City of London Academy student Hannah has made some decisions about her career path after her paid internship with Dock & Bay and support from mentor, Doris from Aviva. This is her story.
“Before the programme I was shy and didn’t fully understand networking,” Hannah says.
“Now, I’m a lot more confident and I’ve been able to build lots of industry networks and connections. The experience and connections you gain are super valuable.”
Learning the ropes
Hannah’s internship saw her join the team at online retailer, Dock & Bay – who sell eco-friendly products. Their community team, who Hannah worked with, deals with customer service and support.
“During my internship I shadowed the community team and had one-on-one sessions with the product design team, and graphic design team,” Hannah says.
“I was able to learn how to respond to both positive and negative reviews in a positive manner, how to help customers with queries, and about processing returns, creating discount codes, and processing exchanges.
“I enjoyed being able to work independently on these tasks, as it gave me a clear insight into the job role.”
Deciding on a future path
Hannah hopes to work in marketing in the future, and her internship has helped clarify what type of role she’d like to pursue.
“The internship allowed me to explore different areas of the creative industry and provided clarity on the type of job and company I would like to work in,” she says.
“It’s made me realise I want to go down the creative marketing route, because it combines graphic design with marketing.”
A supportive mentor
Hannah’s mentor, Doris Ko, works for Aviva.
“Having a mentor means there’s always someone there if you need advice or help – and they can also provide you with nice networking opportunities,” Hannah says.
“Working with Doris helped me consider all routes, think about what I value most, and what I’d like to gain out of a career.”
A masterclass in preparation
Career Ready students attend masterclasses throughout the programme. Hannah found the masterclass about preparing for the internship the most useful.
“You always want to make a good first impression, and come across as a reliable and dedicated intern,” she says. “The masterclasses helped to provide skills necessary for the workplace. This meant I didn’t struggle to adapt to the office environment.”
Next steps
Hannah’s now in Year 13 and preparing for her A-levels.
“I’m applying for degree apprenticeships and have submitted my UCAS as a backup,” she says. “Career Ready helped me to realise I’m ready for the workplace and prefer practical experience over normal education.”
