From the Classroom to the Workplace: 5 Things I've Learnt Studying a T-Level
My name is Fleur Hazell-Jarvis, and I’m currently in my final year of studying the Business Administration and Management T-Level at East Sussex College’s Eastbourne campus.
I started college studying A-Levels, but soon realised they weren't the right fit for me. With guidance from the College, I switched to a Business T-Level, which better suited my interests and future goals.
One of the things I was most looking forward to was the 315-hour industry placement, where I could gain experience in an area I was passionate about. I'm now working as a Marketing Executive at 181st Street, a marketing and communications studio, where I've been able to put my learning into practice and explore a potential career in marketing.
It’s been an amazing journey so far and here are five things I've learnt from studying a T-Level.
1 . The industry placement brings your learning to life
I am sure most people sit at school and say at least once “how does this relate to anything I will use in real life?”. But with T-Levels everything you learn in the classroom can be translated into real life practice in a professional working environment. My industry placement has helped me connect my college studies with a potential career - like the one I could have at 181st Street.
2. Along the way you discover your strengths and interests
My confidence has grown drastically thanks to my industry placement. I’ve been given opportunities to speak and communicate with different people and had the freedom to pursue what I’m passionate about. It’s a course that lets you decide your own future.
3. You gain real world experience through your T-Level
Through using the knowledge I have learnt at college I have been able to gain a deeper understanding of how businesses work in the real world. Working in a professional environment has shown me the importance of organisation, communication, and teamwork, while giving me the opportunity to apply these skills to real projects. As well as these transferable skills, I’ve also been able to plan social content for fashion designers and been trusted with opportunities to manage my own client accounts. This led me to discover that with this course the practical experience can be just as valuable as what you learn in exams, as it allows you to put your knowledge to practice.
4. You develop skills that prepare you life beyond college
At college you discover a whole new level of independence that can seem daunting at first, but it opens so many doors to discover new things about yourself. It’s helped me learn about a new creative side that I’d not ventured into before. Using all the skills I have learnt and got better at, such as managing deadlines and balancing different commitments, has prepared me for the next stage of my life after studying.
5. Your T-Level helps you discover your future career path
Before starting my work placement, I was unsure of what avenue of business I wanted to go down. I really enjoy studying business and I knew it was something I wanted to get into in the future. But the course has provided me with a wide transferable skill set that could allow me to enter a wider range of industries. But it’s the industry experience at 181st Street that’s helped me settle on this industry as a career.
Tips and Advice
My best advice would be: it’s better to try something and realise that it is not the right fit for you, than regret not trying at all. I took a massive leap in changing the direction of my studies and it ended up being one of the best decisions I made.
So, I would say to everyone when making a choice for your future, choose what you are passionate about and grasp every opportunity you can along the way.