| |  | Work experience is an opportunity for you sample a job when you are still at school or college |
| | | You’ll be based at a place of work. This could be a shop, factory, office or wherever you choose |
| | | You’ll carry out tasks and duties just like a normal employee (but not in someone’s place) |
| | | It’s a chance to learn about a job and what work is all about |
| | | Work experience is organised through your school or college. You’ll be expected to keep a diary of what you do |
| | | Most people will be given the chance of doing work experience in either year 10 or year 11 |
| | | When this happens depends on your school. Many schools do work experience towards the end of year 10 or early in year 11 |
| | | Placements usually last one or two weeks |
| | | It may be possible to do work experience as part of a college or sixth form course |
| | | It increases your knowledge and understanding of the world of work |
| | | You’ll find out about your strengths and how you can improve your skills and abilities |
| | | You get an opportunity to explore a particular career and make plans for the future |
| | | Work experience gives you first hand experience of what is needed to do well in a job |
| | | It shows that, whatever the job, you never stop learning! |
| | | Working in an adult environment will give you more confidence for the future |
| | | You should get full instructions at school during year 10. The trick will be to plan and make arrangements in advance. |
| | | Think through what you’d like to do and where you’d like to work. Try to fit this with your future plans |
| | | Be realistic about what you can do on work experience. Not all jobs are possible because of insurance and other reasons |
| | | Don’t take the easy way out and go somewhere because you can’t think of anything better! |
| | | Use the Webview website www.learnaboutwork.org/somerset to discover which places take people on work experience (you’ll need to ask at school about a password) |
| | | You must be ready to make phone calls, write letters, send emails or call on places. Finding a placement is good experience for applying for jobs! |
| | | Seek help from your school’s careers teacher or work experience co-ordinator. |
| | | Talk to your Connexions personal adviser about finding the right placement and how it fits in with your career plans |
