Work Experience at DCA: An Introduction to the World beyond Education
Here at DCA we regularly offer work placements and internships to help enthuse the next generation, and we welcome students interested in a career in PR, journalism, media, marketing and digital work. We were delighted to play host to Holly on her Year 10 work experience placement this summer – and here Holly explains what she took away from her week with us.
By Holly Chadwick, a year 10 student at Devonport High School for Girls
Work experience always seemed so intimidating when I was younger; the thought of having to go to an unfamiliar place always made me apprehensive. I suppose this is why so many resort to just going back to their primary school for work experience. However, the actuality of work experience and the misconceptions, are really worlds apart.
DCA, right from the start, struck me as such a warm, welcoming environment. There was a real sense of community, and I never once felt like I was an outsider there. I had installed in myself this awful preconception that you don’t do actual work on work experience; instead, you get lumped with the tasks that nobody wants to do. DCA fully debunked this myth for me, and I found myself with a steady and thoroughly interesting workload.
The real benefit of working with DCA is the variety of tasks. I found myself writing blog posts for Exeter Airport’s website about the new destinations you can fly to from Exeter now, doing research for Sutton Harbour Group’s to create interesting blog posts for their businesses’ websites including Plymouth Fisheries and Sutton Harbour Marina, and getting to know everyone in no time at all.
I was already out and about in Plymouth on my second day, taking a short walk to Sutton Harbour to take photos for the social media pages promoting the destination and meet some of the tenant businesses. It was so refreshing to be shown first-hand the diversity of the PR industry and the scope of tactics they use to promote their clients.
I was fortunate enough to come at a time that meant I could attend the staff AGM for DCA’s client Coodes Solicitors, and get involved with a DCA workshop organised for staff about LinkedIn and how to use the social media platform for best effect. The dedication and focus that went into the presentation made me feel the weight and importance of engaging with and supporting clients.
It really opened my eyes to how crucial a PR agency is to a business and how much this partnership enriches and strengthens them.
Work experience with DCA opens up so many career possibilities and reveals the relationships between all different fields of work. Businesses need PR agencies, but PR can link them with so many other areas of industry: marketing, graphic design, illustration and more. It really changed my view on English language-based careers – they’re not all about writing a book, and they’re actually far more nuanced.
Work experience never needs to feel intimidating or out of your depth, it can be comfortable and very enjoyable.
I am so glad I came to DCA and wish everyone here best luck for the future and a hearty thanks for putting up with me!
