Work Experience - How to get it and how to make it work for you
Location: Homepage/Articles/Work Experience-How to get it
Dani Robinson answers a few common questions on the world of work experience
Work experience is something that teachers and careers advisors talk about all the time. This is the time when they try to palm you off to McDonalds for a week so they can have lessons and lectures off. However if executed in the right way work experience can not only win you brownie points when applying to university and jobs but, can also be enjoyable.
So, how do you get it?
Well certain industries are very difficult to get work experience in and others aren't so hard. One example of a very hard industry to get good work experience within is the media. Everybody has a budding journalist inside them and due to this most magazines, newspapers, radio and TV companies are inundated with work experience applicants every week. The key thing to remember when applying to such places is to write a cover letter, include a CV (your careers teacher can help you with this) and some examples of your work.
Send these to places such as local firms but also large companies. Don't
give yourself low expectations. I know many a person that applied to these
places on an off chance and actually got a place.
Remember, any work related in such a hard industry is a good experience. Try
to do as much of as you can!
What will be expected of you?
The answer to this is not a very good sounding one, basically you will make tea, photocopy and do lots of jobs that nobody else wants to do. Though occasionally you can get some important tasks handed to you. Someone I know when placed at law firm had to go through case notes and give her opinion on them. These people are looking for your input not only to further your own skills and knowledge but to get an outside opinion. These people work in this situation every day and often find the view of someone that isn't influenced by office politics and is an "outsider" very useful.
If you take absolutely nothing away with you at least you know you can make a good brew!
How long will these placements last?
Most schools and colleges make it necessary for you spend at least a week at work experience. Some universities will make you spend a year, it really just depends. If you get your own work experience during the holidays, it is up to the employer.
Will I get paid?
Unfortunately, most of the time the answer is no. However in many instances, if you are at a car dealership or something similar, if you successfully sell something you may get commission. A friend of mine had work experience with his granddad selling caravans. He sold one caravan in the one week he was there and got a commission that left him enough money to go out drinking for the next two years!
Don't expect to be paid however; you are doing this for your own benefit not for your pocket.
What can I do with it afterwards?
Stick it on your UCAS form, your CV, use it in interviews. Explain the things that you learnt, the responsibilities you had whilst there and how it made you feel about the industry. No experience is bad experience. If it didn't go so well explain why, then your prospective university or employer will understand you more as a person and how you function in a work related atmosphere.
I can't find anywhere, what do I do?
Look harder, it doesn't have to be the SPECIFIC part of the industry you want to be in. If anything doing it somewhere else within the industry of your choice can only broaden your horizons and show you alternative things you could set your mind to. It can also reaffirm your decision as to what you want to do if it's really THAT bad.
I don't know what I want to do?
Think of your ideal job. If you want to be a professional footballer then go to a sports therapist. Or if you want to be a pop star, your local recording studio or radio station. If you are unsure about what you want to do then think of a job that you believe to be interesting. Don't do a work experience that you know you will find boring. You will only resent it and not make the most of the opportunity.
Happy Job Hunting!