Taster Experience Review

I thoroughly enjoyed the virtual experience, as there was a real emphasis on talk and discussion with several groups of people. Over the two days I spoke to nearly all of the ~45 people on the Taster Experience with me, allowing me to discuss important topics with several like-minded people and also learn how they came to be involved in the Taster Experience. The tasks were clearly planned and explained to us, meaning there was no confusion and we were able to get on with work quickly and enthusiastically.

I definitely felt extremely valued during the Taster Experience. There was no pressure to talk whilst in the big group, although I would've felt confident doing so because of how accepting and ready to listen everyone was, and when we were split into breakout rooms I felt valued and confident sharing ideas whether it be with other students or with the excellent facilitators. I felt extremely supported throughout the whole experience, which is certainly an incentive to apply later for the training programme.

Guidance and support were definitely some of the strengths of the Taster Experience. In every session we were guided with clear instructions on what we needed to do, leaving no confusion and meaning we could get on well. The support, particularly during the teaching exercise, was amazing, meaning that everyone was given specific and personal feedback on how to improve their teaching and skills for the future. It definitely made me feel that the same high level of guidance and support would be available to me if I were to join the training programme.

The skills I developed during the Taster Experience will certainly assist me in my degree studies and beyond, particularly as I am going into the final year of my Undergraduate Degree. There was a particular focus on the competencies that Teach First looks for, which are also the competencies that are required when applying for post-graduate opportunities and completing my dissertation. The focus on these skills and ideas as to how to develop them made me more aware of my own skills and how to use them to my advantage in the future.

The Taster Experience was very well structured, and the timetable that was provided to us made it very clear when sessions were going to take place, as well as what would be involved in those sessions and what competencies would be developed during them. There were a few times when sessions ran over by a tiny amount, but the breaks allowed for us to keep on track and we never ended a day later than we were told at the start.

The general atmosphere was largely positive. People were enthusiastic and ready to share ideas whether it be in the larger group or in our smaller groups. A few people were quite quiet during discussions, but there was no problem with this and most people were ready to share ideas and give constructive feedback with whoever they were in a group with. I felt very confident the whole time, and never was stressed or felt like the atmosphere was negative.

Two sessions, in particular, were focused on personal development, and they provided an interesting insight into what skills we could be looking for in ourselves and how to build ourselves up to develop further. The teaching experience also allowed for personal training and development, as we were all given personal feedback on our performance and how we can improve in the future. This was great, as I can now look back on the feedback and apply it to many aspects of life.

The Taster Experience was extremely informative, and I left it with many different ideas of what my life would look like if I got involved with the charity and was successful in applying for the training programme. Listening to people who have previously completed the training programme and seeing how different their paths are and the different directions in which the programme has taken them meant I could visualise myself taking many different paths within the programme.

I definitely got a good understanding of the company culture during my time on the Taster Experience. It seems like everyone is really well supported and everyone's voice matters which seems great to me. Although a large graduate recruiter, it seems to me that everyone is seen as an individual and different backgrounds and personalities are welcomed and there is an emphasis on individuality. Overall the company culture seems great, and this shone through during the Taster Experience.

The Taster Experience definitely led me towards applying for the programme, and although I am not sure in which direction it'll take me I'm sure that I will be supported throughout my future journey. There seems to be so many opportunities within the company that I feel comfortable applying for the programme, hopefully getting a place, and then seeing where it takes me. It has definitely highlighted for me that I want a career that helps others.

Because there was a huge emphasis on talking to many people and discussing important topics, I definitely felt like there was a great opportunity to network with and meet like-minded people. We were encouraged to join the Facebook group before the programme, and a few people left their LinkedIn links in order for us to stay in contact. Current or past employees of the company left their emails for us to ask any questions if needed, and encouraged us to ask questions during the sessions.