The first day at a new job isn’t easy when you’re an introvert. I have to prove that I can complete my daily tasks – manning the tills, putting out deliveries, and keeping the store tidy front and back – while also making a good impression with customers. Then there are my colleagues. I want to form a bond with them that will help us excel and, hopefully, create a safe and comfortable environment to work in; after all, I spend half my day here. I’m still learning about British culture too, having moved from Romania to Maidstone just two years before starting at the Co-op. It’s a totally different way of life to the one I experienced before, but I’m making new friends and a new life …
I came to the UK three years ago just after I finished college. I wanted to try something different and there seemed to be more opportunities for young people here than in my home country. It was a big change at first and I felt like a stranger here. I started applying for jobs and came across the Co-op. Initially I wasn’t aware of its community values but when I joined I discovered more about the Co-op and how important it is to be a part of the community by supporting local causes.
