Work experience placement leads to permanent role for CANDI ESOL student

A CANDI ESOL student has been offered a permanent role at the Maldron Hotel in Finsbury Park following a successful work experience placement.

Oleh Shemeret, a Level 1 Certificate in ESOL Skills for Life student at City and Islington College (CANDI), recently completed a four-week work placement at the Maldron Hotel in Finsbury Park. The successful placement, which took place in March and April, has led to a permanent part-time role.

The ongoing collaboration between CANDI and Maldron Hotel allows students to access unique learning experiences. The hotel’s work experience programme provides students with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience within the hospitality industry.

During the work experience placement, Oleh worked in reception, the restaurant and bar areas and gained valuable experience of working life within a four-star hotel. He was responsible for showing guests to their tables, taking food and drink orders and liaising with kitchen staff. He also served food, assisted with stock management and performed housekeeping duties in the restaurant and bar area.

Oleh was supported by the hotel’s reception and restaurant staff, who treated him like a member of the team and supported him with kindness and courtesy. Oleh said: “[The] place was very organised, staff were very polite, policy and procedures were in place. Everyone was working professionally, in harmony. The staff were very friendly, and the atmosphere was very warm and pleasant.”

The work experience placement enabled Oleh to improve his confidence while helping him to learn about customer service, teamwork and collaboration, and the importance of workplace organisation. Oleh has been very positive about his experience at the Maldron Hotel. He said: “[There were] very kind and helpful people around me and I felt confident. I tried to learn many things to improve my skills and add on new ones willingly. The vibe was great, and I enjoyed working every minute of it.”

The team at the Maldron Hotel were equally impressed by Oleh’s positive attitude and willingness to work. He was also commended for his seamless adaptation to the workplace, listening skills, timekeeping, and positive impact on the team.

Carlean Sam-Orhin, a Human Resource Graduate working at Maldron Hotel, said: “Throughout Oleh’s work experience, he consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic, attention to detail, and a proactive approach to his tasks. His contributions not only met but exceeded our expectations, and he showed a remarkable ability to adapt and thrive in the Food and Beverage department.”

As a result of the work placement, Oleh has been offered a permanent paid part-time role at the Maldron Hotel working as a waiter and bartender in between his studies. Oleh is looking forward to starting his new role and continuing his studies at CANDI.

Congratulations on completing your placement and your new role Oleh!

We offer ESOL courses for students of all levels. Full-time students benefit from carefully organised work experience placements, which give them insight into their chosen fields and help prepare them for the world of work.

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