Jonny Matthews was in our 2025 summer cohort at Aldrich & Co, and we sat down with him to talk about why getting an internship was so important to him, the barriers faced by Gen Z in entering the workplace, and the advice he would give to his peers who might be wondering how to get started in a professional role.
Hi Jonny! We understand that moving straight from education to work can feel like a jolt. How did you deal with the pressure of finding your first work experience?
When I first started looking for a job, the world of work definitely felt intimidating. Teachers, parents, and even my peers can have so many expectations, and those expectations are not always the same! Going the conventional routes, such as a graduate track or internship at a high-profile company, felt premature. What if I ended up in a job that didn’t interest me?
I wanted to walk down different paths before deciding what was right for me. So, I took on several very different jobs over the summer, from gardening and retail work to helping out at a bar and a restaurant. I had to learn quickly, but I was also able to identify what I loved about each role. Gardening was hard physical labour, but the fact that I could see the results of my work after a long day made it all worthwhile. My work in retail increased my confidence in speaking to people, and it demanded a lot of patience. Working at the bar taught me how to deal with demanding customers, as well as the critical importance of basic numeracy!
It sounds like you had a productive summer!
Definitely, and when I finally started at Aldrich & Co, I felt ready for office work. And I loved my week of work at the recruitment consultancy. Being in the office is where I feel most comfortable. I realised I like to be busy with little downtime, and an office job allows me to be proactive. I feel that I am constantly learning, and tasks don’t feel as repetitive as they did with my other summer jobs.
The week went quickly, but I felt that it was the perfect introduction to work life in London. I’m hoping to find a permanent job very soon.
We so enjoyed working with you, Jonny. Why do you think taking on work experience is important for school leavers and university graduates?
The goal of work experience is to build confidence and to help people understand what to expect in a similar job. I think it can offer an easier transition from education to the workplace because I had great support from people on the Aldrich & Co team who remembered what it was like to be in my shoes!
What do you think is the biggest barrier that your generation faces?
Everyone says it, but social media really can make it seem like the rest of the world is progressing around you when you are struggling to get ahead. I think it’s important to see that everyone at some point will feel that they aren’t achieving enough. For me, actively recognising that nearly everyone started in the same position is the best way to deal with these negative emotions.
I also think that social media pushes us all towards “one way of doing things” when, in fact, we can take many different routes to a single goal. Conventional career routes have been a part of the corporate narrative for decades, but my work at Aldrich & Co has shown me that this expectation is changing, and not everyone is choosing to take, say, graduate paths immediately out of university. Being proactive, flexible and open to new work experiences give me an edge as a job candidate.
Absolutely, we love finding candidates who have a range of backgrounds and experiences. What words of wisdom do you have for starting a professional career?
Don’t let people push you onto a path that you’re not sure you want. Time is on your side, but it isn’t infinite, and it is important to use the time you have now to think seriously about what you want for your future. Exploring different jobs in practice over the summer gave me a crash course in understanding what I really wanted to do.
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Are you looking for work experience or to get your foot in the door of professional services roles? Over the next few weeks, we will be hearing from the rest of our work experience team to learn what worked for them: Keep your eyes peeled!