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.
What interests you?
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.
List ‘em out:
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.
Get in touch!
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!
Get in there fast!
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.
Follow it up!
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.