work experience

My dd worked in a charity shop and LOVED it. They're used to working with young volunteeers so there was loads to do, and a real variety from sorting stock, working on shop floor, and back office cashing up and admin. She's not overbrimming with confidence so that all really helped her.

Though alarmingly a lot of parents sorted out impressive-sounding UCCA-form type placements for their dcs . We can't really do that and tbh didn't see the point as at the moment she doesn't really know what she wants to do in future. Plenty of time for that later.

in Y11 ds1 went to London to work for the CPS. He went to the magistrates court and the crown court and also shadowed a barrister. He was very lucky. Just wrote an email to the CPS website asking about placements. In Y12 he went to the county police HQ where he worked in the forensics dept and joined the crime scene investigators training scheme for a day as well as working in the photography department learning abut what pictures can be used as evidence and what would not be admissible in court.

Sorry, didn't mean to offend.

The thing is, so many go to the local schools - 3 work experience pupils to a class last year. And furthermore, kids that age will still remember primary school well - it would seem more beneficial if they could sample working life in an unfamiliar setting - an office, shop, factory etc. and experience a commute, colleagues, customers and so on.

Living near a metropolis obviously makes things easier, as obviously a diverse range of employment options is not available if you are out in the sticks.

Also, some kids hope to use their work experience as evidence of their interest on their UCCA form (or whatever it's called now!). So although it might be very valuable to learn the ways of a local surveyor's office, it must grate when you see Cordelia down the road swan off to her placement with a heart consultant (her godfather) when you were rejected by every health setting within a 50-mile radius (and this DOES happen).

Sounds like its a great experience for him.

I'd take offence at the comment :

It seems a large proportion of kids get distributed round the local primary schools.

Isn't working in a Primary school a relevant career? From Teachers to Leadership and TAs to dinner staff. My daughter chose to go to the Primary as did the other two she is there with. Others are going next week, in their second week.

Also, there seems quite a arrogance about where children go. At 15, to me, it's not about necessarily getting experience in the actual field they are interested in (if they know). It's about having some experience of real life. The most educational jobs I ever had as a youngster (back in the olden days I worked aged 11!) was the really horrible shitty ones. It made me decide that whatever I did, I'd work hard at my education, because I didn't want to get stuck in a job like that!

Well my little boy has gone from someone needing/wanting Mum to help him find the way to WE in London, to an experienced commuter! He no uses a better but more complex route, and is telling us about the sign boards at Waterloo.

Where has my baby gone?

My son went to a local sports shop after I enquired with the owner (who I had been at college with) In one week, he checked stock, worked on the till, handled customer orders (and complaints), checked the web-site for orders. When the week came to an end, he was asked to report for next week for paid employment where he then set about organising their offering of Rugby related products (shop specialised in cricket & hockey) and placing orders.

Fantastic experience, but has learnt that he does not want to go into 'retail'. Better to learn that now than later, although he might change his mind.

I think it is problematic that so many schools do it at the same time. There are only so many local firms and thousands of year 11s. Of course anything vaguely interesting is acquired through parental network/relatives. It seems a large proportion of kids get distributed round the local primary schools.

People say "apply early" but surely even the earliest application is a waste of time when you're competing against the MD's nephew. I know the girl who did work experience at the local paper last year was the editor's niece. [not fair emoticon!]

Around here you do one week in year 10, and another in year 12.

We have been told it is likely to be scrapped next year.

Out of interest, are the dates the same countrywide?

And for anyone reading this next year, yes get in early!

My daughter is going to a Primary School one week and working in the sales area of a puppet shop on the second! The latter have a strong local reputation of helping bring children out of their shell!

Due to a mix up, DS is now not doing work experience but going on a gifted and talented course at Imperial College. (Their definition of gifted and talented is far easier than the schools.)

DD1 is in the middle of work experience now. She is working for my old company (arranged just before they made me redundant). She is working in statistical analysis. She is having a great time. The experience of going into an office and just getting on with things is absolutely priceless.

Definitely worth getting onto the lists early.

She is applying this week; dates have just been announced.

Sounds lovely, bruffin.

Dd is hoping to get into the local theatre for her work experience next year: she has studied the website and knows it won't be back stage, but will be mainly about finances and publicity, but thinks that could be interesting.

Sounds like he had a good time. Did he get some sort of written report at the end of it? Obviously, at this age, they don't have much in the way of references so DD found her write-up was useful for applying for other jobs. Best to get it now, while he is fresh in their minds, because in a few months' time they will be going "who? are you sure he worked here?"