Helping out at Cancer Research Wales
Joe Campbell, a 17-year-old business student from Cardiff and Vale College, recently completed 40 hours of work experience with us
We caught up with Joe to hear about his time at Cancer Research Wales and what he learned during his placement.
So Joe, thanks for coming to do your work experience here with us at Cancer Research Wales - what have you learnt from being here with us and how do you think that’s going to help you?
Since I’ve been at Cancer Research Wales, I’ve been able to learn about how the funding process for researchers who apply to the charity for grants from the charity works as well as how the charity does its budgeting which is very helpful.
That’s given me an invaluable insight into how an organisation operates behind the scenes which of course is great for my business diploma.
On a hands-on level, I’ve also had the chance here to help with tasks around the office including some general administration work and a mailout to help recruit volunteers and I’m told that’s been quite successful, and I’m very happy with that.
Has it been a good experience for you?
It’s been a good experience – 100% - it’s a great opportunity. Being here has given me the chance to learn about the workplace and being in an actual workplace.
That’s going to be helpful for me, and it would also be for other people who when they do go into a job, they’re better prepared and know almost what to expect and so they’ll be more confident and less over-whelmed on their first day.
My work experience at Cancer Research Wales has already helped me a lot and I know it will help me with my career in future.
What’s next for you Joe - and have you enjoyed your time with Cancer Research Wales?
I’ve now finished my work experience with Cancer Research Wales and the next step for me now is to write up my assignment about my 40 hours of work experience here and what I’ve learnt.
In that I’ll be reflecting on how the experience I’ve gained and what I’ve learnt here is going to help me when I eventually do go into the workplace.
I have to say really have enjoyed my work experience here as I have an interest in cancer as I am doing a research project into cancer in Wales so being here is great and it’ll help with that too.
I’d definitely recommend work experience or volunteering to anyone who needs experience of being in a workplace and learning about how to work with other people.
It also helps you with getting to understand how you and your role fits into an organisation and helps it to succeed.