Work Experience

Last week I started work experience as part of my job search with the jobcentre. It was my idea to ask them to suggest some work experience for admin/receptionist/office general jobs. I found out that part of the problem I’ve been having with applying for some jobs, is that I lacked the proof of being able to do the role/tasks that were being asked of by the job description. Thus, in my mind I was being overlooked or having my application turned down.

My work experience is based at another job centre a few towns over and is for 4 weeks. I’m hoping to get a lot out of it really including; proof of being able to do things, seeing what an actual job is like, having more job options and thinking about my future career. Plus they do say that when you are working you have a better chance of getting a job, so hopefully.

I find out to day that this is the second or third time that they have had WE people in and I guess it’s because of all sensitive and protected data that is around. That’s the reason why I’ve to keep this post board and brief, but I can still write about things. I’m not much interested in learning how the government and laws work, and I’m happy to watch from the sides and see people at work. I’d much rather be doing receptionist/admin/pa tasks, because that’s what I really need to be getting into. Luckily, the WE is somewhat tailored to what you want to achieve.

So things I’ve been doing are; printing, photocopying, scanning, filing, doing a presentation, booking appointments, meeting and greeting people, directing them, writing envelopes, data work and running errands.  Some might say that it seems pretty boring, but I’m finding it interesting as I’m still learning. I guess after doing it for awhile it does became boring, but at least my days have all been very different. I’m enjoying working in an office environment and meeting new people. I’ve been sticking to the other WE people and been getting to know them.

Most of my first week was spent shadowing members of the different teams as each floor does a different thing. I had fun doing that and getting use to the computer data system and the emails. I also got to sit in with solving problems people had been having. My favourite team has to be the floor walkers though because they meet, greet and direct people. They are like the first line and have to try and sort out lots of different enquires out. Most are simply people have come to claim or for appointments or to pick up a form, but others can be complicated enquires and need redirecting to the right place.

As of yet I’ve not had to really deal direct with people, but I’ve skills in that anyway due to my student guide stuff. That’s properly why I was placed with the team that deals with other benefits because they don’t have as much face to face dealing with people as they do on the other teams. I am looking forward to trying my hand at that and also phoning people.

Overall though, I’m liking it, though it does impact on my writing as I’m often too tried when I get home to do anything else other then eat and curl up in bed. It’s hard to get back into a routine with you’ve had some much free time, but hopefully by the end of the week I’ll have it sorted and be doing some writing. I had an idea for doing a very different book review, which I shall be doing on my other blog. The idea is that I shall review the first page of a novel only and see how first pages work in books and have things are set up. I’m thinking of calling it Page One.