Exploring H&M's Headquarters: company culture, values and job opportunities
In late October, the headquarters of H&M Group in Stockholm warmly welcomed participants from the Help in Change youth program, providing them with an opportunity to learn more about the company, its mission, values, and culture. The event facilitated an interactive experience, empowering Ukrainians to pose their questions directly to the company's employees while gaining valuable insights into potential job opportunities.
As stated in the invitation, it was like a prom for newcomers or a reunion of classmates for the first wave of the program. The atmosphere of the evening was incredible!
The meeting took the form of a tour at different departments and offices, where participants received distinct blocks of information. In the office studio, where designers collaborate, Lucas Seifert shared the captivating history of H&M, the company's mission, and its evolution over the years. This served as a guide, illustrating the company's journey from the start in 1947 until today.
“We integrate our values into everything we do. Every day. We are one team. We believe in people. We are entrepreneurs. We are cost-conscious. We make constant improvement. We are straightforward and open-minded. We keep it simple”. These are the values of a company that inspires people around the world.
Ethel Chirmai introduced the participants to the corporate culture: how the company works with people, focuses on internal organization, inclusiveness, and the attitude towards employees. H&M is a multinational and multicultural company, and the stories of its employees are inspiring. Suzanne Hunt shared a personal motivational case, how to transition from a Sales Advisor to becoming a Global Employer Brand Manager. However, to grow within the company, it is not necessary to become a manager; horizontal development is also encouraged.
After the initial presentation, participants enjoyed lunch in the H&M kitchen, followed by a visit to another office on Drottninggatan. Here, Ukrainians were presented with another inspiring story by Dirk Roennefahrt originally from Germany, who started working in an H&M store and then worked in several countries and roles and now is the country sales manager in Sweden and Finland, showcasing the company's capabilities extending beyond borders
Then, Helena Johansson, Macarena Torre, Ina Andrén, Sandra Hastegård continued the presentation in an interactive format. They elaborated on the hiring process, provided tips on crafting a CV and a motivation letter, discussed the structure and processes in stores, outlined employees' responsibilities and opportunities. Following this, everyone had the opportunity to ask questions specific to their cases.
In the final part, participants enjoyed a tour of the office, including access to the rooftops of Stockholm. They also visited a showroom featuring clothes created by H&M for celebrities, influencers and media. And, of course, the experience wouldn't be complete without a traditional Swedish fika, featuring rollballs and morotskaka.
Thank you, Lauren Mariette and Bergvall Filippa, and the entire H&M Group team, for an unforgettable event and the motivation you provided to Ukrainians. We eagerly anticipate the opportunity for future collaboration and continued inspiration.
ℹ️ The project is funded by the European Social Fund
