This summer FOR Cardiff have worked with the Careers & Employability team at Cardiff University to recruit a summer intern kindly supported by the Santander Internship scheme. We’ve asked Lilli The Intern to keep a record of what she gets up to while she’s with us to show off the value of the Cardiff University talent pool and to give a bit more of a personal insight into what goes on at FOR Cardiff HQ. Take it away Lilli:
Bore da!
It might not be morning whenever you are, but it’s something I’ve been inclined to say at any point of the day, after two weeks of working at FOR Cardiff. It rings through the office. It means ‘good morning’, but also ‘good afternoon’, ‘good-bye’, ‘did you get my email?’ and just about everything else- but mostly it’s come to be the welcoming phrase that means you’re in; you’re a part of the team. In this short period, I’ve heard it more times than I can count. But, even so, it’s been somewhat comforting as I start working 9-5 for the first time.
It’s been a really pleasant surprise to discover that not every internship has to be as corporate as The Times top 100 graduate employers list might suggest. Certainly, the culture in an SME office is different; in my experience, you’re far more likely to be contributing towards an important project than just scanning documents and fetching coffees all day. After all, they need the manpower! Nevertheless, the reality is that there will always be pieces of work that feel mundane. When you’re looking at the bigger picture however, you start to realise how fundamentally important the work you’re doing is to your company’s objectives. I find satisfaction in the work I do through this- combined with the support I receive from the rest of the team; it really feels like I’m contributing.
I certainly feel supported by the team when I’m given a task that requires me to learn new skills or build upon existing knowledge. This week, I’ve been taking my WordPress skills to a new level and learning all about SEO optimisation and readability, under the guidance of my colleagues. I’ve also had the chance to use some of the transferable skills I picked up from my degree, such as copy writing and research. Handling multiple tasks at once has tested my versatility, but I’ve found that jumping between tasks stays pretty easy as long as I remember to use the massive stack of post-it notes on my desk.
Some of my favourite work I’ve completed so far has been making updates to The City of Arcades website, ahead of City of Arcades day (coming soon!) I am able to see for myself the high levels of retention the arcades have, which makes me enthusiastic about the future of Cardiff’s independent business community. It is so vital that we preserve and support local commerce, and so it has been very gratifying to be able to see Cardiff’s commitment to independent businesses for myself. Planning an event to celebrate this small business community and the rich history of the arcades, has been a great experience so far and I’m very proud to be a part of it.
I’d like to say these past couple of weeks have been a complete whirlwind, but in reality, it’s just been nice to be back in a routine almost two months after my final university exam. More than that, it’s been pleasant to be a part of a small team who are invested in you; to be humanised and integrated has made all the difference in how well I’ve settled in. Thanks to this, I feel more compelled than ever to work hard, and make a significant contribution to the company I work for. I may be temporary, but the work I do whilst I’m here, certainly won’t be.