Victor Richards not only gained 25,000 steps in one day during his work experience placement, but also gained comms skills and insights into the world of work at Imperial. Victor spent three days within ICT and Property Communications teams, focusing on photography. Hear from Victor in his own words:
About me
I’m currently a year 10 student studying for my GCSEs, and along with the mandatory Maths, English, etc. I also study separate sciences, Spanish, Drama, Film studies, and Fine Art. Out of school, some of my hobbies are playing basketball,
doing photography, and travelling to London whenever I can!
Working with the creative side of my hobbies, along with my love for London, Imperial has been the perfect place to carry out my work experience.
What did you get up to on work experience?
Over the course of 3 days, I was lucky enough to have a packed schedule catered specifically to my interest in photography.
Day 1 and 2
I was kindly shown round the stunning South Kensington campus, capturing many iconic spaces, buildings and landmarks. One that really stood out was the immensely impressive Queens Tower, which, after a very interesting chat with the staff, I discovered was recently refurbished and reopened, and is now standing there in all its beauty, on the Queen’s Lawn.
Staying on the theme of the Queen’s Lawn, especially in the sun, I found that it was the perfect place, not only to sit and get some work and photo editing done, but also just to relax and take in the lovely campus environment that Imperial creates.
The breathtaking location of the campus, within South Kensington, and all of its beautiful architecture, really make Imperial a wonderful place to be.
In the mornings of both the first and second days, I was initially greeted very warmly by the very kind and courteous staff, and then I was straight on to shoot a combination of the property, the security team, and even an amazing new returnable coffee cup system that is being trialled in a cafe in the Senior Common Room.
Along with the incredible opportunity to take photos, I was also very fortunate to be able to meet the official Imperial Photographer, Thomas Angus, a specialist in his field, to talk to me all about not only his specific style and approach to taking photos, but also about his journey to how he got to where he is now. Moving forward, with his advice, Imperial has provided me with a very interesting and useful insight into this professional world.
In addition to the photography side of the work experience, I was also given a tour around many of the buildings and lecture theatres, whilst accompanying the ICT AV team, which was equally very interesting, as I got to see how yet another role plays into this brilliant university.
Then, to finish up the first two days, I was invited to join the Property Division, where I was given a very insightful workshop on how to market and advertise all of the different food sites around campus. I was then given my own creative freedom to make up my own restaurant and make a poster of my own with the skills that I had been taught.
Day 3
Lastly, on my third and final day, I accompanied the ICT department to their Professional Services Hub out in White
City.
Out in white city, there was an absolutely stunning building, yet I found that it slightly lacked the same community feel that was clearly present within the South Kensington campus. However, seeing that a new campus is on its way to White City, I definitely see the potential in the area. All the staff here were yet again beyond friendly, which clearly made this community feel present again!
Day three mostly consisted of editing my photos, which was evident in my step count! From almost 25,000 on day 1, to very little this day, truly showed the concentration that I had!
I also very much enjoyed spending my afternoon writing this blog and finding out all about some other roles, which I discovered play a large part in this university.
and finally..
Overall, in just 3 short days. Imperial has managed to make me feel incredibly welcome, and I can really tell that Imperial values its sense of pride and community. Thanks to all of the staff involved, I have thoroughly enjoyed myself, and I have come away from this having learnt a lot more about how so many small parts and job roles contribute to the great institute that is Imperial!
I am also very grateful for the lovely merchandise that I was gifted upon leaving, really reinforcing this amazing community feel that Imperial gives off.
If I had the chance to come back, I would say yes in a heartbeat, just showing how worth it it is to do a work experience placement here!
Amanda Ishagi, 1st Line Support Analyst, joined Imperial in September 2023 and stepped into an ICT Service Desk role with relatively little hands-on experience in the field of technical and customer support.
Hear Amanda’s journey from novice to expert in her own words:
At the time, I knew it would be a challenge, but also a great opportunity to learn something new and push myself out of my comfort zone. Looking back, the biggest thing I’ve gained is confidence.
In the beginning, even simple customer support tickets felt overwhelming. There was so much to learn, systems, processes, terminology, and how to troubleshoot effectively. But over time, with consistency and patience, things started to click. I learned that it’s okay not to have all the answers straight away. What matters is knowing how to approach a problem, where to look for solutions, and when to ask for help.
One of the biggest factors in my progress has been the support from colleagues, especially my Team Leads, who have always been very supportive in my development. Being part of a team where people are willing to share knowledge and guide you makes a huge difference. Whether it was shadowing others, asking questions, or just observing how experienced analysts handled issues, I picked up a lot just by being around the right people.
“Take notes, stay curious, and try to understand the why behind what you are doing, not just the steps. Over time, you will build both your knowledge and your confidence.”
Starting out, I was also the only woman in the team, which often surprised the customers I dealt with, but in a positive way. It was something that stood out to them and often made interactions more memorable and uplifting. It’s been a unique part of my journey and something I’ve taken pride in.
I also found that building relationships with team members within and outside the team is essential for this role, as it makes it easier to ask for help and lean on each other when needed. Through this, I have met some amazing people from all walks of life, which has been a real bonus.
Of course, it hasn’t all been easy. There have been challenging days, high workloads, difficult tickets, and moments where things didn’t go as planned. At times, it felt like there was too much to keep up with. But those moments were also where I learned the most. They taught me resilience, time management, and how to stay calm under pressure.
If I had to give advice to someone starting out now, I’d say do not be afraid to ask questions, and do not be too hard on yourself. Everyone starts somewhere. Take notes, stay curious, and try to understand the why behind what you are doing, not just the steps. Over time, you will build both your knowledge and your confidence.
This journey has been a stepping stone in my career, and I am proud of how far I have come since those early days. I am still learning every day, but that is what makes this role rewarding.
Amanda’s Line Manager, Jeff Wiltshire – First Line Support Lead,watched Amanda grow into her role and said:
Reading this really made me smile, as it perfectly captures Amanda’s journey…and I’ve had the privilege of watching it first-hand.
From day one, what stood out was Amanda’s attitude. She threw herself into everything with real determination and curiosity, and has absorbed knowledge like a sponge. It’s not just her technical skills and knowledge, it’s also how she approaches problems, how she communicates, and how she builds relationships with both colleagues and customers.
Her dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed either. There have been more than a few occasions where I’ve had to gently (and sometimes not so gently!) send her home because she was still working well past the end of the day, determined to get things sorted. That level of commitment says a lot!
What I’ve always appreciated is how comfortable Amanda is asking questions. She has never been afraid to say “I don’t know”, and that is exactly why she has progressed so quickly. That openness to learn has been a huge part of her growth.
And now, in a bit of a twist, she has become one of our “go-to” analysts, especially for some of our more enthusiastic customers. I’m not sure whether to apologise or congratulate her! 😉
It’s been genuinely great to see her confidence grow and her skills develop in such a short space of time. She should be really proud of what she has achieved so far.
Further information
If you would like to join ICT – check out our Jobs page.
Victor Richards not only gained 25,000 steps in one day during his work experience placement, but also gained comms skills and insights into the world of work at Imperial. Victor spent three days within ICT and Property Communications teams, focusing on photography. Hear from Victor in his own words:
