At Step Teachers, work experience isn’t just about observing from the sidelines — it’s about getting hands-on, building skills, and gaining a genuine insight into the world of work.
Recent students Omar and Jonah shared their experiences, giving a glimpse into what it’s really like to spend time inside a busy recruitment agency.
For both students, one of the most valuable parts of their time at Step Teachers was understanding how recruitment agencies operate.
Jonah quickly discovered how Step Teachers acts as a vital link between schools and teachers, describing it as a “middleman” that helps connect talent with opportunity. Through tasks like compiling active teaching roles in North London, he gained a clearer understanding of how teachers secure roles through agencies and how the education recruitment process works day-to-day.
Omar echoed this sentiment, highlighting how market research introduced him to a range of recruitment agencies and their different approaches. This experience gave him a broader perspective on the industry and sparked a curiosity about how businesses grow and position themselves.
Getting Stuck Into Real Tasks
Rather than shadowing, both students were trusted with meaningful tasks across different teams.
Jonah spent time with the sales, compliance, and marketing teams, experiencing a variety of responsibilities. On the compliance side, he supported with practical tasks such as preparing mail for teachers, printing, and reformatting CVs into the company’s standard style — gaining insight into the importance of detail and organisation.
Meanwhile, his time in marketing involved researching competitor agencies across London and Oxfordshire, analysing how they promote their services compared to Step Teachers. This gave him exposure to real marketing strategy and competitive analysis.
Omar also developed key skills through hands-on work, particularly in market research and task-based assignments that strengthened his communication, research, and computer skills.
Building Skills for the Future
Both students emphasised how their experience helped them develop essential workplace skills.
• Research and analytical thinking through market and competitor analysis
• Communication skills from working with different teams
• Technical and organisational skills from completing administrative tasks
• Professional awareness of how an office environment operates
Jonah noted that the experience gave him “a real insight into what an actual office job would consist of”, helping him feel more prepared for future roles. He also discovered a personal interest in compliance work, recognising that his strengths align with analytical and auditing tasks.
For Omar, the experience sparked an interest in marketing, particularly the idea of using research to support business growth. He described how the placement helped him see a potential future career path.
A Supportive and Welcoming Environment
A key highlight for both students was the people. The Step Teachers team created a welcoming and supportive atmosphere that made it easy to settle in and make the most of the experience.
Jonah described the sales team as “very welcoming and friendly,” which helped make his first day in a professional environment more comfortable and enjoyable. This positive culture played an important role in shaping both students’ overall impressions.
A Valuable First Step
Overall, the work experience programme at Step Teachers offers more than just a glimpse into working life — it provides practical experience, skill development, and inspiration for future careers.
As Omar summed up, the experience has been “enjoyable and has taught me skills,” while Jonah highlighted how it has “better prepared [himself] for future jobs.”
For any student stepping into the world of work for the first time, Step Teachers is proving to be a great place to start.
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