One of our key tenets here at Talking Tables is mentoring. We believe that mentoring young people starting out in their careers is important, as well as within the team structure itself. We are pleased to offer internships and work experience placements throughout the year where school leavers or graduates can come and learn all aspects of Talking Tables as a business, or work closely within a particular team. 

This summer Leeds graduate Harrison O'Donnell has joined us for a few months. He is working closely with the tech and IT team and getting firmly stuck in with the culture and social aspects of Talking Tables, which are pretty frequent through the summer! We asked him how he's been finding it so far:  

What was it that made you think Talking Tables may be a good place for a summer internship?

When I first saw pictures of people at the company in the office environment, I had a gut feeling that it was going to be a good place to try for, both to work hard and learn as much as I can, as well as to meet new people!

How have you found the mentoring within Talking Tables?

Even though I technically have one mentor, Jateen, who is the best mentor I could have asked for, I feel everyone teaches me something every week that I am here. Not just to do with aspects of the job, but social things too, encouraging me to be more open and to go outside my comfort zone.

How have you found the culture and work life here? Was it as expected?

I honestly don’t really know what I expected. Well, I thought as I.T. I’d be stuck in a basement alone, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. The environment here at Talking Tables is something that I genuinely love being a part of. As for the culture, everyone is a pleasure to be around, from all different walks of life, and I get to learn something new about my colleagues every week, if not every day.

What’s been the most surprising thing about your internship so far?

Honestly? It’s been how much I’ve felt myself change as a person whilst being here. I always thought of myself as introverted, yet whilst I’m at TT or with the people here, I feel the complete opposite. Really surprised myself!

What are you looking forward to over the next few weeks?

Festival of Freedom for sure. I think it’s going to get a little wild, which may be an understatement! Honestly though? Just getting to spend more time with everyone here at TT and picking up more work skills as I go. I found myself thinking that after my second week here and I couldn’t believe how attached I had gotten to all the people here in such a short span of time.