Work Experience Placement
We were delighted to welcome Maddy Parry to our team at CMe Media for a week-long work experience placement. During her time with us, Maddy actively engaged in various projects and contributed fresh insights.
She has documented her journey below, where she shares her experiences and the skills she acquired. Maddy’s enthusiasm and a keen interest in media and digital marketing were evident throughout her stay.
We appreciate Maddy’s hard work and wish her continued success in her future endeavours.
Where It All Started
Before sharing my experience, I should point out that I was on work experience, for my week off college, I didn’t quit or get fired after 4 days (phew!). When the college first informed us of the challenge of finding work experience, I immediately knew I wanted to try out marketing or something in media at least; it was just a matter of finding the perfect place to do my placement.
I am fortunately close friends with Charisse’s (the CEO’s) son, so he therefore suggested doing my placement at CMe Media, and it may have been the best suggestion he’s ever made. Throughout this blog, I hope my writing can depict my time at CMe and the positive impact it has had on not only my knowledge but also my mood over the past week.
Fitting in on the First Day
To start with a full face of honesty, I’ve never been so nervous walking into a building in my life. I’m not regularly a nervous person, but I think the idea of working alongside adults who’ve spent years specialising in a subject I had no basic knowledge of was making me doubt myself. What if they judge my abilities? What if they don’t like my ideas?
However, the moment I walked into CMe Media’s office and was introduced to the team, all my doubts fell away. A pack with the different tasks I had to complete, background information on the company and my itinerary for the week was left on my desk. Laura showed me around and introduced me to everyone. Straight away, I sat down to get started, with the help of Terri.
My first task was to create designs for a bus back and billboards for the celebration of CMe Turning 10. I enjoyed this task, and in the end, I was proud of the outcome. In retrospect, I didn’t do a lot during my first day, but I did get to know a lot of the team and to me, that’s a day well spent.
The Struggle Begins
On my second day, I faced a challenge I wasn’t at all expecting: blog writing. At college, I take mainly essay-based subjects, so, in my mind, this was going to be a piece of cake, but unfortunately, this assumption was a huge misconception. My task was to write a blog about CMe’s achievements in its 10 years of running, and my first attempt could be described accurately with the word diabolical.
Luckily, India, the SEO manager, was right across from me and gave me some advice, which did help, but that blog was still my biggest enemy in the office. Naturally, I put this task to the side for future me to suffer with. I began writing a radio advertisement script; this felt like heaven to write compared to the blog. I wrote my script within 5 minutes, and I found it enjoyable, so I wrote a second for CMe Automotive. Once I had finished, I went out for a meeting with Jon, where he read through my scripts and told me they were really good—a much-needed ego boost. He then proceeded to explain PPC and his role within the company. I was heavily impressed but also intrigued. I knew I wanted to get into marketing, but I didn’t realise how detailed and intricate each role is.
After this, I went back to attempt to write my blog with high hopes and aspirations, which ended in me adding 100 more words and then staring blankly at my screen. To say I was disappointed with myself is an understatement, I’ve never been challenged in this way before. However, looking back, I enjoyed the challenge and being pushed, it helped me use parts of my brain I didn’t know existed.
Tasty Treats
The third day at the office was a celebration. It was my desk partner’s birthday, Marc. So, I gave him an enthusiastic ‘Happy Birthday!’ and then got straight to work on my blog, which I still needed to edit. Finally, I had finished the blog, and a wave of triumph washed over me. I can finally move on to do more tasks!
I began to do an email campaign, which I loved. It had the visually creative and the writing sides all in one. Next was my favourite, social media content creation. I was so proud of my design and enjoyed creating it. Then came the most important part of the day; lunch. I got introduced to the building’s food truck and treated myself to a cheesy jacket potato the whole office had been raving about.
Immediately after I indulged in the heavenly potato, Laura brought Marc in brownies she had baked and we all got to have a piece. While yes, the brownies were delicious, I saw them as a symbol of how important the team’s bond is. One thing I have picked up on is the closeness of the team and how strong friendships in the workplace impact the quality of work produced (for the better).
A Final Farewell
I walked into my last day with hands full of treats for all the people who welcomed me warmly to my week at CMe. Laura showed me how to write a PR piece and I completed one on my own, an activity I once again thoroughly enjoyed. To end my time here, I made a presentation for the team, which I presented personally to them, and now I’m sitting here writing this very blog.
As I finish this final paragraph, I feel a wave of sadness wash over me as I know in 20 minutes I will have finished this blog page and have to walk out of the building one last time.
Now, at the end of my journey, I have time to reflect on everything I have learned this week, and it’s safe to say I have learned a lot, so much so that a single blog wasn’t enough to fit all my new knowledge. I walk out of this office with piles of information and knowledge I didn’t have before, along with meaningful memories and new connections with the most amazing team I’ve ever met.
I’ve never felt so supported and welcomed in my life, and for that, I will forever be grateful. For now, I will say goodbye and give a massive thank you to the team at CMe Media. My time here has been valuable and meaningful.
