Students

Getting student work experience - Gemma's story

Summary: Students share their experiences of undertaking paid or voluntary work experience.

• Getting work experience
• Contact us

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Gemma, 23 began volunteering as a befriender for a national charity for adults with learning disabilities. She soon found herself working as a voluntary events assistant.

"I am a final year student studying politics and sociology, but had started to become interested in doing a postgraduate social work course, so wanted to obtain some relevant work experience.

I began by putting together a letter to local charities asking them if they needed any help. The response I got was quite positive. I went along for a chat to a couple of charities to find out how my skills could help them.

I started off as a befriender with adults with learning disabilities in a drop in for one afternoon a week. Because the centre was housed with the operations staff, I asked if I could get some experience in the offices behind the scenes too!

At first, I helped out two afternoons a week with photocopying, opening and sorting post (which I found a bit hard due to my sight loss) and spent time greeting people on reception. I also learned how to use what seemed at first a very complicated telephone system!

I was then asked if I would be interested in spending some time after my exams helping to organise a large national event. The charity needed someone who could give a regular 10am until 4pm commitment to help the Events Assistant out three days a week so I had to apply in writing. I had to have a short interview to check I was serious and had the necessary skills to support them. I was very happy to be phoned to be told that I got the position!

Working with the Events Assistant meant I had a very varied role. I was allowed to attend the in house training events and shadow other members of staff too. Some of the time I would take enquiries. At other times, I made phone calls under the Events Assistant's direction, helped to redraft press releases, brainstormed ideas for stories and articles in newsletters and helped out with presentations.

I also had the role of taking minutes at one of the weekly meetings using my PC. This was great because I met people working across the organisation and around the country. I got some good inside knowledge about the types of work you can do with a charity! I learned so much, and found it really helped me to be assertive about my needs as someone who is partially sighted.

Some of the challenges I faced because of my sight loss were actually blessings in disguise. They helped me know what might come up in future employment. This was really good practice for the world of real life work.

One example is when I was dealing with enquiries. The event was being so well publicised it generated lots of telephone calls as soon as the adverts hit the media. I had to record details of the enquiries on a paper form - however, this wasn't really accessible to me and slowed me down a lot. I talked to the Events Organiser who was really understanding and asked me what would help. We even had a meeting to talk about accessibility in other areas of the office so I felt fully included. This included making sure that the staff events and notices board was duplicated on the PC too so I could get access. The positive response to me asserting my needs really helped me feel more confident about doing so again in the future.

I had a really great time working as a volunteer Events Assistant and the experience has actually made me rethink my career direction. I am now really interested in working in the press department of a charity and supporting people that way.

When I graduate, I'm hoping to spend some time over the summer at the charity where I had my work experience. I hope to work again as a volunteer - if they'll have me back, that is…! I think they will, as I've already received a glowing reference from them in relation to a job I'm applying for.

From talking to friends, lecturers and employers, I am convinced that employers really recognise work experience as essential when considering the application forms of new graduates. It may seem like a chore to give up precious free time to do so, but I really think you could have fun!

There's no doubt that what you learn will pay off when you apply for jobs. The thing that sets people who have done work experience apart from those who haven't is that we have demonstrated our skills in a real life environment!"

Getting work experience

Find out more about work experience and how to get it.

Contact us

What are your experiences of working as a volunteer or gaining work experience? Email studentsite@rnib.org.uk

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Content author: studentsite@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 22/07/2008 16:23