My experience interning at Tellmi

My role 

My university placement year led me to a role as an Operations Intern at Tellmi, an experience that proved to be both fascinating and incredibly grounding. My responsibilities spanned multiple departments, involving everything from research and content marketing to contributing to major campaigns like the launch of the Tellmi+ and Trainmi programmes.

Reflection

Working within the mental health sector deepened my awareness of the prevalent mental health crisis in the UK. Yet, gaining an inside understanding of the empathetic and tireless support available was equally encouraging. I was continuously impressed by the level of kindness and integrity exhibited by the Tellmi team, whose commitment to delivering safe and anonymous digital peer support is unwavering.

A profound learning experience

While I was admittedly initially intimidated by entering the previously unfamiliar professional working environment, the team's welcoming and consistent supportive efforts greatly helped me overcome this and made adjusting a lot more comfortable. 

As this was one of my first professional work experiences, I feel I particularly benefited from Tellmi’s collaborative culture. It allowed me to immerse myself in a multitude of different areas of the business rather than be restricted to a singular, specialised department. Additionally, the smaller scale of the organisation offered me the chance to observe the impact made by various projects and tasks that I contributed to along the way, which felt highly rewarding. 

My early work consisted of assisting my supervisor and Tellmi’s Bid Manager, Kyle. 

My responsibilities later expanded to dually supporting the Marketing Team in the planning and execution of quarterly campaigns, drafting posts for social channels, and helping to manage Tellmi’s shop orders. Before I knew it, I had exposure and consistent work from almost all the different areas within Tellmi.

This varied experience allowed me to develop a comprehensive understanding of how Tellmi operates, gain practical insight into the various business functions, and cultivate an assortment of transferable skills. Of these skills, communication and organisation are amongst those in which I feel I’ve experienced the most improvement. Working in this dynamic setting, where unexpected priorities often arise, really helped me realise how important a structured and cooperative approach can be. 

Looking forward

Interning at Tellmi for nine months has been an overwhelmingly positive experience, characterised by immense personal and professional growth. I feel well-equipped for my final year at university and beyond. Additionally, not only has it solidified my current aspirations to potentially pivot towards a pathway in psychology, but the extended period spent immersed in the mental health sector has also provided some very valuable practical experience and understanding.

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of an initiative such as this, and I am very much looking forward to seeing Tellmi continue to grow and transform the field of digital peer support.