Work Experience

YEAR 10 

At St Ignatius College, students in Year 10 undertake a work shadowing day in the summer term as part of their Magis Curriculum enrichment day. 

What is work shadowing?        
It is an opportunity for students to go to work with a parent/guardian/family member or family friend for the day and get an insight in to the world of work. The job they work shadow can be anything from accountancy, broadcasting on a radio station to training ith a fire crew.

What are the benefits?        
Students have an opportunity to gain hands-on experience of the world of work away from the classroom environment. Work shadowing encourages pupils to appreciate the distance people have to travel to work, the interrelationships formed in a business environment, the variety of skills that a job requires and how technology is applied.    

At St Ignatius work shadowing complements the curriculum in citizenship by encouraging children to learn about themselves as growing and changing individuals with their own experiences and ideas, and as members of their communities. 

YEAR 12 

All Year 12 students are given one week during term time to attend a place of employment. They are given guidance and assistance in finding their work experience.  They also receive the opportunity to attend a works skills workshop which proves to be an invaluable opportunity. It gives students skills and experiences that will allow them stand out to potential employers as well as helping students choose the right sector to work in. The workshop also equips students with a number of soft skills such as team working, communication skills and commercial awareness. 

 

ORGANISATIONS OFFERING WORK EXPERIENCE

To explore a range of in person and virtual work experience programmes by industry/sector go to: FutureSmart Careers Guide to Work Experience

 

 

InvestIN offers interactive career insight experiences designed and delivered by industry professionals.  Students can choose from weekend career taster events or more immersive summer programmes.  Students can attend either in person or live online and can benefit from career simulations, interactive activities, site visits, personalised career guidance and 1:1 networking opportunities.

 

 

 

Amplify.org.uk  is an online digital hub from O₂ that gives students current work experience opportunities.  It will also indicate if the employer will pay for daily expenses.  It offers valuable career advice, amazing insider contacts and exclusive tips to prepare you for your dream career.

 

 

 

On Indeed.com students to search for work experience in their local area.  It will indicate the length of the work experience, address and full job description, with a link to apply directly for a particular job.

 

 

 

Student ladder helps 16 to 24 year olds to find work experience, internships and graduate schemes and also provides advice on writing applications and CVs and preparing for interviews, online tests and assessment centres.

 

 

 

 

Springpod offers live and interactive virtual work experience opportunites where students gain insights into different industries and sectors and organisations and complete mini work-related activities and projects.

 

HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF WORK EXPERIENCE

1. Make a good first impression
First impressions really do count. Make sure you arrive on time, are suitably dressed (if in doubt, better to go smarter) and are raring to go. If you show you are friendly, reliable and competent from the start, chances are more opportunities will come your way.  

2. Get to know people

Greet everyone you meet with a smile and try and introduce yourself to everybody you will be working with. Do not be afraid to ask people about their roles and how they got to where they are now – they will be flattered!

3. Be organised

While you will have guidance during your work experience, you cannot expect to be directed the whole time. Listen carefully to instructions and note down important meetings, dates and deadlines to help manage your time effectively.

4. Get involved

It might sound obvious, but the more involved you are, the more experience you will gain. Be enthusiastic about any task – big or small – and use your initiative to go above and beyond what is asked of you. 

5. Ask questions

There is no shame in asking for clarification if you are not sure what you are doing – in fact, employers will respect that you are willing to ask. But be resourceful - think twice about asking a question that could be answered with a bit of research. 

6. Make suggestions

If you think you have got a valuable comment to add, do not be afraid to speak up. Employers value people with ideas, and your contribution –whether your idea is taken up or not - will be appreciated.
 
7. Offer to help

When you speak to people, ask about their current projects and emphasise that you would like to get involved. Showing you are approachable and keen will ensure they think of you when they need an extra pair of hands.

8. Make notes

Jot down any useful information about particular tasks you have worked on and skills you have picked up. That way you will have a record of everything you need to take away from your time there – handy for future job applications!

9. Ask for feedback

Try and gather informal feedback from your supervisor as you go along, rather than waiting for a report at the end – it gives you a chance to improve throughout your time there. 

10. Reflect on your work experience

It is important to be honest with yourself when reflecting on your internship. If you did not particularly enjoy it, it does not mean it has been a waste of your time. Even if the only thing you take away from the experience is knowing you do not want to work in that industry, it has been useful!

https://successatschool.org/advicedetails/69/How-to-Find-Work-Experience