19/365 - Small towns and diversity

May-August 2010

On the internal career website at Harrods it said that they were looking for staff in the Chocolate Department so, I went to the ground floor to check out the place for myself. I approached the counter and spoke to a girl there, she said that they do not need staff. Well, that has not put me off before! 

I looked for the manager and he was kind, friendly and three interviews later I was a Chocolatier. The team was quite big because it also included the Tea and Coffee Department and that added to about thirty people at the time.

I come from a small town in Romania and although I have visited other countries before coming to the UK and talked to people with different background or religion, working in the Chocolate Room was a life changing experience.

Around 250 people from all corners of the World worked in the Food Hall at that time and we all knew each other. It was not always smooth sailing - there were arguments, we would have to work around insane deadlines and orders, rushed merchandising, many unexpected hurdles, but even if things would get heated I always felt like we respected each other and that is what I remember when I look back. A deep rooted, freely given sense of respect and that blends perfectly with love and harmony.

Small towns like mine are nice, but they give a very narrow view on the world if almost everyone you are in contact with seems to be of the same colour, religion, background and sexual orientation.

That small town girl is still in there, but she is making a conscientious effort to get rid of old Romanian sayings and biases she grew up with. And while some things take constant work to keep up with, others are just plain and simple - respect peoples’ privacy and wishes!

Working for Harrods has been more than just about delivering exceptional service, much more beyond that, and I am thankful for my time there.

I have not only gained friends for life, but it has helped me make a definite choice towards being a coach. I understood that I like to constantly interact with, know and help people, in an environment that does not make me stay put.

I hope you have found your way, your call and that it gives you goosebumps like I get when I see people becoming stronger and crushing their lifting records!

You got it!