From the Classroom to the Workplace
Choosing where to complete your work experience can shape the way you see a career. Through Cardiff University’s work experience, students have the opportunity to gain valuable industry experience with local businesses, putting their learning into practice in a real working environment.
A great placement doesn’t just give you something to add to your CV. It gives you practical experience, builds confidence and helps you understand what working in a professional environment is really like. That’s exactly what Wil discovered during his placement with blue self storage.
Getting Stuck In
Will chose blue self storage because he wanted to learn more about marketing and social media in a real business environment.
Rather than simply observing from the sidelines, he was involved in genuine projects that supported the business. From creating content to assisting with marketing campaigns, the placement gave him valuable insight into how marketing helps businesses connect with customers and grow their brand.
Although starting his first corporate role felt a little daunting, Wil quickly settled into life at blue self storage.
“Everyone was really welcoming and supportive,” he said. “It helped me settle in quickly and made me feel comfortable asking questions and getting involved in projects.”
Learning That Marketing Is More Than Social Media
One of the biggest surprises for Wil was discovering how much work happens before a piece of content is ever published.
Like many people, he initially thought marketing was mainly about creating posts for social media. During his placement, he learned that every campaign starts long before the camera comes out.
Research, planning, brainstorming, analysing customer behaviour and making strategic decisions all play an important role in creating successful marketing.
“I learned about the research, content planning, brainstorming and decision making that happens behind the scenes to support business objectives,” Wil explained.
It gave him a much broader understanding of the industry and showed him just how varied a career in marketing can be.
Building Confidence Along the Way
One of the highlights of Wil’s placement was contributing to our ‘On the Mic’ social media series.
Interviewing members of the public on camera challenged him to think quickly, communicate clearly and step outside his comfort zone. While it felt unfamiliar at first, each interview helped build his confidence.
“Repeating it throughout the placement helped me become much more comfortable and confident on camera.”
As the weeks went on, that confidence carried into other areas too.
Wil became more comfortable sharing ideas during discussions, collaborating with the team and contributing to creative projects. Alongside improving his communication and teamwork skills, he developed a greater confidence in his own abilities.
Real Experience That Makes a Difference
Work experience is about much more than learning technical skills.
By spending time within the marketing team, Wil gained first-hand experience of how a growing business operates, how departments work together and how creativity and strategy combine to achieve business goals.
It’s exactly the kind of practical experience that cannot always be taught in a classroom.
Advice for Future Students
Looking back on his placement, Wil has one clear message for anyone considering work experience:
“Make the most of every opportunity that comes up and never be afraid to ask questions. It’s a chance to learn from professionals, gain practical skills and understand how a workplace operates.”
It’s advice we’d completely agree with.
The more willing you are to get involved, ask questions and try something new, the more you’ll learn.
Three Words That Sum It All Up
When asked to describe his time at blue self storage in just three words, Wil chose:
Supportive. Enjoyable. Creative.
We’re incredibly proud to support students through Cardiff University’s work experience, giving them the opportunity to gain practical, real-world experience while developing valuable skills for the future. Seeing confidence grow over the course of a placement is one of the most rewarding parts of welcoming young people into the business.
A huge thank you to Cardiff University for partnering with us to make opportunities like this possible, and an even bigger thank you to Wil for all his hard work, enthusiasm and willingness to get involved throughout his placement. We wish him every success in the future and hope this is just the beginning of an exciting career.
