In this week's Team Tuesday, we have a guest blog from our very own Haylee West who has been a Creative Intern at Bravand for about six months now. Here's her story (so far...)
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About Me
Hiya my name’s Haylee. I’m 19 going on 20 (eww) and I’m currently a university student pursuing a career in illustration. For as long as I could remember, I’ve always enjoyed arts & crafts projects. This later resulted in my ongoing passion for graphic design, branding, and illustration, and sparked my early interest in creative industries.
First Encounter with Bravand
Whilst completing my final year of A-levels, I came across Bravand at a school careers fair. Honestly, meeting Jilly and Alexa that day was a stroke of luck. The careers fair was meant for year 10s and 11s, so I only showed up because I had a free period at the time. And I’m so thankful I made an appearance.
What initially drew me to Bravand was their links with the creative and digital industry, but what really sold me on getting involved with this company was Jilly and Alexa’s welcoming, enthusiastic attitude.
Well, that and Bravand’s 100-hour paid internship program, which was extremely appealing since it offered a great opportunity to gain experience, build my CV, and explore the digital industry in-depth.
Application and Onboarding
Honestly, getting in contact with Bravand (well Jilly) months after we met was a bit daunting.
All I had at the time was a name to search on LinkedIn, the company name and a little bit of confidence.
Thankfully, that’s all I really needed. After a quick LinkedIn message explaining who I was, how I knew about Bravand and my interest in the internship programme, an informal interview with Jilly was quickly set up and I was able to get a better feel for the company I was interested in working with.
Personally, I think I really benefited from the informal interview process. Not only did it help me get a clear sense of Bravand's friendly company atmosphere, but it made applying extremely stress-free, which I think is really helpful for young people like me who aren’t too familiar with the usual formal job applications and interview process.
Projects and Contributions
Once signed up with Bravand (contract and all), I was able to gain hands-on experience in my role as a creative intern by contributing to a diverse range of projects.
For example, I was able to help with identifying and troubleshooting website issues before a site launch; assist in naming a new micro-gifting venture and gain insights into branding strategies; design media templates for an already established brand; and contribute to some Bravand website improvements.
However, I have to admit that my most recent project - helping to create a brand identity from scratch for Bravand's Fresh Meet initiative - has been by far the most enjoyable and rewarding.
The Remote Work Experience
Since Bravand doesn't have an established office space and the company’s workers are based internationally, I’ve been working remotely for every project, using Zoom meetings and Slack as my main method of communication with my work colleagues.
Personally, I think working remotely has been a game-changer for me. Flexible working hours means I can schedule my work-time around my days at university or other events and no travel-related stress makes it easier for me to look forward to each work meeting.
However, remote work does have its challenges. Sometimes, it's easy to feel isolated or unmotivated to work, and different work schedules means I still have yet to meet the entire Bravand team (in person or online), which I really hope to do someday.
Overall Takeaway
Regardless of the remote work downsides, I’m truly grateful for having the opportunity to work with Bravand.
The supportive and engaging environment at Bravand has helped me look forward to a career in the digital and creative industries, and my internship has provided me with multiple opportunities to gain new insights into how to interact with creative professionals and successfully work within a company.
My work with Bravand has also enabled me to maintain my interests in graphic design and branding despite my future aspirations in illustration, which I also really appreciate.
My Message for Future Generations
After finishing compulsory education, it can be extremely difficult to know what’s next, especially if you’re not that interested in attending university, come from a lower-income background or want to quickly start working.
However, internship opportunities - like the one offered by Bravand - university foundation years (which are free for those 18 and under), apprenticeships and other vocational courses are great ways to gain experience (usually in a role that aligns with your passions) and help bolster your CV.
Thus, I recommend facing and conquering the challenge of getting your name out there, showing your interest in any job opportunity you come across and applying for a job role as soon as you can.
As you can see from my experience, a quick conversation at a careers fair can go a long way, you just need to be willing to be a little brave.
