Work experience

When I applied for the Professional Pathways scheme, I saw it as a great opportunity to gain valuable work experience alongside my university studies. What I didn’t realise at the time was how the scheme would help me grow in confidence and develop a clearer, more realistic understanding of working in a professional environment. It also provided me with vital insights that will help me progress in future careers.

Through the scheme, I am working as an intern with the Centre for Welsh Language Services. My role involves a variety of tasks, from responding to emails and general admin to supporting the team with social media. One of the most interesting aspects of my role has been helping to plan and create digital content for the Aberystwyth branch of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol’s Instagram. This has given me valuable insight into how organisations communicate effectively with students online. It has made me aware of how much time and thought goes into planning and producing engaging posts.

Having the opportunity to take part in a wide range of tasks has allowed me to develop practical skills in the workplace such as communication, time management and teamwork. A  major strength of the Professional Pathways scheme is that it is designed to adapt and provide you with the skills that will most benefit you. I worked closely with my line manager to outline the skills I felt would benefit me. For example, I was keen to build my confidence and communication skills and was therefore given tasks that aimed to help in those areas.

Overall, this scheme has given me the opportunity to see what it’s like to work in a professional work environment. It has helped me develop genuine skills, both practical and transferable, gain confidence in the workplace, and improve my Welsh along the way. This experience will be highly valuable as I consider my future career options, as it has given me a solid foundation of professional experience that I can apply across a range of fields. 

For many Welsh speakers, speaking the language day to day can feel relatively natural, but speaking it in a professional environment can feel completely different. Before starting my internship with the Centre for Welsh Language Services, I would not have described myself as a very confident Welsh speaker, especially in a professional sense. But this experience has helped me realise that you don’t need to be a perfect Welsh speaker to be able to interact and function effectively in a Welsh-speaking environment.

As part of the Professional Pathways scheme, I work as an intern with the university’s Welsh Language Services team. My role includes a variety of tasks, including assisting with e-mails, admin work, and supporting with the centre’s social media. In particular, I have been helping with planning and creating posts for the Instagram account of the Aberystwyth branch of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. And although the work itself has been diverse and interesting, one of my personal challenges has been regularly using the Welsh language in a professional environment.

At the beginning it was definitely a little challenging. Even though I can speak Welsh, I was worried about making mistakes and not being able to express myself as clear as I would in English. However, communicating with coworkers that speak Welsh so naturally has helped me to feel more comfortable. Over time I have realised that with practice, my confidence has grown, and that making mistakes is a major part of improving.

Looking back, I value this experience for allowing me to step out of my comfort zone. It has helped boost my confidence in using my Welsh in unfamiliar situations. For individuals that may feel unsure about using their Welsh in a professional context, gaining Welsh-medium work experience, like mine with the professional pathways scheme, may be an effective way to gain confidence. You do not need to be able to speak Welsh flawlessly in order to benefit from the experience, and being part of a supportive team can make a huge difference. Sometimes, the only way to improve is by giving it a go!