Work experience
What is work experience?
Work experience is exactly what it says on the tin. Experience
that you gain from a work placement. They’re available from years
10 and 11, (but some workplaces look for people aged 16 or over),
and are voluntary positions in which you take on a role in a
workplace over a period of one or two weeks.
Usually, schools and colleges will prompt you to find your own
work experience in an area that interests you. But, if you have no
clue where to start, most schools will arrange something suitable
for you depending on your interests.
Work experience does not stop at secondary school, as many
university courses involve work placements and nothing stops you
arranging your own work experience outside of school too.
Why is work experience a good idea?
Whether you are looking for experience to put down on your UCAS
form for university, or simply trying to discover what sort of
workplace suits you, work experience is a great idea for
everyone.
Obviously, universities look for relevant work experience from
applicants, and it is a factor that can distinguish between someone
who gets chosen for the course and someone who doesn’t. In relation
to university, work experience not only shows a selection of skills
that you have already gained for a course, but it also shows a
willingness to work voluntarily and an independence and keenness
for where you want to go in your future career.
For those who do not want to go on to university, work
experience is something that all employers will look for on a CV.
It is always a good thing if you have gained skills and have
experience of a workplace before starting a job and employers will
recognise this.
For those of you who are undecided on what you want to do after
school or college, work experience can really open your horizons to
many different career paths. For example, a general placement like
office work or taking a placement in a primary school can give you
some ideas as to where your interests lie. – Perhaps an office
placement will lead you to realise that you find this environment
boring, or working in a school that you enjoy working with
children.
Whether you enjoy your placement, or end up hating it, the
outcome is still positive in that you find out what sort of career
you could and could not handle. In this sense, work experience is
definitely a good idea for those of you who have uncertainties
about where you want to go career-wise.
How can you apply for work experience?
Work experience is easy enough to get if you go about it the
right way.
Start by thinking about what interests you. If you have a
certain area in which you would like to expand in later on, think
about the different types of work most relevantly linked to that
area. -For example if you enjoy working with children, perhaps a
primary school or youth club placement would suit you. If you have
no idea, the best option is to go for something that interests you
still, and that you could gain valuable skills from.
The next step is to come up with a selection of workplaces that
offer the sort of placement you are looking for. For example, if
you decide on primary school work, make a list of possible schools
that you could contact. Obviously, be realistic
and try to think more about local placements, as you are going to
have to travel to and from the placement for a period of time. If
you are unsure of workplaces in your area, the yellow pages or
local directory is always a good place to start.
Then of course, you have to get in touch! It’s a good idea to
write a letter/email explaining your interest in doing work
experience with the chosen workplace. You should include why you
are interested in working with that particular company. What skills
do you wish to improve? (Communication, confidence, etc.) Talk a
little about your future career and how you think the experience at
the particular placement will help. Don’t forget to include your
contact details so they can get back to you! Keep it all
relevant and try to sell
yourself. Remember: There will be other people applying,
so it’s important that you sound eager and stand out!
For this reason, it’s also important to start early! Popular
placements get filled up very quickly, and so it’s best to start
looking for your placement a good few months before you wish to
take it.
After contacting the workplaces you are interested in getting a
placement with you should receive some form of reply, whether it be
a letter or email. If this doesn’t happen, try calling the company.
A ‘face-to-face’ phone call is often a lot more successful than any
letter. The company has to deal with your request there and then,
rather than having the option of dismissing it, as can be done with
a written request. Be polite though!
If your work placement has accepted your request, it’s still
important to follow it up. a) To check you have the correct dates
and that it is still okay, and b) for you to obtain any extra
information you need, like what time to arrive and what dress code
to wear.
If you would like help to find a placement, Medway
Education Business Partnership can help