With our 4th son having just completed his Year 10 work experience i thought now was the perfect time to answer the question. Is it important for my child to take part in work experience? The short answer to this is YES. Each one of our sons have completed their work experience with different companies. This has provided them with a valuable experience into the world of working. So i am listing the reasons i think are important and the potential issues you need to think about.
Why is work experience important?
Work experience offers young people a glimpse into the real world of working. This is a far cry from the cushy days that they have at school. It offers young people an opportunity to experience an industry that they may be interested in working in at some point in the future. All whilst being in a supervised environment that is safe for them. Its a great way for them to get a taste of what that industry is really like to work in, offering them a free trial to see if they like it.
What will they get out of the work experience?
During the time they are carrying out their work experience they will gain some new skills. These can include on the job skills that are relevant to the job. For example if they have chosen to work in a garage they may learn how to change a tire. They may also learn time management skills, making sure they arrive on time and that the task they have been set it also completed in a reasonable time frame. They may be faced with having to deal with an issue so may learn problem solving skills. Finally, good communication working in a real situation they may need to communicate with the customer and their work colleagues.
Show motivation and passion
If the young person manages to secure work experience in an industry that they would like to work in they should be motivated and passionate. This will show through during their time there. Rather than them only attending a work place because their mum arranged it and its not where they would choose themselves. If they are at a place they would like to work in its a great opportunity for the young person to let their passion shine through and try and learn as much as possible.
The Reality
Having to show up everyday for a week will show young people the reality of working. Just like at school no two days are the same, the same applies for working. This will give young people a real insight into a full working week. From experience our boys found it really good fun being on work experience and had a really great week and learnt lots. It is very different from school in terms of how they are treated and what they do making it a valuable learning experience.
Meeting people
Work experience is a great way for young people to meet new people and get speaking to them. A lot of young people are really knowledgeable especially if its something they are really interested in. Speaking with adults is a great way for them to share their knowledge and maybe learn new things from the work experience placement. Speaking to the right person and highlighting their interests could lead to being offered an apprenticeship after they have completed their exams.
Could lead to future work
Two of our boys ended up having a part time job as a result of their work experience. This was only on a part time basis during the school holidays but has been a brilliant experience for them and earnt them a bit of money. This shows that if the young people are keen and enthusiastic it could lead to future work for them. This is a valuable opportunity as would mean they would not have to sit an interview and they have already proved they are keen and capable.
Great for the CV
Completing work experience looks good on their CV. This will show any future employees that they have completed work experience and been able to work in a real working environment competently. They can also highlight all the other skill that they have gained during this time.
The bad bits
Plan early
School hands out the information and relevant forms to students quite early on in the school year. This is the time to start considering where they would like to carry out their work experience. Bear in mind that the whole of the year group are also looking for somewhere to carry out work experience. Work places may only take on 1 student so speed is of the essence. You may fall lucky and just drop into a work experience placement straight away. You may also be rejected many times. If you know people that run a business try asking them if they would accommodate a work experience student for a week.
Red Tape
As the years have progressed we have found securing a work experience place is getting harder. When our oldest son carried out his work experience in 2016 legislation was very different. Alot has changed in the last 10 years. This year our son was turned down by a lot of companies. This was because they did not have the relevant insurance to take on a 15yr old student. I guess this will vary largely depending on the industry they are looking to work in. Allow yourself plenty of time to secure a work experience placement.
Work experience in my opinion provides a valuable experience for young people. It allows them to step out of their comfort zones and explore the working environment. This is a great opportunity for them to shine and showcase their talents and ability.
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