⚜️Why a Job at Gieves & Hawkes Saved My Life
Even before landing a job at Gieves & Hawkes, I always had an interest in fashion and style. Admittedly, it was a different type of style—louder, more branded. I never could have imagined that one day I’d be working for one of the most prestigious British menswear institutions in the world.
It all started when I was walking past the Gieves & Hawkes store in Chester and noticed an ad in the window for a sales associate role. “I can sell rain to the clouds,” I thought to myself. The next day, I dropped off my CV at the store. The shop, back then, had a bell on the door, and the atmosphere was calm yet intimidating.
An older lady greeted me, and to my surprise, she seemed to take a liking to me, asking questions with genuine interest. Still, as I left the store, I thought, “There’s no way they’ll hire someone like me—a loudmouth chav.”
At that point in my life, I had always been in sales, but it was mostly general roles: door-to-door, shop sales, cold calling. I was also living a bit recklessly—partying too much, spending money I didn’t have, and indulging in distractions. I was heading down a bad path, no doubt about it.
The day after I dropped off my CV, I got the call: “Could you come in tomorrow for an interview with the store manager, Mr. Goldberg?” I said yes, but deep down, I thought, “I’ll go, but there’s no way I’ll get this. They’re way too posh, and I’m way too common.”
The interview went “okay-ish.” But there was one thing Mr. Goldberg said that stuck with me: “This isn’t just a sales job. This is a role that can change your life if you let it.” At the time, I brushed it off, thinking, “Yeah, yeah, just tell me the salary.”
But I got the job. And as it turns out, Mr. Goldberg was right—it did change my life, and I truly believe it saved it.
Here’s how:
• The biggest lesson I learned was how to carry myself and communicate with people I’d never been exposed to before—high-net-worth clients, professionals, and true gentlemen.
• I learned the value of punctuality, organization, and consistency.
• I discovered the finer things in life. For instance, Mr. Goldberg once told me, “Stop wearing Polo Sport aftershave. Go see Suzie at Penhaligon’s and tell her I sent you.” That day, I bought my first proper fragrance—Penhaligon’s Douro, a scent I still wear to this day.
• I learned how to sell with pride and authenticity—no gimmicks, just a genuine appreciation for the beautiful British tailoring we offered.
The list goes on, but one thing is certain: this job set me on a path I never thought possible. Even today, having “Gieves & Hawkes” on my CV still carries weight.
The moral of this story? Never underestimate the power of an opportunity and the lasting legacy it can create.
Data Specialist at Brillio specializing in Data Ingestion and Pipelines
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