Armaandeep Nagra from De Lisle College in Loughborough completed a four-week paid internship at the online retail company, The Very Group. Here’s how his experience of the workplace shifted his perspective on the future.
Initially, Armaandeep was apprehensive about his internship, especially as it was his first time in a formal workplace.
“Before my internship, I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into – I just said yes to the opportunity. I didn’t know much about my role, and I had no experience working in a professional environment, so it was quite daunting.”
But his time at The Very Group as an MI Analyst was a perspective-shifting experience where he had the opportunity to try new things and build his workplace skills.
“Not only did I learn about the technical skills required for my role, but I also learnt how to work in a team. My confidence grew immensely, and most importantly, I learnt how to communicate effectively with others. In fact, on the last day of my internship, I led a presentation in front of several people. Never in a million years I would’ve thought I’d do that at 17.”
New experiences, new skills
Armaandeep worked at The Very Group for four weeks, and was responsible for engineering, analysing and visualising data. He learnt new programmes and technical skills, but also realised first-hand how important ‘soft’ skills are in the workplace.
“I enhanced my technical skills in SQL and PowerBI, but also developed other skills that I didn’t expect such as interpersonal skills, team working, and time management.”
He reflected on one of his internship highlights here:
“The best part for me was knowing that what I was helping to build would be used to help real people with their day-to-day work and potentially save the business almost 6-figures a year. For example, my team streamlined warehouse operations – boosting productivity by an estimated 11% – and helped people make data-driven decisions.”
The impact of paid internships
Armaandeep has come out of his internship feeling more confident and motivated to build a successful future, recognising how this experience will make him stand out.
“A paid internship doesn’t just give you a nice few lines on a personal statement or CV, it immerses you in the world of work. Let’s put it this way, imagine a 17-year-old who did an internship somewhere, and then a 21-year-old in their final year of university who has never experienced the workplace – I believe the 17-year-old is at an advantage.”
Armaandeep is now looking to his future with confidence and self-belief – and planning to get into the tech industry to ultimately start his own business.
“My internship has helped me overcome feelings of isolation and a lack of direction after the pandemic. One thing I’ve learnt throughout this programme is that the sky is the limit when you work hard.”
Reflecting on his biggest takeaways from his experience, Armaandeep has two pieces of advice to give other young people.
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions and say yes to every opportunity you get!”
