After 'the best work experience ever', Doris has no doubts about her career ambitions

: Created: 24 June 2019

Doris, 19, from Greenwich, came to the College to begin her level 2 course back in September 2016 after moving here from her native Albania. In just three years, she has scored continuously high grades in all of her assignments, gained a GCSE grade 5 (B) in English, and a grade 6 (A) in maths, and won a Your Horizon Young Enterprise Award for best managing director of a company back in 2017.

Last August, Doris was offered the chance of a lifetime to attend a one-week work experience with Lloyds along with fellow business student Rebecca. The two were given an in-depth introduction to the banking industry and set to work in their Internal Audit Department. Then, in April of this year, both students were invited back (by special request) to do a further week’s experience and schooled in all things auditing, taken on a field trip to a working branch on Tottenham Court Road, attended meetings and a large staff conference - as well as being given exposure to some of the very top professional expertise in the banking sector.

“I wasn’t quite expecting to get all of this in just two weeks," said Doris. “The people at Lloyds are truly inspiring and I’ve picked up an enormous amount of knowledge. I’ve enjoyed it so much that I now want to work as an Internal Audit Manager once I have completed my Maths and Computing BSc Hons degree at Brunel University.

“Whilst at Lloyds, I was given lots of insight into the career path and trained in interview techniques, creating my own personal ‘brand’ to impress potential employers and encouraged to identify my strengths, weaknesses, transferable skills and taught very useful presentation skills that will enable me to be successful in the workplace.

“Work experience such as this is priceless and my CV is now looking awesome. I also think that what I have picked up will give me a head start when I start at uni next September.

“Thank you to London South East Colleges for everything you have done for me and particularly my tutors Franklin, Margaret, Sunday and Lisa. You have given me a brilliant start to my career.”

This work experience programme was organised by the London South East Colleges’ Work Experience Department in partnership with Lloyds Banking Group. The College works with employers throughout London and the south-east to organise work experience for students on the majority of its vocational courses. This gives them the confidence to gain employment as well as acquiring the skills needed by employers in the region.

If you think you have what it takes to be successful in the world of business, banking and financial services, we’d like to hear from you. We have a great range of courses to get you started. Apply now for September.