For my work experience I had apply to a company for a two week placement, and this had to be done through proper procedures, so I had to make sure my curriculum vitae was up to date and well presented.

On the first day I had to go to Brixton, this is where my manager had his office, the journey was long and tiring but I had to go there. Tony, my manager, showed me the basic job of a manager and was discussing with me what I will be doing during the two weeks. Over the two weeks I worked in different places doing different things. I worked in the BT Tower for a week; I went to the transmission room, where all the broadcasting in London happened. The person I was assigned to me was Mr Sodhi and he taught me what went on in this room and the basics of broadcasting and where do the signals get sent on the journey to someone's television set. At first he had to teach me but by the second day I was helping him and making his and the people in the department easier and making the work load lighter. Since I was working with him the work was done very efficiently and he was very helpful and appreciative. I also got a chance to spend most of a day at the BT call centre; this is where I learned some really useful and important skills. I learned some communication skills and listened in to the operator as she dealt with customer's complaints and queries. Some of them were reporting faults and were not very happy, rather angry, shouting down the phone. I answered some phone calls after I understood what was needed. The person told me that it was good to have someone to work with, because on your own it does get slightly boring. I also worked with an engineer faulting the systems.

During the experience I faced many problems and challenges which I had to overcome to and solve. For example I had to take some calls in the time that I was in the call centre, the first customer was calm and wanted a small enquiry and I put him through to the people he needed, the next few were more challenging than I had expected, one was very angry and began to use inappropriate language and as I was taught I have a right not to be spoken to in that way and had to warn him that I will have to leave the conversation if he continued in the manner that he was talking to me. However it wasn't as easy as that since I was very nervous and could feel my nerves getting to me. I managed to overcome these nerves and talk to the irate customer and deal with him appropriately. I also made formal communication with control towers for broadcasting in Paris, USA, Berlin and other countries main broadcasting centres.

At the end of this I got given a pack with all information and contact details if I was interested in coming back to BT and apply for a permanent job in the near future. It said all the benefits of joining BT and why I should come back. I went to lots of places in BT doing lots of different things and would like in the future to perhaps stay in one department for longer an have a deeper understanding of all the work. In that department, For example I spent only two days on the engineering side of BT but that wasn't sufficient to learn the real commands and learn exactly what I am doing and why. The work experience has been a good real experience to how a job really is.

BY SUMIT KAPUR 11Y