Work Experience – Realising your Potential

Work Experience is completed in Year 10 and Year 12. In Year 10, pupils gain experience of the world of work by visiting different establishments and / or experiencing the World of Work in the College. It is a chance for pupils to start thinking about where they want to be after year 11 and further. In Year 12, work experience is planned, linking where possible to their chosen career path. Year 12, during experience week, are placed within a work place environment linking to their chosen career path.

1. Research has shown young people are more likely to be successful in their job hunt if they have done some good work experience.
2. If you haven’t got a clue what career you want to do work experience is a perfect way to sample all the career options out there. It’s a way of exploring different jobs without actually committing to anything. Finding out you don’t like or don’t suit a particular job or working environment is just as valuable as confirming your aspirations.
3. It’s the best way to get a real sense of your chosen industry. You’ll get to speak to employees and ask them questions. You’ll then be able to make informed choices.
4. Doing work experience shows passion and interest.
5. Work placements in Year 12 can increase motivation and effort, they can provide a real goal and realise ambition.
6. You can gain the skills to thrive in the work place, in a non-threatening situation, you can learn the do’s and don’ts of employment.
7. It’ll help you identify your own skills and perhaps even highlight the areas that you might want to work on
8. You might secure your own job – part-time, or that dream apprenticeship.
9. You will be starting to build a valuable bank of contacts for when you are ready to gain serious employment.
10. You get to enhance your CV with experiences beyond school, something that will really make you stand out among your peers.

Download: Work Experience Self Placement Form