CLAREMONT
FAN COURT SCHO OLCLAREMONT CAREERS FOCUS
ISSUE 2 - JUNE 2023
Work Experience Edition
Work experience is important for getting into any career. Having some can make you stand out from the crowd on applications for courses, training and jobs.
ENRICHMENT WEEK
During enrichment week many Year 12 students will be taking part in work experience. Work experience is not just about getting a head start in your career – its about discovering your passions, honing your skills and gaining a unique perspective that will set you apart. With the right work experience, you will have a chance to explore your potential and interests and make meaningful connections in a real-world setting.
For some university courses work experience is an essential entry requirement, for others it will enhance your application. The following courses are some examples where they will expect students to have evidence of work experience on their applications:
• NHS - Funded Healthcare Courses such as nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and healthcare science.
• Medicine
• Veterinary Science
• Teaching
• Social work
• Accountancy
• Architecture
• Civil Engineering
• Media production
• Town and Country planning
HOW DO I GET WORK EXPERIENCE?
Currently the official work experience week is in the summer term of year 12, but it is never too early to start exploring the world of work and the school holidays can be the perfect time to find some. You could:
shadow someone at work to see what their job is like
• visit different workplaces
• go to work with a parent or guardian
• do a 1 or 2 week work placement
• go into a workplace for one day a week over a period of time
Medical
• BSMS Virtual Work Experience (thinkific.com)
Medical work experience
• It’s time to take control of your future | Springpod This website has work experience from some of the UK’s top companies. Some are on demand and some run at different times of the year and you need to apply.
• Dentistry - Free Online Healthcare CourseFutureLearn
Dentistry work experience via future learn
• Observe GP (rcgp.org.uk)
GP work experience
• Courses - WEX Library (yourmedicfamily.org)
Medical work experience
• Live Virtual NHS Healthcare Careers Work Experience Programme - Allied Healthcare Mentor (alliedhealthmentor.org)
Careers in the NHS
• Introduction to Studying Veterinary MedicineCourse - FutureLearn
Veterinary medicine work experience via Future Learn
You can look at the websites of most well known companies to see the type of work experience they provide. Many students make use of friend and family contacts to get work experience placements which are often easier to organise. Many sectors and companies provide online work experience in the form of bookable online courses or on demand courses that are made up of pre-recorded videos and tasks. This is a really great way of gaining experience and informing your future decisions on courses to study and career paths to follow.
Here are some suggestions of online courses, most of them are free. This is just a small selection, so spend some time searching for one that you are interested in.
Law
• Virtual work experience programme | Careers in law | Browne Jacobson
Law work experience
• White & Case UK Commercial Law - Forage (theforage.com)
Law work experience
• Virtual law work experience for students (pinsentmasons.com)
Law work experience
• Linklaters UK Commercial Law - Forage (theforage. com)
Law work experience
Business
• Barclays LifeSkills (springpod.com)
This is an example of one of the companies work experience programmes run by SpringPod
• KPMG AU Data Analytics - Forage (theforage.com)
KPMG data analytics online internship
• Skills From IGD
Supermarket and retail industry work experience
STEM
• Siemens Innovation (springpod.com)
Careers in the tech sector
• Free Webinar | Operation Wallacea (opwall.com)
Conservation and Environment Work experience – some require payment
• Chemistry related work experience | RSC Education Chemistry work experience ideas
Creative
• Halliday Fraser Munro - Work Experience Zone (hfm. co.uk)
Architecture and design work experience
• Side Quest
Building your own video game
• Hunter Bevan
Marketing
Charitable Sector
• FREE - Work experience in the third sector - Future First Charitable sector
EXPERIENCES OF WORK EXPERIENCE FROM THE CLAREMONT STAFF
“My work experience was on a Surrey Farm and I helped with the day to day maintenance and animal welfare. I found it useful because I knew that I didn’t want to be stuck behind a desk for a job and it allowed me to work outside, something I love.”
– Mr Hofmeyr“I did my work experience in the Biochemistry laboratory of the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford. One morning I shadowed a doctor who was taking blood from newborn babies on the maternity ward for testing in the lab. I was asked if I wanted to have a go at doing one of the tests myself. So, after watching the doctor do several tests, I obediently pricked the heel of one of the tiny babies and firmly squeezed to collect the blood…. the baby started wailing and so did the mother! Much drama ensued! Quite an eventful morning – I realised that I’m probably a bit too sensitive to be working in a maternity ward but I also learnt not to take things too personally sometimes!”
– Miss Jackson“I did my work experience teaching English in a local primary school in Mérida – my hometown in Venezuela. The children were so enthusiastic, and I had so much fun with them that it made me think teaching was probably going to be my future career path…”
- Mr Marquez“My work experience was at Midland Bank (now HSBC). The highlight was filling up the ATM with brand new notes! The placement showed me how much I enjoyed working as part of a team.”
– Mr Hyman
“My work experience was as a waitress at a restaurant in Hong Kong. I lost a customer’s gold credit card and had to empty the bins in the kitchen to find it. I never let the customer know and had a frantic 5 minutes looking for it. I found it, breathed a sigh of relief and managed to keep my job. I found a liked working under pressure, but not in a restaurant, and ended up working in finance.”
– Mrs Turner“My work experience was at Shepperton Studio’s in the art’s prop department. I helped make some of the bodies in the camps that were in the background of the series of ‘Band of Brothers’. I am not artistic in the slightest and have always known since I was young that I wanted to be a nurse. However, I wanted to use the opportunity such as work experience to do something different and random to see where life could take me.”
– Miss Campbell“I did my work experience at RHS Wisley as part of the horticultural team – I had a wonderful week outdoors in the sunshine and worked with some friendly people who were keen to answer my questions and show me what they do. It shaped my love of plants and the environment – it also taught me that I am not cut out to be a gardener! Although I am now a teacher instead of a horticulturalist, I am still able to work with plants and teach others about their importance.”
– Mrs Bennett“Volunteering at Surrey archives in their WW2 project confirmed I loved history, but showed me I was more interested in Degas than Dunkirk, so I moved to Art History.”
– Miss SeabrookWork experience can show us what we want from a career, but sometimes what we don’t!
Here is a selection of the staff at Claremont Fan Court and their experiences of work experience…
WORK EXPERIENCE MYTHS
(Taken from Unifrog Know How Guides)
Myth #1
‘Work experience is mostly about photocopying and making tea—you won’t be given anything important to do’
This is probably the most common myth about work experience, probably because this is exactly what work experience was a very long time ago! Thankfully, those days are long gone; it’s not true that students on work experience only do menial tasks or ‘busy work’. Nowadays, employers understand that students need to complete tasks that will help them learn about the company and the role, and that will help develop their skills. So you could be given tasks like researching competitors, working on an independent project, summarising important documents, or creating presentations.
Myth #2
‘Work experience is about following a person for a week and taking notes to find out their job role’
While job ‘shadowing’ might form part of your work experience, many workplaces will encourage you to spend time with different staff members and teams, to help you learn about all of the different job roles needed to make their organisation successful. You might even get the chance to to spend your last day with the team / department of your choice.
Myth #3
‘You should only do work experience with an organisation if you’re sure you want to work in that industry / for that company when you’re older’
Most students are unlikely to know what industry they want to work in in the future;even if you do, you might not be able to complete work experience in it (for example, you probably won’t be flown out to Hollywood or allowed to watch a live surgery!).
Instead of worrying about how this experience ‘fits in’ to what you want to do when you’re older, think about it as a chance to experience something new that isn’t school or a club.
You’ll get the chance to find out:
• How companies and organisations operate
• What kinds of job roles are available
• How to behave in a professional environment
• More about your own strengths, values, motivations, and interests
• Which elements of work you’d like to rule out—which is just as valuable as knowing what you do like doing!
• You’ll also develop some of your ‘soft skills’, like:
• Problem solving
• Accountability
• Learning
• Resilience / adaptability (the ability to ‘bounce back’ or adapt when things don’t go to plan)
Whatever job you try, you’ll gain useful skills and experience, and learn more about yourself and working life.
Myth #4
‘Work experience is just something you ‘have to do’; it’s not actually helpful or useful to you in the future’
We’ve already looked at the skills you’ll build and the experiences you’ll have. Let’s focus on the ‘future’. Whether you enjoy your time on work experience or not, it’ll give you things to write about on your CV or in applications, and things to talk about in an interview, even if it’s not directly related to the job or field of study you’re applying for.
Lots of interview questions start with ‘tell me about a time when you…’ where employers or admissions teams are looking for your experiences of dealing with challenges, handling feedback, or achieving something. These are all applicable to every industry and field of study; you’ll be able to use your time on work experience to prepare answers to these questions for your future interviews.
Myth #5
‘You need to know everything about the company on your first day’
While you should do some background research on the company or organisation you’ll be joining, you won’t be expected to know absolutely everything about them. In fact, if you’re overconfident, you may come across as arrogant; you need to show that you’re informed, but willing to learn.
If you do find yourself out of your depth, don’t be afraid to ask questions and don’t panic if you make a mistake— you’re there to learn, so no one will expect you to know absolutely everything!
Check out our guide ‘How to take accountability for your mistakes‘ to learn more about what to do if you make mistakes at work.
Myth #6
‘If you make a good impression on work experience, the company will probably hire you’
There are some companies who use work experience as an opportunity to spot early talent and recruit for their apprenticeships and school leaver programmes. However, most work experience programmes are just that: a chance for you to get some experience. Most of the time, the people you work with will be happy to share their own experiences or top tips on getting a job at the company or in a similar industry, but the company is unlikely to offer you a job, even if you’ve completed all of the tasks that were asked of you.
The point of work experience is for you to gain valuable experience—not an offer of employment. Focus on learning and doing a good job, rather than how impressive you can be.
• Communication • Teamworking
GUIDE TO MAKING THE MOST OF WORK EXPERIENCE
(Taken from the UCAS website)
Make a good first impression
First impressions really do count. Make sure you turn up on time, are suitably dressed (if in doubt, better to go smarter), and are raring to go. If you show you’re friendly, reliable, and competent from the get-go, chances are more opportunities will come your way.
Get to know people
Greet everyone you meet with a smile and try and introduce yourself to everybody you’ll be working with. Don’t be afraid to ask people about their roles and how they got to where they are now – they’ll be flattered!
Be organised
While you’ll have guidance during your internship, you can’t expect to be spoon-fed the whole time. Listen carefully to instructions and note down important meetings, dates, and deadlines to help manage your time effectively.
Get involved
It might sound obvious, but the more you get stuck in, the more experience you’ll gain. Be enthusiastic about any task – big or small – and use your initiative to go above and beyond what’s asked of you.
Ask questions
There’s no shame in asking for clarification if you’re not sure what you’re doing – in fact, employers will respect that you have the guts to ask. But be resourceful – think twice about asking a question that could be answered with a quick Google search.
Make suggestions
If you think you’ve got a valuable comment to add, don’t be afraid to speak up. Employers love people with ideas, and your contribution – whether your idea is taken up or not – will be appreciated.
Offer to help
When you speak to people, ask after their current projects and emphasise that you’d like to get involved. Showing you’re approachable and keen will ensure they think of you when they need an extra pair of hands.
Make notes
Jot down any useful information about particular tasks you’ve worked on and skills you’ve picked up. That way you’ll have a record of everything you need to take away from your time there – handy for future job applications!
Ask for feedback
Try and gather informal feedback from your supervisor as you go along, rather than just waiting for a report at the end – it gives you a chance to improve throughout your time there, and shows that you care that you’re doing a good job.
Reflect on your work experience
It’s important to be honest with yourself when reflecting on your internship. If you didn’t particularly enjoy it, it doesn’t mean it’s been a massive waste of your time. Even if the only thing you take away from the experience is knowing you don’t want to work in that industry, it’s been useful!
HIGHER EDUCATION – COURSES WITH PLACEMENT YEARS
Work experience isn’t just about your time in school. You can choose a degree course that has a year’s work placement, and it has numerous benefits.
1. Practical Experience: A placement year offers an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a real-world work environment. It allows students to apply the theoretical knowledge they have acquired during their studies and develop practical skills relevant to their chosen field. This practical experience can significantly enhance their employability upon graduation.
2. Industry Insights: A placement year provides students with valuable insights into their industry of interest. They can gain a deep understanding of the day-to-day operations, industry trends, and challenges faced by professionals. This exposure helps students align their academic studies with real-world practices, enabling them to make more informed career choices.
3. Networking Opportunities: During a placement year, students have the chance to connect and build relationships with professionals in their field. These connections can be instrumental in opening doors to future job opportunities. Building a strong professional network early on can provide a competitive advantage when seeking employment after graduation.
4. Skill Development: A placement year allows students to develop a wide range of skills that are highly sought after by employers. These include communication skills, problemsolving abilities, teamwork, time management, adaptability, and industry-specific skills. The practical experience gained during the placement year helps students cultivate these skills and become more well-rounded professionals.
5. Enhanced Employability: Graduates with a placement year under their belt are generally seen as more attractive candidates by employers. The practical experience gained
during the placement year demonstrates their ability to apply knowledge in real-world scenarios. It also showcases their commitment, work ethic, and initiative, making them stand out in a competitive job market.
6. Clarification of Career Goals: The experience gained during a placement year can provide students with clarity regarding their career goals. It allows them to test the waters, explore different areas within their field of study, and discover their passions. This clarity can be invaluable in making informed decisions about specialization or further studies after graduation.
7. Increased Confidence: Going through a placement year can boost students’ confidence and self-belief. Successfully navigating a professional work environment, contributing to projects, and overcoming challenges helps students recognize their own capabilities. This newfound confidence can positively impact their academic performance and future career progression.
