One does not have to take a stroll through the heart of London to realise that it is a city filled with stories, colors and cultures. From the historical tales reverberating through the walls of East End pubs to the buzz on Notting Hill streets every August Bank Holiday, London provides a snapshot of the world in one place.
The story of Notting Hill Carnival offers diverse job seekers with an uplifting example of how beautiful multi-cultural societies are. It shows how different communities can come together as well as co exist and celebrate their shared experiences.
Notting Hill Carnival was brought to life by London’s Caribbean community in the 1960s; it is more than just a celebration; it is an emblem. It signifies resilience, unity, and richest diversity with which humanity has been endowed.
However, similar to other international cities, London is constantly changing and developing. Gentrification remains a key factor in areas such as Notting Hill. Thus many previous occupants including numerous black people who used to add color to life here can no longer afford staying there because they are priced out of their own neighborhoods.The celebration gains even more significance against this backdrop since it represents cultural preservation amidst change.
Susan Hall’s recent remarks on moving the carnival to parks indicates that we need to understand underlying issues rather than use events like this for political purpose, such issues include violence; in fact this should serve as reminder not only for diverse job seekers but also for everyone that any position or role we occupy in society gives us voice and opportunity for change away from root causes rather than violent cases being politicised or exploited.
For potential employees, however, vibrant histories such as those found in London could be instructive, the Notting Hill Carnival being a good example since it is all about appreciating cultural diversity. Similar to what diverse communities can do to create an iconic celebration, different teams in offices are capable of innovating, questioning conventional practices and ensuring success.
Not only does our society need to embrace diversified backgrounds, experiences and opinions but also from professional view points. From job seekers’ point of view our uniqueness lies in how different we are. They make team work a value addition; they inspire creativity and encourage innovation.
It should be noted that the Notting Hill Carnival is not just a weekend-long festivity. Rather it stands as a living testament of London’s rich cultural history juxtaposing unity with diversity. For job seekers, it is a beacon of hope and inspiration showing that every person regardless their background has their own story that can be told and used to add value.
And so as we dance to the beats at the carnival or when we go searching for our next career opportunity - let us never forget about the power of diversity which fills streets like those of London with such an incredible variety.