November 12, 2024, by Joe

Leah Russon Watkins – LGBT Foundation

Over the summer, I had the opportunity to participate in an amazing placement experience offered by the university. Placement experience is something highly valued by all workplaces nowadays, so I was eager to undertake one myself.

Choosing the Right Placement

The placement I undertook with LGBT Foundation stood out to me due to its alignment with my interests. Not only does LGBT Foundation offer a diverse range of support to LGBTQ+ communities, but this placement also allowed me to explore Marketing and Communications, an area I had been considering for a while.

Starting with Excitement and Nerves

As I began the placement, I was both excited about the potential opportunities and nervous about working in a new environment with unknown expectations. I felt as though I needed to know everything before even starting. While I reminded myself that I was there to learn new skills, it didn’t fully calm my nerves. However, once I started meeting and collaborating with the team, my worries quickly disappeared.

Everyone was incredibly welcoming, especially my placement supervisor, Matt, who helped me settle in and learn the ropes at HQ. From the very beginning, Matt was keen to tailor my internship to align with my interests, finding tasks that would be mutually beneficial. This approach allowed me to undertake a variety of projects, building a diverse skill set.

Learning New Skills and Completing Tasks

During my placement, I had the chance to work on a range of tasks. I learned to use Canva to create Instagram squares and carousels, ensuring that I consistently applied brand guidelines across all the content I developed. I worked with the Education team to create reels and posters for their ‘Vote with Pride’ campaign and collaborated with the Sexual Health team by inputting data from their Ketso workshop.

I also researched and contacted student groups about the ‘Vote with Pride’ campaign, and looked into potential podcasts for collaboration, helping to expand the foundation’s reach. Additionally, I wrote and uploaded a blog post to their website using WordPress and learned techniques for making websites and documents more accessible. Writing a bulletin announcement to boost engagement for the Sexual Health team’s Salford STI campaign was another valuable experience, and I took part in team meetings and creative brainstorming sessions, which were both insightful and inspiring.

Reflecting on the Placement Experience

Throughout this three-week placement, I gained extensive experience and learned what a Marketing and Communications role entails. I am proud that I put myself out there, despite having little prior experience, and gained invaluable knowledge that I can carry into my future career. To any students considering a placement, I highly recommend it. Not only do you learn so much from the people you work with, but you also gain valuable insights into what life could look like after university. Whether you know exactly what area you want to work in or are still exploring, giving these opportunities a try is always a great idea.

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