Work experience

Year 11

Week Commencing :20th October 2014

Developing skills for work

A recent survey of 500 Company Directors identified ‘top 10’ skills and qualities being the most important

1) Honesty and integrity

2) Basic literacy skills

3) Basic oral communication skills (e.g. telephone skills)

4) Reliability

5) Being hardworking and having a good work ethic

6) Basic Numeracy skills

7) A positive ‘can do’ attitude

8) Punctuality

9) The ability to meet deadlines

10) Team working and co-operation skills

Why do work experience?

• gain confidence• learn about the world of work• experience going to work each day• explore careers/jobs• be inspired for the future• develop employability skills• references/weekend jobs/contacts

BUILD UP YOUR CV and PROVIDE EVIDENCE

Last year’s students placements

Hospitals Shops Nursery Schools Solicitors Primary Schools Offices Theatre Music Industry Architects Leisure Centre/Gyms Accountants Florists

Dentists Vets Design/PR Farm/Stables Council Business Engineering Animal care projects Golf clubs Dog grooming Mechanics Pharmacy

A selection of the organisations that Y11 students found placements in last year

Interesting Hard work but

funExciting

TiringDifferent

UsefulLoved It!

Didn’t want to leave

People were friendly

I got a Saturday

Job!

Thinking about my

future now…

Learnt a lot

about myself

A great opportunity

thoughts about work experience

Boring at times

Learnt new

skills

Work Experience Procedure

March-May : Students search for own placement

Forms: By Friday 2nd May Blue consent form By Friday 2nd May Pink health form

By Friday 23rd May your yellow placement form

Support

Drop in sessions to see Mrs Witts on Thursday lunch times in the Main School Careers Office

Support given with where to locate employers, writing letters/CVs/emails & phone calls

Tips on looking for a placement

• Do your Research• Persevere! Most students have to contact

between 5 to 30 places before securing a placement

• Remember the employers are giving you a favour

• Go it alone – it is best if student’s search for placements independently and not with a friend as employers are less keen to take students in pairs/groups.

Where to look for a placement

1.By foot: walking around local area to see what companies/employers are available (eg: shopping centres/high streets)

2.Past work experience (on school website, Careers Section, Year 11, Work Experience

3.The ‘Do-It’ website quickly find ways to help in your community simply by typing in your postcode.

http://www.do-it.org.uk/

- Ask friends & family

How to approach an employer

Face to Face - for organisations that are usually open to the public eg: shops/hairdressers. You could pop in and ask to speak to the manager.

How to approach an employer

By phone: For smaller companies telephoning can be the best method – ask to speak to the manager or person responsible for Human Resources. Phoning is also useful for finding out the correct name and email address of the person you need to contact.

How to approach an employer

By letter or email: This is usually the best way to contact employers. Always attach your CV.

If you are emailing it is best to find out the correct address – just sending an email to a general “info” address is often usually very unsuccessful – find out the name of person involved with work experience

Make sure you use a professional sounding email address preferably with your name only.

Health & Safety

• All placements are checked for health & safety through health & safety visits carried out by qualified person

• Placements who do not pass the health & safety criteria will be “refused”

• Risk Assessments classified as High or Medium risk will be given to students and their parents for signature

FAQs

Can I do my work experience abroad/outside Warwickshire?

Yes, but at parents own risk. Please discuss with Mrs. Witts

My daughter wants to be a doctor/nurse can she do a placement in a hospital?

Only very limited placements available at local hospitals but if anyone would like a placement at a hopsital they must see Mrs Witts. Try GPs, special needs providers, Care homes.

What happens if I miss the deadline?If you do not complete by deadlines you loose

chance of going on work experience!