Our work experience week at KQ Liverpool

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Last week, Year 12 students Anthony, Harvey and Kostas undertook a week’s work experience with the KQ Liverpool team, and they have shared some insight into their time with us in the below blog:

Tell us a bit about yourself

  • Anthony: I have just come to the end of my first year of Sixth Form and I am studying Information Technology, Business Studies and Digital Media.
  • Harvey: I’m currently in Year 12 studying Business, IT and Drama.
  • Kostas: I have just come to the end of my first year in Sixth Form, and have been studying A Level Maths, Physics, Business and Religious Studies.

What have you been up to this week?

  • Anthony: This week we have been working as a Project Manager with Knowledge Quarter Liverpool. We have done various activities ranging from attending the ‘summer social’ event, to helping analyse potential improvements on a shuttle bus project encouraging travel to Paddington Village from Lime Street Train Station. 
  • Harvey: We visited the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and were given a tour around their Snakebite Research Centre, which has 400 of the most poisonous snakes, and were given an insight of how they act and also what types of poison are in the snakes. It was amazing to see some of the snakes up close and look at the little details of their scales and patterns on their bodies. We also made a TikTok about them.
  • Kostas:  We were out of the office practically everyday, doing something different and interesting each time showing that not all places of work need to be repetitive and tiring.

What has been a highlight for you?

  • Kostas: In terms of a particular thing that we did, the visit to Elida Beauty was really informative. As well as having a tour around the building and seeing how many of the products are made and tested, we had a talk with Alana Cox (Senior Scale Up Engineer) who gave us some amazing advice on how to stand out when it comes to CV writing and interviews. She also encouraged the use of LinkedIn which made us go and complete our profiles and make some connections.
  • Anthony: The realistic feeling of actually working in this job role has been a great experience for me as I have never really worked a role like this, and it has made me think deeper into wanting to potentially do this job or any other similar jobs like this in the future. 
  • Harvey: My highlight of the week has been making different connections and finding new jobs that I didn’t even know existed, as this gave me a wider range of options. I was also given information on how to improve my interview skills and also CVs. This was my highlight as it expanded my knowledge within different industries while also allowing me to expand my horizons and give better answers when it comes to interviews, while being able to write better and improved CVs.  

What have you learnt about Knowledge Quarter Liverpool?

  • Kostas: There is so much I did not know about the KQ before, like the fact it is an innovation district and a driver for innovation all over Liverpool. Some of the businesses they work with have some of the most exciting new projects and research.
  • Anthony: The Liverpool Knowledge Quarter is a hub of innovation and education located in the heart of Liverpool. The area is a vibrant and exciting place to be, with a range of cultural and social events taking place throughout the year. Whether you’re a student, a researcher, or an entrepreneur, there’s something for everyone in the Liverpool Knowledge Quarter.
  • Harvey: I have learnt that there’s a lot more to it that meets the eye. For example, there are multiple companies involved with KQ Liverpool and there’s a lot more opportunities than I once thought.

What advice would you give for other students going on work experience?

  • Anthony: Ask as many questions as possible to help you understand the pathway of a job role which will help you in the future, because if you end up wanting to do a similar job to your work experience, you will be prepared with what you need to do to meet the requirements of this job role. Also, try to make a good impression with employers in case they see you have skills and think you can undertake this job, as you may even get an offer to work and additional amount of time with the company.
  • Kostas: My advice for other students going on work experience is to make the most of all the opportunities given to you, like when you go out and meet people in the world of business make sure to be friendly and socialise with them, connect with them on LinkedIn to get access to even more opportunities in the future. I would also say to take the experience and reflect on it, think about what you liked and keep a mental note that this is something you would like to do in the future and if you did not like something keep that in mind too, it will all help narrow down a career that you enjoy later in life.
  • Harvey: I would also advise making connections with people during the work experience as this can also help you going forward with future jobs, as they may know a lot about an industry you are looking to go in and be able to lead you in the right direction. Also just have fun, as you won’t take away from the experience as much as you would if you weren’t enjoying it.