My Career Journey to Product Technologist at Primark
Hi, I’m Susan and I’m a Product Technologist at Primark. From retraining in my late twenties to finding a role that truly suited my skills, my career journey at Primark hasn't been a straight line. But that's exactly what makes it special. Over the years, I've discovered new opportunities, changed career paths, and built a role that combines my love of product, quality, and continuous learning.
What did your career look like before joining Primark?
Before joining Primark, my career looked very different.
I originally worked as a Legal Executive for around ten years before deciding to go back to university during the economic recession. Alongside my background in legal studies, I studied Fashion Design and later completed a qualification in Quality Management. Looking back, those experiences gave me a mix of skills that I still use today.
Before joining Primark, I spent time working in wholesale art supplies and later as a Trainee Buyer at another fashion retailer.
When I joined Primark in 2016, I started as a Trainee Buyer. It was a great introduction to the business and gave me valuable experience, but I quickly realised that some parts of the role didn't come naturally to me. While I enjoyed the work, I felt there might be something that suited my skills better.
How did you make the move from Buying to Product Technology?
One of the things I've learned at Primark is that opportunities can come from the most unexpected places.
While on a trip to our Reading office, I was chatting with our Head of Buying about patterns for boys' T-shirts. During the conversation, I mentioned that I had experience in pattern drafting from my fashion design background.
That simple conversation opened a door.
An opportunity came up to join the Quality team as a Trainee Product Technologist, and I decided to go for it. Looking back, it was one of the best career decisions I've made.
The role immediately felt like a much better fit for me. It combined the aspects of product development that I genuinely enjoyed and allowed me to apply skills that I hadn't had the opportunity to use in my previous role.
What does a Product Technologist do at Primark?
My role is all about making sure the products we create meet the right quality standards and deliver a great experience for our customers. A big part of my job involves fitting garments, working closely with our fabric teams, and supporting product quality throughout the development process.
One of the things I enjoy most is solving fit challenges. There's something really satisfying about taking a garment from dreadful to fabulous and seeing the improvement from one fitting to the next.
I also love that I'm constantly learning. Whether it's understanding new fabrics, production methods, or technical developments within the industry, there's always something new to discover.
How have you developed while working on the Quality team at Primark?
Since joining Product Technology, I've had the opportunity to continue developing both professionally and personally.
After working as a Trainee Product Technologist, I was promoted to Assistant Product Technologist in 2022 and then progressed to Product Technologist around a year later.
What's been especially rewarding is that growth hasn't only come through promotions. I've been able to learn from experienced colleagues, support early careers talent, and gain exposure to different parts of the product development process.
That's something I really value about Primark. There are always opportunities to develop new skills, explore different areas of the business, and keep building your knowledge.
What is your favourite thing about working at Primark?
For me, the answer is simple: the people.
I grew up in Dublin and have fond memories of shopping at Primark, or Penneys as we call it in Ireland, as a child. It was always part of my life, so joining the business felt special from the beginning.
But what has kept me here is the culture.
I've always found the teams to be friendly, supportive, and genuinely invested in helping each other succeed. Over the years, I've built friendships that I know I'll keep for life.
I also love that no two days are ever quite the same. The pace of the business, the variety of projects, and the constant opportunity to learn keep things interesting and challenging in the best possible way.
Sign Up for
job alerts
Sign up for email job alerts for future roles with Primark using the form! We will use the details you provide only to inform you about future vacancies that match your search criteria if and when they become available.