Taster Experience participant Review

by Teach First

Rating

4.4/5
  • About You
    4.6
  • The Company
    4.7
  • Everything Else
    3.8

    About You

  • 1. To what extent did you enjoy the insight?
  • I really enjoyed my time on the two day taster programme. Any nerves I had had previously were calmed by the lovely coordinators, [This section of the comment has been removed by a member of the RateMyPlacement Team because it did not meet our site terms and conditions] and the ability to meet like-minded people and discuss our ideas and interests towards the education sector. Plenty of breaks were given so it wasn't too activity-heavy. Even though it was online it was still a great environment to be a part of. The only think slightly lacking was the ease with which we could chat to other people involved in the days on a more personal level, although this couldn't really be helped due to the restricted communication of Zoom.

    5/5

  • 2. To what extent did you feel valued during your time at the company or firm?
  • I felt very valued, the team were always eager to hear our own ideas and (as with teachers) often reinforced this through encouraging words. The use of break-out rooms was really helpful to make sure everyone could express their opinions and contribute to the discussions, as in larger groups it tended to be the same people who spoke up. I especially enjoyed the teaching experience, something i found daunting until doing it, then was pleased to receive lots of feedback, both positive and constructive.

    5/5

  • 3. How much guidance/support did you receive during the insight?
  • The day was very well planned, even down to exact minute timings, and therefore it helped to know where we were at all times. All the resources were uploaded to the teaching hub prior to the event so we were able to download them ourselves on our laptops. During the experience there were always at least two people on hand to help us if we needed it, and we could privately message or ring them if needed. We were given lots of opportunities for self-reflection and feedback from teachers themselves after our mini-lessons.

    4/5

  • 4. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and information you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
  • This was a really helpful experience which has really made me think about my future goals. Self-reflection is definitely a strong skill i will take away from this experience, as it was one of the core values of Teach First. We also received information from some tutoring charities, so i might try to get some experience with them.

    5/5

    The Company

  • 5. How well structured was the insight?
  • Very well put together, despite being a new format the day ran very smoothly, timetables of the day were given to us in advance and many of our activities were followed to the minute. The coordinators kept us on track and were sometimes flexible with break times if things ran over slightly. All the resources we needed were available online in one place.

    5/5

  • 6. How was the general atmosphere during your insight?
  • Considering the experience had to occur on zoom, i think the atmosphere was friendly and enthusiastic, though perhaps not to the extent it would have been in real life. This was probably unavoidable, as we had to keep our mics muted at some points etc. While i did really enjoy the day and i met lots of lovely people, I found it hard to connect on a deeper level with anyone and therefore have come away from the experience a little sad that i was not able to meet people face to face in the way i would have through a non-virtual event, though this could not be helped.

    4/5

  • 7. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
  • personal development is something Teach First really work on, having changed their 'Assessment Centres' to 'Development Centres' etc. There was lots of time and activity devoted to self reflection and building on some of their many skills and attributes they look for in their training programme participants. Planning and organising, self-reflection and interaction were just a few of the skills i think i personally developed.

    5/5

  • 8. To what extent did the insight help you to understand what it would be like to have a full time role with the company or firm?
  • The variety of speakers involved in the sessions gave a really in-depth insight into what it would be like to work for this company, from a recruitment insight to thoughts shared from current trainees and ambassadors, as well as those who completed the programme and went on to work elsewhere. Overall really helpful.

    5/5

  • 9. How much did the insight help you in understanding the company culture?
  • The main things which were communicated to me was the shared passion everyone involved had to educational equality, the main mission of the charity. This came across in presentations and speeches, as well as the very activities we were presented with, such as debates surrounding educational problems, theoretical problem-solving tasks and discussions about our own experiences in education.

    5/5

  • 10. How valuable was the content in helping you to decide on your future career path?
  • Very helpful, it has cemented this career path as a definite to consider, and if i was to go into teaching i would definitely do so through this route. The day was very helpful in answering all of my questions and concerns i had going into the experience, and i feel i have received lots of clarity from the days.

    5/5

    Everything Else

  • 11. Were you paid or reimbursed adequately for this experience?
  • I would have been reimbursed for travel had they not been turned into online sessions due to Covid, subsequently I didn't need to be reimbursed for anything.


  • 12. Were there opportunities for networking and meeting other employees of the company or firm?
  • There were good opportunities for meeting other employees and ask them questions, though less so on an individual level due to the nature of the break-out rooms and the event running online. It was also difficult to build relationships with other people or let yourself shine in any particular way when doing so via zoom.

    3/5

  • 13. How were the networking/ social event opportunities?
  • They ran a fun quiz for us as our social event, this was good considering the situation, however, I would have loved the chance to go for a meal. Networking was particularly difficult due to the online nature of the event, and although i got to ask lots of questions and hear from experiences of lots of employees, i felt there was less opportunity to put myself out there or talk on a one to one basis with people.

    3/5

  • 14. Did you find out about activities that employees can get involved in outside of work?
  • This was explained in a lot of detail; during the two year training programme, there are opportunities to do summer internships etc. Many trained teachers would also help implement initiatives into their schools centred around improving educational equality in schools, and were often at the forefront of creating and implementing these initiatives.

    5/5

  • 15. Would you recommend this insight to a friend?
  • absolutely, I think its the best way to get into teaching, and the experience was very eye opening and good at affirming that for me. I would definitely recommend to a friend who is interested in teaching, and looking for a supportive way of making a difference to the UK through educational equality.

    5/5

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Details

Insight / Vacation Scheme (< 4 Weeks)

London

June 2020


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