12 May 2022

Digital agency internships

We're pleased to announce that our summer internship programme has re-opened after a 2 year Covid induced hiatus. 

We're committed to helping the next generation of digital superstars get a foothold in the industry so if you're thinking of applying please check out our careers page to see what's on offer.

We interviewed super-talented design student Léna Paleczny about her experience of moving over from l'Ecole de Design in France to join our Creative Team in London for her placement back in 2019, in a pre-Covid world.

We're looking forward to welcoming the next generation of digital superstars in 2022!

What made you want to work with us?

Since I only had work experience in a really small design agency in Nantes, I wanted to take advantage of this new 4-month internship to discover how a larger award winning agency works. It was also a way to work with a full team, from Project Managers to Developers.

I got really enthusiastic looking at Catch clients: Bodyshop, SES, Vistaprint. But what really made me want to send my resume was to see that they were carrying their own projects driven by the willing to design intuitive and user-friendly services.

What also made me want to work with Catch is the fun atmosphere. One of the biggest clichés about British people is their awful sense of humor. Then I discovered the Game of Thrones chatbot and I felt relieved: Catch took time to design a pop culture based service and even made it funny and useful. 

What did you work on?

During those 4 months, I had the chance to work on a new SaaS product, including UI, UX and data visualization. I also worked for the world-leading satellite operator SES, re-designing a 3D platform to discover the coverage of SES satellites.

I was also trusted to add my creative touch to other projects like Bodyshop, Vistaprint, University of Salford.

What did you learn?

Because of the great diversity of projects I have worked on, I improved a lot of different skills like UI, a lot of UX, but also data visualization, interaction design, animations etc. The Catch team gave me the opportunity to present my work directly to clients, teaching me useful tips on how to go showcase my work.

As a French native, I also learned a lot about British culture and British daily expressions, we even created a collection of professional lingo.

What was it like being in the studio?

The team always makes your work days funnier, without giving up on efficiency. Friday catch ups are the best: you discover what everyone has been working on during the week, with some Prosecco and vinegar crisps.

What was the highlight?

The Christmas party of course! The Catch team never miss an opportunity to enjoy great food and handmade cocktails. 

What’s next?

My year is going to be busy: I will continue my Master's degree working on Tangible Interfaces at l'Ecole de Design Nantes Atlantique. After my studies, I am willing to begin my career as a UI/UX designer and work with teams as great and open-minded as Catch!

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28 May 2020

Hiring during lockdown

On March 11 we packed up our desks as we prepared to work remotely, not knowing when we’d return to the studio. Even with a well established flexible working policy there was a learning curve in terms of figuring out how to focus at home, conduct our daily standups, and run client workshops, but one of the most challenging new experiences we’ve had to adapt to was hiring fully remotely.

Our clients have kept their foot on the gas, they understand that now is not the time to reduce spend on the way they are perceived online, with the whole world now operating digitally in the new normal. So with more work rolling in, we needed to add new talent to Catch.

A month into lockdown Catch welcomed new team members across both our Creative and Client Services teams.

So what have we learned from the process? We spoke with our hiring teams to collect the below recommendations for remote hiring and onboarding.

The interview process

“At this point you may be used to having video calls and are more comfortable with this format than candidates are. Understanding and acknowledging this at the beginning of the call will help break the ice and help make everything run smoother”

Becca Bendelow, Delivery Lead

Ask candidates to prepare a presentation of answers to general questions about themselves and their work experience. This is a great conversation starter and allows them to take the lead of the interview so it doesn’t feel so one sided. It also helps you understand how they present their thoughts and would potentially communicate with a client.

The onboarding process

Usually new hires can lean over to their neighbour and ask questions, or you can stop by their desk and check in. The challenge now is finding a balance between allowing them to work independently and making sure they’re managing everything without being with them in person.

  • Set up a new hire Trello board, breaking out steps into specific tasks with due dates and including pre-booked meeting invites for check ins, taking the pressure off of them to schedule a meeting whenever they have a question. This also helps embed them in your process, becoming aware of typical timelines and stand ups.
  • Arrange for new hires to have one on one calls with a variety of team members, helping them feel comfortable reaching out when a work related question comes up.

While the end of lockdown is currently uncertain, we do know that our ways of working may never go back to what we once considered “normal.” Whether it’s full time remote work, flexible policies, or anything in between, we all have a new outlook on what it means to work from home.

At the time of writing this article, the Catch studio in London is due to reopen, adhering to Government guidelines, on Sept 1st.

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