What Trainees wish they knew before starting work
A blog by Imogen Taylor, Junior Recruitment Consultant
Some people view life in black and white, forgetting the importance of the grey areas. Your grades don’t define you. Growing up, I was told Maths and English were key to getting a job, but I wasn’t the most academic. Over time, I’ve realised that other strengths matter just as much. This is for those who need to understand which skills truly count.
I'm a college student, currently pursuing a BTEC diploma in Business and Finance with 3 GCSEs, currently doing work experience at Park Personnel. Anything is possible with determination. A genius doctor may have the knowledge, but without people skills, they can’t prove their worth to employers or patients. A doctor who lacks confidence, empathy, or communication won’t inspire trust.
Key people skills include:
- Active listening
- Creativity
- Empathy
- Emotional intelligence
- Leadership
- Problem solving
- Communication
Strong people skills show confidence, and integrity. Employers value your ability to apply skills, not just your grades, to determine if you're the right fit.
The transition from education to employment is nerve-wracking but rewarding. I’m currently out on work experience as a junior Recruitment Consultant, and although I’ve learnt about recruitment in the classroom, applying that knowledge in a new environment feels like learning to walk again, however, with more independence which is a rewarding feeling. It’s a very different atmosphere to education which takes a bit of an adjustment, there are many things that I wish I knew before. It becomes very real so to help you ease into it my tips are as follows:
- Always be yourself
- Being prepared by bringing notepads, pens and highlighters.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions! (The company will understand that you are new. No question is a silly one!)
- Adapt your mindset (from education you’ll be thinking about grades and exams, but in the workplace you need to think about problem solving, applying knowledge, collaboration, teamwork and communication).
- Stay organised to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
- Be confident (you’ve learnt a lot and spent valuable time learning so bring those skills to the table).
- If you make a mistake that’s okay, mistakes create room for improvement.
- Everyone needs to make mistakes to learn.
- Always write important information down to avoid forgetting.
- Believe in yourself!
At first, I thought a recruitment agency wouldn’t hire me without strong English skills, since CV formatting and emailing require good grammar. But I’ve worked hard to improve, and they still took me on. It’s a rewarding job, helping people find careers and supporting them through a daunting process. Park Personnel truly cares about people-they go out of their way to offer support, host events, and help without expecting anything in return. Their work ethic and commitment to meeting expectations are exceptional.
My time here has been valuable - it's not about the money, but the experience, the team dynamic, and the exciting work they do will stay with me throughout the rest of my career. Most importantly, I’ve learnt so much that I wish I knew before starting that I wanted to share to support people who are in my shoes. Everyone should experience a Park! Whether you need help looking for a job or just need advice, we've got you every step of the way.