A “week in the life” of a student on work experience

I’m so grateful to have been given this opportunity and to have my own insight into what work experience within a busy office is really like!

On my first day, I arrived at the office early to make sure I was on time and setting a good first impression to my colleagues for the week. After being introduced to everyone I went into the office and was shown where I would be working for the week. My first task was to shadow the marketing consultant as she talked me through everything her job entails from her opening emails first thing, to editing pages on the website. Firstly, I helped to create the ‘jobs of the week’ graphic and uploaded it through the business suite of the company social media page.

My next task was to create a ‘meet the temporary team’ graphic for myself and scheduled it across the social media pages. The company has recently had some new signage and uniform delivered so I helped the Marketing Consultant attach the new sign in reception.

Next, I was shown how to add new jobs to the website. This is something that I wouldn’t regularly be taught without this experience. One of the main tasks that I was given responsibility for in the office, was to prepare the registration packs for the new candidates coming in for interviews.

My afternoon task was to do research and then write a blog on the importance of data protection in recruitment. Once that had been completed, I went back to shadowing the marketing consultant to help in writing a full job description for one the new positions and add it to the website.

On my second day, my first task was to work alongside the marketing consultant again while she helped me to turn my first blog into a graphic. As the recruitment team went on our regular client visits, I made up the information wallets which they take with them, these were ready for a visit 2 of the staff had that day.

My next task was to be taught how to properly use the copy machine. This was helpful as I needed to be able to prep the registration packs by myself to assist the team when they were busy. Once I had finished preparing the paperwork and putting it into the right places for each of the different clients’ job vacancies, I worked alongside the marketing consultant again to get a feel for the way that they operated within the business.

I then created another blog, this time looking at the pros and cons of using a recruitment agency. Between my different tasks, I kept up to date with doing the recruitment packs, so they always had what they needed for interviews. It was on the second day that I was given the opportunity to sit in on the candidate interviews.

On my third day, I went to my desk and started writing about how social media affects industry and how it has affected the next generation. This was a blog containing statistics and facts to show how important social media is to both recruitment agencies and the upcoming generations. It was after this that I started the notes to make a start on writing this blog.

In the afternoon, I was given the opportunity to phone up past applicants and candidates to see if they were still available and searching for work. I was very hesitant to start but the Branch Manager, Iva, made sure I was confident enough to continue and regularly checked that I was doing well and was comfortable enough to do so. I ended up calling around a hundred past applicants and candidates! This was a big step for me and my confidence and turned out to be my biggest highlight of the week! Once I had done that, I sorted the applicant packs that I had called into separate piles – the ones who were looking for work, people who had already found work and ones still to be contacted.

On my fourth day, I started by finishing the blog I was writing and sending it over to the marketing team for approval. While I waited, I called the rest of the past applicants / candidates that I had not rang the day before. Once all of my main tasks were finished, I worked along the marketing consultant to unpack some new promotional items that the company had bought for some upcoming local shows they are attending. Once we had unpacked them, we used them to take pictures and videos; I was able to give them new creative ideas on how to display them and these were used on their social media pages.

In the afternoon, I sat in on a candidate registration and took part by helping with the ID verification in the recruitment pack.

I really enjoyed my week with PRS and would recommend it to others for work experience in the future.

Author – Bea, Work Experience