relationships education & training housing & shelter health & emotions money jobs get active rights help

Work Experience Studying and Revising Qualifications and skills Career Planning E Guidance Aimhigher College and sixth form Apprenticeships, jobs and training Money University Transport Gap year and time out Work Experience What is work experience?   Work experience is an opportunity for you sample a job when you are still at school or college   You’ll be based at a place of work. This could be a shop, factory, office or wherever you choose   You’ll carry out tasks and duties just like a normal employee (but not in someone’s place)   It’s a chance to learn about a job and what work is all about   Work experience is organised through your school or college. You’ll be expected to keep a diary of what you do When does work experience happen?   Most people will be given the chance of doing work experience in either year 10 or year 11   When this happens depends on your school. Many schools do work experience towards the end of year 10 or early in year 11   Placements usually last one or two weeks   It may be possible to do work experience as part of a college or sixth form course Why do work experience?   It increases your knowledge and understanding of the world of work   You’ll find out about your strengths and how you can improve your skills and abilities   You get an opportunity to explore a particular career and make plans for the future   Work experience gives you first hand experience of what is needed to do well in a job   It shows that, whatever the job, you never stop learning!   Working in an adult environment will give you more confidence for the future How do I arrange my work experience?   You should get full instructions at school during year 10. The trick will be to plan and make arrangements in advance.   Think through what you’d like to do and where you’d like to work. Try to fit this with your future plans   Be realistic about what you can do on work experience. Not all jobs are possible because of insurance and other reasons   Don’t take the easy way out and go somewhere because you can’t think of anything better!   Use the Webview website www.learnaboutwork.org/somerset to discover which places take people on work experience (you’ll need to ask at school about a password)   You must be ready to make phone calls, write letters, send emails or call on places. Finding a placement is good experience for applying for jobs!   Seek help from your school’s careers teacher or work experience co-ordinator.   Talk to your Connexions personal adviser about finding the right placement and how it fits in with your career plans Somerset Education Business Partnership - www.ebp-somerset.org.uk - brings together schools, colleges and employers to make it easier for you to do work experience. The aim of the EBP is to help you learn more about the world of work. Work Wise spells out the importance of work experience and gives information about working in Somerset and the local economy. To request a copy please follow this link. Make text larger Make text smaller Text Only Display Disclaimer