Month: March 2023

When I was job hunting, I interviewed with multiple companies and received offers from six different places. However, the positive first impression that I received during my initial meeting with Tesco played a crucial role in my decision to join this organization. I was impressed by how welcoming and friendly everyone was, and it felt like I would be a great fit for this community. I began my career at the entry-level position of junior buying manager, and gradually worked my way up the ladder.

After overcoming a difficult phase in my life, I sought a fresh start and decided to change jobs and join Tesco. I have to say, the team here is the best I’ve ever had the pleasure to working with. I often feel as if we are all part of a big family. Responsibility and stress are not uncommon in our line of work, but the fact that we all have each other’s backs makes a huge difference in handling such situations. I’ve never experienced anything like it before, where colleagues are always ready to provide genuine assistance to one another.

I was able to advance to the position of Central European buying manager within four years, and I attribute much of my personal success to the support of my colleagues and managers. I always knew that whenever I faced a difficult task or problem, I could count on their help and guidance. Having such a reliable support system makes it much easier to build confidence in oneself.

At the beginning of your career, you are usually insecure, especially if you are in a foreign country. However, my colleagues’ support and trust really helped me overcome many challenges during that time.

I’m originally from Croatia, where I earned a degree in psychology, but after graduating I moved to Slovakia for personal reasons. I started looking for a job online while I was still in Croatia, and that’s how I found Tesco’s fresh grad programme in Bratislava. A new job, in a new field of expertise, in a new language, in a new country? What could possibly go wrong?

Well, it just so happened that things went smoothly without any major issues. They welcomed me very warmly at the first meeting, even though it was only the job interview. The mood did not change later on either. Everyone was extremely positive towards me. Even though I came to Tesco with a completely different education background and no professional experience, I never felt for a moment that I was at a disadvantage because of this. I was assigned to the HR department, where initially they entrusted me with simpler tasks, but as soon as they saw that I could handle them, more challenging but equally interesting assignments came my way. The best part of it was the trust. Every colleague treated me as a partner, and I received real tasks and honest feedback, both when acknowledging accomplishments and when highlighting areas for improvement.

This environment provided the perfect backdrop for me to gain a comprehensive understanding of company’s operations and processes. The fresh grad programme itself is optimally structured, allowing you to gradually explore Tesco and the opportunities it offers. Although I’ve only been with the company for a year and a half, I can already tell that this is a workplace where you can plan for the long term.

I always wanted to work for a company like Tesco. It may sound trite, but it’s true. I studied international trade at university, and I hadn’t even seen a workplace up close when this multilingual, multicultural world offering thousands of different possibilities took hold of me.

I have been working at Tesco for six years, during which time I have taken advantage of the many opportunities that the company has to offer. I worked in various areas, both at the store level and in the Head Office. I generally advanced forward, although there were times when I encountered setbacks. Looking back, I don’t regret any of my decisions, as each experience taught me something valuable that has contributed to my personal growth and made me a better person. These diverse but at the same time interconnected career paths can be incredibly inspiring:  you have the freedom to move in any direction, without being committed to a single field permanently.

But it is even more important that the company represents values that I can personally identify with. Take, for instance, the drive to protect the environment and promote sustainability, as seen in efforts such as preventing food waste. Having worked in the field of fresh produce, I am well aware of the company’s deep commitment to ensuring that perishable food items are put to use before they expire. Whether the customers buy them at a reduced price or we donate it to the needy through charitable organizations, the point is to prevent wastage of any kind. These things make me proud of my workplace. It is a great feeling to see the ads of the campaigns I have designed displayed throughout the city, and I enjoy pointing out to my friends that I played a role in their creation.