Bradley Brand and Design
I have just finished my first week of work experience at a marketing and design company called Bradley Brand and Design. I was curious about what a job in marketing would entail so I decided that I should spend a week at this company. The office was quite small with only about 12 employees. I have heard in the past that when people do work experience in large offices, they usually get stuck doing small jobs such as printing and photocopying. However since this was quite a small company, this was not the case. On the first day they informed me that they were working with a client who was opening his own pizza shop. They gave me the challenge of doing research on trends in the pizza sector and pizza places that offered a unique experience around the world. After I had finished I was told to look up some marketing and design companies similar to theirs in areas such as the UK, the USA, and Australia. I had to write about what stood out about each of the companies and what aspects they specialized in. Then, I had to do a similar task but with chemical distribution companies. This was the point when I realized that a massive part of marketing is in-depth research. Over the next few days I got similar tasks to complete. I found that when i was researching areas that I was interested in, I was motivated to finish the work to the best of my ability. Whereas when doing research about the chemical distribution companies, my motivation severely lacked. During my time there I was also put incharge of their social media accounts such as instagram, twitter, and Facebook. I had to find relevant pictures to post on instagram such as company re-brands and pictures of the office. I enjoyed working with their social media as it is a platform that I am very familiar with. I also had to do research on some visual marketing tools, comparing them and finding out their pros and cons. I enjoyed the atmosphere of the office and I could tell that everyone on the team was very close to each other. As the week passed, I found myself getting closer to the office members. During my time at the company, I mostly focused on the marketing side of things rather than the Design. Even though I think I am better at research than design, it would have been nice to explore it some more. This entire experience has helped me realize what I’d like my job to be like in the future. While I enjoyed the office environment, I would prefer a job where the daily schedule varies so that everyday is different. I think I would be more suited to a job that is not based solely at a desk all day. Overall this was a positive experience for me because it gave me a taste of what my future may consist of if I decide to further study marketing. I have realized that It is important to choose a career that I love so that I am always motivated.
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Wicklow Educate TOgether national school (W.E.T.N.s)
This week I went back to my old primary school to do some work experience. There, I worked alongside some of my old teachers to help teach their students. I was working in junior infants for the week and I really enjoyed trying to help them read and write. At times it was challenging teaching the kids because a skill that is so natural for me is completely new to them. This job required a lot of patience and understanding. I also helped the kids to create some artworks for mothers day and I resolved some conflicts on the play ground. My favorite part of this job was helping the students master new skills. It was very rewarding to see the smiles on their faces when they managed to write some words correctly. I did not think I would enjoy working in a primary school as much as I did. I thought it would be very frustrating however I think I may actually consider this as a profession in the future. Outside of the classroom I also took part in some office work. I had to print and make many photocopies as well as re-organizing all the books in the library. This aspect of the job made it clear that I would much prefer to be based in a classroom all the time. This was a very beneficial work experience and I hope i can return to help out in the future.
Grand hotel
For my final work experience I decided to explore the hospitality industry and work in a hotel. This was my favorite work experience I did all year because my schedule changed on the daily. I spent time working in the restaurant, on reception, in the kitchen, and also alongside the accommodation assistants. During my time in the restaurants I got the chance to take orders from customers, learn how to use the till and coffee machines, set the tables, and clean dished. I really enjoyed working with the customers and my least favorite part was cleaning the dished as I found myself getting bored very easily. I don't think I would be suited to work in a restaurant because I am very clumsy and ended up smashing a few plates in the process. I then worked in reception where I learnt how to use the computers and spent time organizing files. My least favorite day was when I had to work as an accommodation assistant, hoovering and cleaning rooms ALL day. This was extremely tiring work and I do not think I would like to pursue it in the future. However I have gained a lot of respect for accommodation staff because they work so hard for such long hours. My favorite day was the last day when I got to work in the kitchen. I got to help make food and also prepare a meal plan for the rest of the week. The two chefs were very funny and kept me entertained all day. Even though I really enjoyed my time spent in the hotel I was surprised when two managers and a chef told me not to get into the hospitality industry. The managers told me that it was a very demanding job and they have no social life due to the long hours and stressful work. The chef told me that in most cases chefs do not get paid very well. I appreciate their honesty because this has helped me weigh out the pros and the cons of these jobs. At the end of the week I was offered a summer job and I am looking forward to returning.