Week Six

Hey guys,

After my week off I got straight back to work in the Spa. Here's what I got up to on my 6th day of work experience:

I arrived on time to work experience at 8:50am. The first thing I did was collect dirty towels from the dressing rooms and fold new towels. I hoovered the reception/door area and mopped the treatment area. Afterwards, I was put on reception duty from 10:30am until 12:00pm but recieved very few calls.

During this time I also collected   &folded more towels and restocked the tea/coffee station. I also made 2 coffees for clients. I broke for lunch at 12:30pm and finished at 1:05pm.

After lunch I lit candles in the treatment hallway and the relaxation room for coming guests. I also straightened up the pool area and again collected & folded towels. I mopped the floor in the ash suite and left for home at 3:00pm.

Till Next week,
Ciara

Maybe I should make this out of the towels next week?



Week Five

Hey guys,

This week comes as my last week of work experience before my 1 week long midterm holiday. Here's what I got up to..


 I arrived 10 minutes early at a time of 8:50 am this Wednesday morning and got to work unloading dirty towels and restocking the reception area with new towels. I then restocked the gym with new towels and lit candles in the anticipation room and different treatment rooms clients would be using later in the day.

Afterward I checked the changing rooms for old towels and put them in the storage room to be washed. I then hoovered and mopped the reception area and folded more towels for clients to use throughout the morning. At 1:00 pm I sat in the kitchen and ate my lunch with two other members of staff. I am given 1 hour for my lunch time but as I usually do not use it all I get back to work at about 1:30 pm each day.
Today was no different and after lunch I was put on reception duty as I had been throughout the day for shorter periods of time than last week.

 I came across a problem whereby all of my supervisors were either gone or on treatments when a woman was looking to pay for the treatment she'd received earlier that day via laser card. I was unable to to assist her and sought help from one of the salon workers. 

She kindly called my supervisor and upon failing to reach anything but an answering machine left a message to explain the situation. In the end the client left me her name, address and number and later paid over the phone. Problem averted! 

 Later that day I assisted another one of my supervisors in filling up oil bottles and setting up rooms for treatments. I also blew out the candles from that morning and replaced old ones with new as there would be no more clients for the rest of the day. I also restocked the reception area and fridges with tea, sugar, and water. I was free to go home at 3:00 pm.

Till next week,
Ciara

Week Four

Hey guys,

The following is what I got up to this week of work experience. It's not very long as I was on reception duty most of the day which consisted of recurring phone calls and client requests..


On day four, from 9:00am until 1:00pm I was given huge responsibility and was left to man the reception area. This involved me answering phone calls, taking messages and dealing with incoming and outgoing clients. During this time I encountered some problems, complaints regarding a broken hot tub or queries that I didn't know the answer to. But, luckily I managed and all problems were solved.

After lunch I lit candles and prepared 'the ash suite' for incoming clients. I also hoovered and mopped down the reception area and changing rooms. Throughout the day I folded towels and collected & disposed of old/used ones. I was free to go home at 3:10pm.

Till next week,
Ciara

Week Three

Hey guys,

I arrived nice and early at a time of 8:45am to my third day of work experience at the spa. Here's what I got up to throughout the course of the day..

Firstly, I hoovered the Gym and wiped down all machinery, mirrors and glass. I then hoovered out the one of the treatment rooms, called 'the relaxation room' and neatened it up. I restocked the room with glasses and candles. Afterwards I mopped the treatment area and stocked up the Gym's water machine with cups.

After lunch I Hoovered and mopped the reception area. I also helped to maintain the reception area by stocking up the coffee & tea station and washing some dishes in the staff kitchen. Throughout the day I interacted with the customers, getting them towels and assisting them with any help they needed. It was a quiet day at the Spa as no treatments were taking place.

That's all for this week,
Ciara

Week Twoooooo

Hey guys,

So this week I returned to the fabulous spa for my second day of work experience.  It provides swimming facilities, treatment rooms for waxing, massages and day spa packages. There is also a Gym, Pilates room, and a hairdressers. Personal training and swimming lessons are also provided in the Spa.

I began day two of work experience at an earlier time of 9 o clock. My first job was to hoover the gym and wipe down the machines. When I finished I lit candles in the relaxation room and got another treatment room ready for a client. Afterwards, I was shown how the reception area works. I was shown how to book appointments and deal with payments and clients when they arrived. I then wiped down the glass and mirrors in the Gym.

Throughout the day I collected towels from the changing rooms and other areas. I brought these to a back room and replaced them with packages of fresh towels. I then folded these and stocked up the reception desk regularly. I cleaned up the pool area, neatening relaxation chairs and sweeping up the leaves that had blown in from the outdoor JACUZZI area! 

Lunch:
At 1:00pm I had my lunch. A staff kitchen is provided for the staff although that was closed this week so I ate in the staff kitchen at reception with one of my supervisors. We get along very well and I learnt about the college courses and degrees needed for this kind of job. When lunch was over I was introduced to another one of my main supervisors, Rob. He is qualified in giving treatments and personal training.

From 2:00pm until 3:00pm I was left to man the reception desk. This was a huge responsibility and my supervisors counted on me as they dealt with treatments. During this time, I answered phone calls, made coffees for clients, took down messages and dealt with payments. I also washed dishes and cleared tables. My supervisors returned and I was free to go at 3:10 pm.
 Day two of my work experience at the Spa was no less enjoyable than the last and I am eager to return in a weeks time!

New Day, New place

Hey guys,

This week I started my second placement of work experience. This placement will be slightly shorter than the last, continuing for 8 weeks, rather than 10. I started my day off at a later start, making my way in to my new work place for a lovely time of 10am. I met up with the Hotel's Human Resources manager in her office and recieved a uniform. I was then brought over to the Spa and introduced to the staff.

The spa is beautiful, and I can't wait to spend the next 8 weeks working there. The whole staff was lovely and they took time to show me around the spa rooms and the accompanying gym and pool areas. I was shown a beautiful spa room called 'the suite room' which was fitted with massage tables, a jacuzzi AND it's very own sauna, talk about luxury. I spent my morning folding towels, and helping out with the general upkeep of the rooms.

 



At 1 o clock we broke for lunch and I was brought to the staff cafeteria for my 1 hour break. After eating bucket loads of food and reclining for the hour, we headed back to the spa. During this time I helped one of my supervisors to clean out the treatment rooms which included cleaning out a seaweed bath and setting up massage tables. Before I knew it, 3 o clock had arrived and it was time for me to go.

I thoroughly enjoyed my day in the spa and CANNOT WAIT to go back there again next week.

Till then,
Ciara

Week Ten, My Last Week..

Hey guys, so this week was week ten and my last week of Transition Year work experience. I was so sad to leave after having such a great time at the montessori. Here's what Happened..


I started week ten off at 9:15 am as usual. The staff were to have a meeting so I was put up stairs to help supervise the younger children for 45 minutes until the meeting was over. During this time I played with the children and helped them with small puzzles. I was also given the responsibility of comforting one of the small children when they were upset.

After the meeting I was put back into my regular routine with the older montessori kids. I then did the usual; played with them, helped them with their arts and crafts and supervised as they ate their lunch and played as they weren't allowed outside due to the ice.

I returned at 2:30pm after my lunch break and myself and the two other students gave our supervisors and the staff a thank you card and a massive box of cookies. During the afternoon I helped to weigh out ingredients for baking and helped as everyone chipped into a 460 piece jigsaw puzzle.
My day ends at 4:30/ 5:00pm but after having a party and recieving an unexpected gift of money along with my report sheet I left for home at 5:30pm. I just wanted to say thank you to the montessori for having me even if you never read this!

So that's all from me right now but i'll be back posting about my second work experience in January,
Until then,
Ciara