<<Back

Hi, my name is Klaudia and I did my work experience as a clerical assistant in the sales/contract office at Severn Unival Ltd in Huddersfield. On my first day I was a little bit nervous about going into the office as I knew that the people who worked there were all a lot older than me. Also I had not seen how an office operates before, and it was a nice surprise to find that the team I would be placed with was very friendly and helpful. That is when I began to enjoy my work experience.

During my week in the office I worked on lots of different tasks such as working with IT where I was inputting data and doing spreadsheets, sorting out documents and other general clerical duties. I got the chance to meet new and interesting people from other departments which also gave me an insight into how the company works, and went on a tour round the works where industrial valves and other engineering machinery is designed and produced for industries from oil and gas to chemical pharmaceutical and food production.

Overall I thought that work experience was very informative and worthwhile as everyone wanted to make sure I was having a good experience in the world of work. It also helped me to understand the different parts of a business and how they all fit together.
The tips I would give to other students going on work experience are to ask people for help if you need it – they want you to get the best out of your time with them and to help you understand the job and how it fits in with the company. Also, arrive a bit earlier than your start time - allow plenty of time to get there. Employers are looking for reliable, punctual staff.
Enjoy the opportunity – I did!