The Grove School- Finding your placement presentation

Finding your Work Experience Placement

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What’s so good about Work Experience anyway?

• Learn about skills needed for work and understand why they are important • Chance to experience possible careers you are interested in • Work alongside adults as part of a team • Chance to learn more about what work is really like • Develop other qualities - self confidence and communication • Get a good reference • Maybe a part time job

Work Experience Matters

Some of the EMPLOYABILITY skills you may develop on work experience

Spoken Communication

Teamwork Self Management

Written Communication

Positive Attitude!

Customer Care

Problem solving

Using numbers

Business & Enterprise

Other good things about work experience • Understand how commerce and industry operate.

• To help you see the relevance of your subjects to the world of work.

• To help you gain greater self-confidence and maturity.

• Something to put on a CV/talk about in an interview

• Create connections in the local job market • Gain understanding on how work ready you are

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Decide what you want from your placement Career interest?

A particular job?

A particular working environment?

Something different or new?

Do you have an interest in your potential placement?

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Work Experience can be interesting and varied

Be Realistic?!!!

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It’s not all about making tea and filing!!!

But there are limits to what you are allowed to do…..

This is normally because of health and safety restrictions due to your age, inexperience and lack of formal qualifications

X Cutting hair

Animal handling is restricted

X Operating machinery 11

Work Hours • On work experience you can be expected to work an 8 hour day.

•You may be required to work evenings.

•You may be required to work early mornings.

•What time will you need to set your alarm? Time taken to travel? Hours at work? Time you will get home?

•Travel time to and from work does not count as working hours.

•You are not entitled to a break until you have worked more than 4 and a half hours.

•No weekend work

You may be required to wear PPE

Think about the dangers where you may be working.

You may be requested to purchase your own safety boots & overalls

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VERY IMPORTANT...how are you going to get there?

Make sure you can!

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Start looking NOW! Why?

There’s lots of competition for placements

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Before you can go on Work Experience ALL of your placements need approval for health and safety from the Education Business Links

We carry out health and safety checks on Work Experience placements – 3 months notice needed 17

Use every contact you have!

Parents/carers

Teachers and support staff

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Other ways of getting inspiration or ideas

Local paper Local business directory

Internet search

Last years students 19

Then what? Contact the company - by phone - by letter - by email  Contact several companies Things the company will need to know.....

•What school you are from •Dates of your work experience •Contact name and number of school work experience tutor •WHO ARE YOU???!!!!

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Things your staff and tutors need to know about your placement • Correct name of the business/organisation •Contact name •Address and postcode •Telephone number / Mobile / email •Tasks you are going to be doing e.g. administration, workshop duties • also – does your employer have Employer and Public Liability insurance? ( it’s essential that this is in place) •MAKE SURE THAT YOUR PLACEMENT IS DEFINITELY CONFIRMED!!!

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Arrange a pre placement interview before you go

Useful for you and your employer

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Prepare yourself for your interview with your employer!

•Smart and presentable clothing •Warm smile •Firm handshake •Correct body posture •Confident outlook •Good hygiene •Research the company – What do they do?

•Have questions ready – What tasks? / Which department ?

•Be on time ! ! !

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First Impressions!!!

Beware of Digital Dirt

Don’t forget to talk to STAFF and keep them informed of how you’re doing!!

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Don’t leave it too late to get organised And don't forget to...