Work experience

Giving youngsters a taste of the world of work

One of the secondary school milestones your child can look forward to is their first work experience placement, usually in Year 10.

This is a chance for your son or daughter to get out and explore the world of work and gain some invaluable insight which could inspire their future career choice.

Their teachers will no doubt explain more about the process when the time comes, but it doesn’t hurt to have an early understanding of what they will be required to do.

And some early planning may also help to ensure they secure a placement in their preferred industry, especially if it’s one that’s going to be popular.

If you know where they want to work or what sector they would like to work in, then you can start making enquiries ahead of time.

For pupils who don’t know what career they might like in the future, experts recommend they think about what they are passionate about as that should spark some ideas.

If they like animals then they may want to look into options that will enable them to work closer with them. If they enjoy looking after younger siblings or babysitting then childcare or teaching might be a good fit.

Nearer the time, pupils should speak to their teachers or careers advisor at school as they will be able to help with organising the placement and with speaking to the correct people as well as dealing with the logistics.

Work experience is said to offer many benefits to teenagers such as boosting their confidence and inspiring their future career goals.

Placements will also help them to develop skills such as communicating with others, working in a team and problem solving, which will be beneficial to their studies.

If your child wants to enter the world of work after leaving school, then work experience can also be a route to landing a job.

Impressing an employer during a work experience placement could mean they think of your child when they are looking to recruit. Many companies will offer opportunities to people who are known to them or they know already have an insight into the business.

If your child plans to go to university or start an apprenticeship, then having completed work experience in a sector related to their course or preferred place of work will show that they have enthusiasm and have made an effort to get a better understanding of what the job involves and what is required from them.

Competition for university places in areas such as medicine or veterinary practice can be tough, so having already secured work experience can help to make their UCAS application stand out.

Although it’s usually a two-week work experience placement in Year 10, many companies will allow students to return during school holidays so they can build on their skills and learning.

For many employers, nothing is more impressive than a candidate with relevant work experience, and having this on their CV can put them a cut above other applicants.