​My name is Tyrick Pascal Mitchell; I am 15 years old and come from the school Harris Academy Falcon wood. For my work experience, i visited CRA Group Recruitment and Payroll Limited, where I have been able to learn many skills and experience how a job functions.

Upon my arrival, I was able to see the work atmosphere and the orderliness that this place has. From this alone, I already knew that CRA Group was a very serious and dedicated place. Upon taking a course, I learnt that CRA Group’s purpose is to deliver high quality recruitment and payroll solutions for those who don’t have any.

Additionally, I have been able to understand the goals and aims which the company strives for (empowering businesses, supporting job seekers, and to ensure efficiency and accuracy in payroll management). Also, I have personally been taught first-hand payroll and invoice regarding different councils and places, even being able to do work myself, such as setting the right dates on invoices and attaching files.

From this experience alone, I have been able to learn about how handle different council’s invoices, how you have to download and attach the right files, and how concentration is key when doing this task, as one wrong move can cause a large problem.

Another thing I have also learned during my experience here, is how to view CVs and decide whether to accept or decline them. Firstly, I was taught that a CV is your personal advertisement, showing employers why you are different from others and the reason you should be hired. Upon learning what a CV is, I was taught how to build a strong and precise CV, which was by prioritising the most important aspects that the employer would want to see, such as your education, work experience, skills and more. I was then shown examples of how an actual CV is structured and laid out.

Finally, I was then given the task of differentiating between fifteen CVs, then I had to pick out the five I believed were best fit for a MOD (ministry of defence) job role. While doing this, I first had to look at the essential qualifications, key skills, and experiences, before comparing these with the key skills and work experiences of the people who were applying for the job. After comparing them, I had to pick the five CVs I thought were best and prepare a short description of their strengths and why I believed they were most suited for the job. This task allowed me to distinctly separate the good and bad CVs while simultaneously noting down their strengths and weaknesses.

In my time during CRA Group Recruitment and Payroll Limited, I’ve also learnt about the normal job standards like how you should present yourself and act, whether it be around your other colleagues, or in general during your job. For example, as a representative of your job, you must be punctual, kind but diligent, and always look smart. CRA Group has showed me the careful planning and consideration I must have, not just for this job but for many others as well.

Finally, during my experience here I have also learnt about the wide variety of career paths for each subject, like being an Organic chemist for chemistry, or banking and finance for maths. Through my learning, I was able to learn about which skills I could attain off of certain subjects, such as English being able to give you creativity and critical thinking. I also researched requirements for career paths, such as A-levels or degrees.

Overall, I had a great time for my work experience at CRA Group Recruitment and Payroll Limited, not only have I been able to learn the essential skills and fundamentals that a job has but have been able apply them in real life situations. I believe that this experience has been both productive and helped me obtain a grasp at what will await me in the future. I am very thankful for this opportunity.