What does an internship look like at Culture Central?

Upon coming to the end of his time with us as an intern for Culture Central, we caught up with Mohammed Usman to look back on some of the highlights of his invaluable work and take stock of new skills learned and how his role fitted in with the Culture Central team.

Mohammed it’s been so brilliant having you with us for the past 3 months. Why don’t you start by explaining how you came to working for Culture Central as an intern?

I’d never heard of Culture Central until I was deciding what to do following an internship at SteamHouse BCU. They are a Culture Central member and shared news of the intern position that was available at Culture Central. I was referred and then after a successful interview I was inducted. There was much to learn as I was new to the organisation and didn’t yet know any of the team.

What can an intern expect to be doing at Culture Central, what’s a normal day like?

I’ve been called on to provide administrative support to the team and on projects across the organisation. I’ve done supporting work for all members of the team! Admin tasks might include for example handling forms, emails, and calendar invites I have also supported at in person events, including finding suitable venues and catering providers. My normal day usually has a variety of administrative tasks to be completed but I also worked on long-term projects, where I can make some gradual progress whilst completing admin tasks assigned to me daily.

Have you worked on any projects or events of which you are particularly proud and/or received positive feedback on your contribution?

I am proud of all the events I have been a part of. Just being in a room with so many people with so much knowledge and being part of something greater has been an invaluable experience for me to learn from and develop. The Inclusive Network event and accompanying bootcamps is something I am particularly proud of, as I saw the bootcamps through from the start to finish. I felt appreciated for my support at events, which made me feel glad that I was fulfilling my intentions of always aiding the team, which I feel and hope I have done. Just having the opportunity to occupy space alongside those creating impactful work, I would never have had that insight, and I really value the experience.

Have you learned any new skills, systems or software whilst working at Culture Central? What did the learning process look like and what support did you get from the team for personal professional development?

I learned how to use Monday.com, which I had not worked with before, including detailed functionality such as creating automations for emails and setting up forms. I also learned how to use other software including Mentimeter and Mailchimp as new platforms to me, but I quickly picked up new systems.

Thanks to the support from Charlene and Charley, the learning process was straightforward. We worked on repetition of common tasks and I found the more I was given similar tasks, the easier it became to master them. I also gained experience in event hosting, learning from the whole team. Being involved in workshops, bootcamps, and event hosting helped me understand the planning behind these events and how each team member contributes to the success of the delivery. Additionally, I developed an understanding of digital communications, including assisting on the newsletter and social media content. After identifying skill gaps, I had one-on-one meetings with team members to develop new skills and received support throughout the day to ensure I knew what to do. This hands-on support made it much easier to pick up new tasks. I also had weekly check-ins with Charlene and Charley, which were really helpful.

What is on the horizon for you and where are you on the steps to your next role?

I will now be moving into an administration role at Birmingham City University. My experience at Culture Central has undoubtedly helped me secure this role. The examples I was able to provide during the interview process were invaluable, as I could clearly highlight my suitability as a candidate, such as my event support and admin work for the team. I am positive the skills I have learnt will help me in my next role to add value and stay efficient. Overall, my confidence grew from having these examples, allowing me to present myself more effectively. Working in more people-centric environments at Culture Central has helped me develop and will continue to benefit me moving forward.

Thanks again Mohammed for your time here with us at Culture Central and good luck in your new role!