So, anyone who has been bought here from my youtube channel will know, or have seen my video about me going to a LUSH interview.
I apologise right now, but this is most likely going to be a LONG blog. I advise anyone who is thinking about going for a job at LUSH to read this, it may help you!!!
So back story....
A new lush store was opening near my hometown. Its the first in this close area, and about 15 miles away from me. As it opened in November, they were advertising for christmas jobs. These adverts were quite hard to find, it was only by chance that I stumbled upon one on gumtree.com.
I am not a mad LUSH fan. I have knowledge of a few of the products, especially their christmas ones, of which I have bought and used quite a few. I still decided to go for it as I needed a christmas job.
I submit my cv and a quick couple of sentences as a "cover letter".
Hear nothing for a couple of days..........
Get an email, inviting me to an interview in 2 days time!!! RIGHT!
I brush up a bit of my product knowledge, check out the internet for possible things that could happen at the interview, sort my cv out and write a cover letter.
INTERVIEW DAY!
I try to make myself look presentable. Smart casual. Turn up with plenty of time to breathe.
As i sit, a young "couple" near me also attending the interview. Boy clearly gay (NOTHING against gay people!!!!) and the girl "typical young student dress code". They have HAND WRITTEN their cover letters and drawn silly little pictures and stars on it. Staring down at my professional looking letter, I PANIC. Im desperate for this job, and i know how "qwerky" lush are as a company.....maybe I'm being too "posh"?? I grab a pen, and quickly doodle some pictures of lush products on my letter. I feel like shit defacing it, but remember people, I'm DESPERATE to work for the company and i feel i need to do anything!!! The interviewers were managers from shops in and near London, NOT EVEN from our store!!!
The "interview" is more of a group based activity, team building morning thing. Lots of silly tasks to do, to get you working as a team.
NOTHING was done in order to highlight our knowledge of the company! To me, this was a bit stupid. I know that teamwork is important, but surely product knowledge is of equal importance?
There were only 2 boys in the group. The rest was generally young girls....a couple of older ladies too. Some chatty, some quiet.
We had to make models that represented us out of the FUN product. Create a new product and just general stuff like that.
At the end they asked us for our cover letters and to write what days we can work. I wrote ALL DAYS ALL HOURS!!! <- to me this was going to put me in a good light!
They said if we hadn't heard in 5 days time, we were unsuccessful and that they would ring those who were successful. We were allowed to email her if unsuccessful to ask for some feedback......
2 Days later......
I'd been pacing up and down ALOT.
The phone went, it was on silent and i missed it. But i got a voicemail. Lady from lush asking me to ring back. I was SOOOOOO excited, I knew i'd got it. I got a pen and paper ready to write everything down.......
"Cut to the chase you have been unsuccessful".........G.U.T.T.E.D :( She said I had "the wrong dynamics for the shop, but was good on the day". I put the phone down....and burst into floods of tears. I was devastated.
*and breathe*
So where had I gone wrong???? I quickly emailed the lady anyway to ask for some (more) feedback.......that was 4 days ago (at time of writing) and she hasn't got back to me. Im not impressed.
Up until yesterday, i was at a total loss as to where i had gone wrong, but then.....
5 days after interview day......
I log onto the new shops Facebook page, and see to my HORROR that they have re-advertised for PART TIME christmas staff. At first I'm confused. But i apply!!!!! I send a cv and a NEW cover letter DIRECT to the store.
1 day later.....
Heard nothing about the re-application. Remembering the name of someone at the interview (one of the boys) i check his Facebook. He got a job.....BUT he found out 2 DAYS AFTER I WAS TOLD. (mum said generally successful applicants are told FIRST)
NOW, it all makes sense.
LUSH clearly hire a certain type of person. If you don't fit that type, your out.
I didn't fit it.
Nothing to do with my education, outgoingness, personality, or skills. I just didn't "LOOK RIGHT" At the interview she said they encourage you to be an individual, so if you have tattoos its ok, if you have piercings its ok etc etc. Thats fine with me, but what ISNT fine is to NOT hire people just because they DON'T have tattoos.
Of course, naturally the interviewers couldn't say "you don't look right" as this is technically prejudice. But its clear.
I was phoned so early, because i didn't stand a chance. Because i was too clean cut.
NEVER MIND my damn knowledge of the company!
I AM DEVASTATED.
LUSH is a company i really really wanted to work for. I wanted to build a career there!!!
Im upset that there is possibility of discrimination. Surely it shouldn't matter what you look like, as long as you are approachable, reliable and knowledgable???
*sigh*
I feel there is so much more to this story. And i've been totally cheated out of "the perfect job".
At the next interview i shall backcomb my hair, wear red lipstick and say nothing......that way i might bloody get in!
