Let's be honest, work experience can sometimes mean making tea, sitting in the corner and counting down until lunch.
That's not really our style.
Earlier this year, we welcomed 17-year-old Computer Science student Ellijas to Venn HQ at Alderley Park for a week of work experience. His goal? To experience life inside a growing tech company and understand the business behind the technology, not just the coding.
Spoiler alert... we kept him busy.
Learning by Doing from Day One
From day one, Ellijas joined our Platform team, got his own laptop and became part of the day-to-day life at Venn.
Instead of simply watching from the sidelines, he joined daily stand-ups, got involved in real tasks and saw first-hand how we build and improve our Careers Platform.
"I was made to feel extremely welcome by the team and quickly settled into the modern office environment."
There's More to Tech Than Coding
One of the biggest surprises for Ellijas was discovering just how many different people it takes to build great technology.
During the week, he met colleagues from across the business, including Platform, Product, Marketing and Customer Success, gaining an insight into how each team contributes to the success of the Careers Platform.
It quickly became clear that building great technology isn't just about writing code. Every feature, improvement and customer experience is the result of people with different skills working towards the same goal. From shaping the product roadmap and developing the platform to supporting customers and sharing our story, every team plays a role in making the Careers Platform what it is.
Exploring the Future of Technology
As a Computer Science student, it probably won't surprise you that one of Ellijas' favourite parts of the week was seeing how we're exploring AI and other emerging technologies across the business.
From improving our Careers Platform to automating repetitive tasks and supporting innovation, he gained an insight into how technology is helping shape the future of Venn.
There were plenty of questions along the way, and that's exactly what work experience is for. We loved sharing what we're working on and giving Ellijas a behind-the-scenes look at how technology is evolving within the business.
More Than Just Work Experience
Work experience is about more than what happens at your desk.
Based at Alderley Park, Ellijas also got to experience everything that comes with working at Venn, from coffee runs and woodland walks to spending time with colleagues in a modern, collaborative office environment.
It's these moments, alongside the hands-on experience, that give students a genuine feel for what life at Venn is really like.
Looking Back on the Week
After five days with the team, here's what he had to say:
"The week gave me valuable experience and showed me what it's like to work in a growing technology company. Everyone at Venn was incredibly welcoming, happy to answer any questions and keen to show me around the business."
For us, that's exactly what work experience should be about.
Fancy joining us?
Whether you're interested in software, product, marketing, customer success or you're still figuring out where your strengths lie, work experience is a chance to explore what's possible.
You'll work alongside great people, get involved in real projects, ask plenty of questions (seriously, as many as you like) and gain a genuine insight into life at a growing technology company.
If that sounds like your kind of week, keep an eye on our careers page for future work experience opportunities. We'd love to welcome you to Venn.
