Hi, my name is Katy, and I am an Aesop addict.
I rub their products on my face and my hands and my body on a daily basis and frequently catch myself smiling after taking in a big whiff of their Resurrection hand balm.
I want to scream every time someone says “Ayy-sop” instead “Ee-sop” and secretly live to have my hands washed in store by their zen-inducing consultants.
And sometimes, when it’s really cold at night and I’m feeling a little bit lonely, I wonder what it must be like to work for Aesop. To be on their payroll, to have countless lotions at your disposal, and to bathe in the greatness of their minimal aesthetic. And so after months of daydreaming, I decided to do just that.
Speaking to a number of current and former employees from both retail spaces and their Melbourne-based head office, this is what I discovered about the weird, wacky and wonderful rules of Aesop.
The interview process
Getting your foot in the door of Aesop is an arduous task. According to two former head office employees I spoke to, the online application process includes a tailored question and answer section, and then there’s a phone interview, at least two face-to-face interviews, and finally, if you make it that far, an informal coffee catch-up with the people you’re set to work with. So in other words, you really have to want it.
Listen: Zoe Foster-Blake has some skincare advice for the time-poor woman. Post continues…
The induction process
Upon joining the family Aesop, all staff, irrespective of their role within the company, be it the IT worker or the junior store manager, undertake a three-day training program to learn about the company’s products, how to do a consultation with a customer, and how to prescribe the right skincare to someone.
“Aesop is about continuity and process and method and everything being the same,” one South Australian Aesop employee told me. “They want to be the best of what they can be and not follow everyone else’s trends. When you join the company you become part of a bigger thing and you should be as passionate and knowledgeable about the brand irrespective of your role.”
Lunch breaks
Perhaps the best secret we uncovered is Aesop’s strict policy that forbids any of its head office workers to eat lunch at their desks, meaning employees must take daily lunch breaks and step away from whatever is consuming their day, if even for ten minutes.
Even better, offices are stocked with fresh fruit, dark chocolate, nuts and dried fruit for when you need a snack, and restaurant quality coffee machines and coffee beans from local businesses for when you need a 3pm pick-me-up.
The additional perks
Naturally, working for a skincare company is bound to have its perks, and at Aesop it’s no different. In addition to the three-day course offered to new staff, Aesop employees are also entitled to 12 free products every six months, as well as a year-round staff discount.
The laws of the land
In World Aesop, things are done differently. Talking about the weather, what people are wearing, or asking a customer of their weekend plans are strictly banned. Emails must be written to a strict format (beginning and ending with a pleasantry, actual business sandwiched in between) and personal items are banned from desks. Staff are to write only in Moleskin diaries (supplied, of course) and any Post-it notes must be housed within said diaries, away from public view. Takeaway coffees must be decanted into Aesop-approved cups, and all lunches brought into head office must be eaten from Aesop-approved plates and bowls, not the Tupperware in which they were carried.
And if at this point you’re feeling slightly blown away by these rules, one current head office employee who has been with the company for close to five years says there is actually a method to the seemingly rigid madness.
“All of it is about creating an environment that people feel comfortable to work in, and one that is not distracting,” he told Mamamia. “This is not a personal space, it’s a work space, and we’re trying to promote a beautiful idea that flows through every aspect of the business – from the product packaging to the stores themselves, up to the way in which we work each day. It’s about aesthetic and thoughtfulness,” he said, adding, “and it really works.”
Top Comments
My personal experience of Aesop's hiring process - I did have one phone interview and 2 face-to-face interview which includes assessment as well.
All these process took me a little more than 2 months.
After the first face-to-face interview, they told me that they will be in contact with me within couple of days, which in the end took another month to organise an assessment (or final interview if I may say).
On the day I got there for an assessment, HR lady told me that they have changed their assessment - different to what they've told me earlier what it is going to be like.
After the assessment, she told me that she will be in contact by early next week, which she didn't.
I contacted her in the end of that week, she did not answer the phone so I left a voice message.
Mid of week after that, she contacted me and said there is a bit of delay in hiring process and she will be in contact with me in couple of days, again - with additional comment of "if you're looking for a job in another company, you're more than welcome to go for an interview, we don't want to hold you back".
I was very confused and asked her that I would appreciate her to tell me honestly if I didn't get the position, but all she said was "it's only due to delay in process".
Ever since then, no one got in contact with me for 6 weeks after the final interview.
I had very confusing time over that 6 weeks, and finally made my own decision that I didn't get it, and unfortunately they don't have such a fundamental mannerism to contact me, who dedicated my time to attend their multiple interviews, to let me know of the result.
Recently, friend of mine who is also upset and keenly disappointed with Aesop commented myself on this article, and I decided to write to Aesop in regards to how I feel about whole situation honestly.
I received an e-mail back straight away this time that she, Aesop HR, would like to give me a call back on Monday morning with comment of "recruiting process has been delayed for a long time" and that she "would like to discuss it further with me over the phone".
Needless to say, I was confused again.
She called me on Monday morning at 9am, to let me know that I did not get the position and would like to share my honest feedback about their hiring process, and if I have anymore feedback to share with her.
I really could not believe.
None of my friends or family could.
After more than 2 months of hiring process, they called me to ask for a feedback about their hiring process, after my contact to them?
They have always called me or asked me for an interview during their work time, which is my work hour as well.
I had to take a leave or day-off for those interviews, and what I have left with was "sincere apologies, we've been very busy. would appreciate any more suggestions to upgrade our hiring process".
I have been a big fan of Aesop products for a long time and I've been always hoping to work for Aesop since uni.
It is my responsibility to upgrade my knowledge, experience and skills for the position and I don't blame on them for not hiring me.
Though, disrespectful attitude of them has really disappointed me, anyone around me could not believe how they advertise themselves as "for human, for nature, for our staffs" while they actually really don't care about others but only themselves.
When I received an e-mail from HR lady on Sunday, what I have spoke to my partner was this.
"If they offer me a position and apologise about the delay, I would understand. But, if they call me just for them to feel comfortable, that would be really selfish. They have dragged along for so long, if they don't hire me, I would appreciate them to apologise via this e-mail and finish there, as waiting for their call until Monday is another torture and waiting for me."
Aesop, are you guys really confident about yourselves of saying all your amazing slogans?
Perhaps should learn more about respecting other people and think from other's perspective.
megh. yet more advertorial dressed up as journalism.