LVMH, the renowned luxury group, recently wrapped up its annual Métiers d’Excellence tour in Paris, culminating in an event at the Carreau du Temple. The objective of this tour was to raise awareness among university and secondary school students, as well as individuals undergoing professional retraining, about the exciting design, craftsmanship, and customer service roles available within the LVMH group. This year’s edition, titled ‘You and Me’, was particularly noteworthy as it marked the first time the tour was held in multiple locations, including Clichy-la-Garenne, Reims, Valence, Orléans, and Paris.
The primary goal of the tour was to fill a staggering 1,200 positions within the LVMH group, out of which 600 were open-ended and fixed-term contracts. The Métiers d’Excellence initiative encompasses a wide range of 280 professions, with around 30 of them currently facing recruitment difficulties, especially in the commercial sectors. One major challenge is the lack of information available about these trades, which in turn contributes to their perceived lack of attractiveness.
To combat this issue, Alexandre Boquel, the head of development for LVMH’s Métiers D’Excellence, revealed that they utilized virtual reality to allow potential candidates to experience the customer journey of Christian Dior perfumes. This interactive demonstration aimed to showcase the plethora of opportunities available within the diverse professions associated with the luxury industry.
The Paris leg of the event attracted a whopping 2,400 registrations and was organized as a guided tour. Apprentices and tutors from LVMH’s fine craftsmanship professions provided practical demonstrations for the attendees. One standout participant was Sam Hachem, a 25-year-old apprentice who showcased his role as an assistant project leader in set design for Christian Dior Parfums. Hachem, who hails from Lebanon with a background in architecture, is set to join LVMH after completing his work-study contract, along with 13 other colleagues.
In addition to the impressive demonstrations, the event also featured presentations on the training courses offered by LVMH and its partner schools. Attendees had the unique opportunity to receive personalized coaching in CV writing and interview preparation from the group’s HR staff. Boquel highlighted the success of the recently launched ‘You and Me’ website, which experienced a significant increase in site visits, reaching 60,000, a 50% surge compared to the previous year. The audience spanned across a wide age range, varying from 16 to 62, with approximately half of them undergoing professional retraining. Boquel speculated that this surge in retraining might be one of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as individuals pursue their passions, such as a former lawyer who is now training in jewelry making.
While the success of the Métiers d’Excellence tour in filling the 1,200 job openings remains to be seen, one thing is clear: the tour sought to attract a diverse array of future employees, including those seeking work-study positions, internships, open-ended contracts, and fixed-term contracts. Moving forward, LVMH has plans to launch two new training courses in France next autumn. One course will be dedicated to customer service and will be open to individuals with disabilities in collaboration with EMASUP Paris. The other course will focus on customer advisors in partnership with EIML Paris.
Overall, the Métiers d’Excellence tour served as an incredible platform for LVMH to not only showcase the vast range of career opportunities within its group but also bridge the information gap that often hinders people’s perception of these professions. By actively engaging with young students, professionals, and individuals undergoing career transitions, LVMH is actively laying the foundation for a diverse and highly talented workforce within the luxury industry.
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