The grass is greener in a blue shirt

Strong values and a unique corporate culture are part of making JYSK an attractive place to work.

Sometimes appreciating what you have comes from trying something else. A truth which many JYSK employees have become familiar with, as the number of employees returning to JYSK is steadily rising.

“We presently hear from all countries that a rising numbers of the employees who have chosen to pursue a career outside JYSK are coming back to the company,” explains Jan Verhoek, Executive Vice President, HR.

Short stay

One of those employees is Balázs Tamási from Hungary. He began his career in JYSK in 2006, when he became District Manager. In 2009, he became Retail Manager for Hungary, and he spent seven years in that position before he was tempted by an offer from the French retailer Auchan.

“I wanted new challenges, and I was unsure if I could find them in JYSK. Auchan offered me a position as Customer Relationship Director, and I choose to take that challenge,” says Balázs.

However, he only spent a few months at Auchan before receiving a phone call from Jan Verhoek, asking if Balázs was interested in returning to JYSK.

The answer was yes, and Balázs Tamasi is now working as Head of Retail Operation in JYSK. And although he only spent a few months away from JYSK, they gave him a lot to think about.

“We presently hear from all countries that a rising numbers of the employees who have chosen to pursue a career outside JYSK are coming back to the company,” explains Jan Verhoek, Executive Vice President, HR.

“It became clear to me how strong the values of JYSK actually are, and how unique the company actually is. I also realised that the way we work with people and the career possibilities we offer in JYSK are very good. I would also highlight my colleagues, as they are another important reason in making JYSK a great place to work,” says Balázs.

Like a family

One of those colleagues is Danielle van der Klooster from the Netherlands.

She began as Sales Assistant in JYSK in 2010, and was promoted to Sales Leader and later on Store Manager before she chose to pursue new possibilities outside of JYSK.

“I got a job in a perfume store. I have always been very interested in makeup, so I thought that working with it professionally would be a dream job,” explains Danielle.

“I am really happy to be back at JYSK, and I never want to leave again,” says Danielle.

But even though she learned a lot about makeup and liked her new job, something was missing.

“In JYSK we are like a family and I missed that. You can say that I felt homesick. I missed both my colleagues and the contact with the JYSK customers. In a perfume store the customers often know exactly what they want before they enter the store. In JYSK you have to talk to the customer and understand their needs to sell them the right product, and I really like that,” says Danielle.

Therefore she decided to call her former District Manager to find out if she could get back to JYSK.

The answer was yes, and on May 3rd 2017 Danielle became Store Manager of a brand new store in Hazerswoude in the Netherlands.

“I am really happy to be back at JYSK, and I never want to leave again,” says Danielle.

Lots of opportunities

This is something she has in common with District Manager Trainee Filip Kroupa from the Czech Republic.

He began working in JYSK in 2013, but left after just three months to pursue the dream of owning his own wine store. But just like Danielle, he soon began to miss the colleagues and the spirit in JYSK.

“It is really important for me to have career opportunities, and that has really been the case in JYSK," says Filip.

“I decided I would rather be part of a team. In JYSK we work really well together, and there are really great opportunities to have a career in JYSK. I found out very quickly that this was what I really wanted,” says Filip.

Since coming back to JYSK in 2013, he has already taken several steps up the career ladder from Sales Assistant to Sales Leader, Store Manager Trainee, Store Manager and now District Manager Trainee.

“It is really important for me to have career opportunities, and that has really been the case in JYSK. My next goal is to be Retail Manager, but that will require many years of hard work as a District Manger, and that is what I will be focusing on now,” says Filip.