are currently in highest demand at YNAP? And over the next 12 months?

"Innovation has always been Yoox Net-a-Porter Group’s "mantra". This passion for innovation is what allowed us to position our group as a global leader in e-commerce luxury fashion. Today at YNAP we’re looking for technology experts for our offices in Milan, Bologna and London, specialising in smart data, artificial intelligence, cognitive commerce and omni-channel. Over the next two years, we expect to create 100 new jobs in the technology team in Bologna and an additional 100 resources to be included in the technology team based in our brand new Tech Hub in London, a true digital innovation temple, which we inaugurated in West London in recent months."

Which positions are currently open within the UK market?

"In the UK we are looking to fill the positions of; junior photographer, junior producer and video product sales and customer care consultant for the Net-a-porter team, Mr. Porter and The Outnet, in addition to a senior product writer for Mr. Porter’s team. You can apply on the website under YNAP people."

Which educational background best suits the profiles you are looking to fill?

"These are mainly graduates in computer engineering, maths, internet sciences and statistics for the technology positions. For other teams, however, we select profiles with a Master's degree or a degree in humanities, fashion and economics. YNAP constantly invests in the development of our talents by creating integration pathways for the most junior profiles, for example through programmes such as the 'MBA Internship Programme’, which provides the best students from leading universities from all over the world with internship opportunities. While for senior profiles, professional growth is consistently followed within the group through ad hoc training activities."

What is the winning approach for someone about to enter the workplace in this area?

"Talents are and always have been the key to YNAP’s success, so we aim for the very best. We believe it is very important to have an international background, an excellent knowledge of English and an open and dynamic mental approach, unconventional, suitable for creating innovative solutions."

Who are the senior figures who currently have the best chance of success with YNAP?

"Innovators, managers with international experience, who want to seize a challenge and become part of our unique and special dream team: more than 4,200 people working in 8 offices around the world, 75 nationalities, an average age of 33 and 61 percent women. Even the leadership team mainly consists of women, with 51 percent fulfilling senior and middle management positions. Believing in diversity means believing in the value of "making a difference", fundamental to creating innovation."

Homepage photo: Alessandro Salustri, YNAP HR Director, ph. Paolo Bona, YNAP Press Office

Other photos: White City, courtesy of YNAP. Credits: Gabriel De La Chapelle and Philip Vile