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Where could my 15-year-old son find work experience?

13 replies

TR888 · 10/02/2023 19:11

Where could he ask? Would the local university have something to offer? He wants an admin job if possible.

OP posts:
AtleastitsnotMonday · 10/02/2023 20:21

When you say he wants a job in admin do you mean that's the ultimate goal or that's what he wants to do for work experience? Any ideas on a preferred field? What are his interests or subject strengths? Admin is so broad, pretty much any work place will have some degree of admin.

reluctantbrit · 10/02/2023 20:50

15 is a bad age, we had this last year and it was very difficult to find a placement, the red tape is enormous and we had lots of places who weren't happy to take Y10s anymore.

Has the school offered any help? They normally have a list of places who are willing to take them.

Admin shouldn't be too difficult but again, lots of places don't want the hassle for a week which is a lot of work with little to no outcome for them. My workplace is not even accepting our own children for work experience anymore. The move to working purely digital and hyprid also means there is a lot less for work experience people to do as they won't be able to get system access.

I would check with friends/family/neighbours if they have an office job and can help out.

In the end DD was at our local library, she loved it, they really let her work and I think she may ask them again when she has to do it in Y12.

AdaColeman · 10/02/2023 21:11

Perhaps ask local charity shops if he could help out? He would discover things like planning a staff rota, how to cash up, track goods in and out. Also he would experience working as part of a team, all of these are good basic transferable skills.

Another thought is to offer to help at a local church or cathedral, where they might run a lunch club or a food bank, organise tour groups and choirs etc etc.

I realise these aren't standard work experience venues, but I'm thinking of places that would be glad of some help, whilst still providing a learning experience for a teenager.

gogohmm · 10/02/2023 21:15

It's very difficult because you need to have enhanced dbs, and register as a work experience provider. Dd did it with her dad and he had to complete so much paperwork. Charity shops etc are unlikely to be able to as too many people to dbs. I've got a youngster coming and now regretting it, they need so much info (I'm already enhanced dbs working with children)

Johnnysgirl · 10/02/2023 21:16

Charity shops only take 16+

chocolateisavegetable · 10/02/2023 21:24

Assuming you mean unpaid work experience, he could ask the local library if he could volunteer there - they run things in school holidays

DogInATent · 10/02/2023 21:28

Do you mean work experience placement as part of the school's work experience week/fortnight? If so, ask what support the school has for finding placements. Do they have a coordinator, or have the access to an Enterprise Advisor's Network?

Whyisitsodifficult · 10/02/2023 21:30

My son did Dofe volunteering in a charity shop at 14.

Kracken · 10/02/2023 23:22

My daughter is 15 and just arranged a work experience placement at her old primary school, but that's not admin - she'll be working with the children. She might have been able to ask to work in the school office though, if that's what she was interested in so could be an option for your son.

dizzydizzydizzy · 10/02/2023 23:27

AdaColeman · 10/02/2023 21:11

Perhaps ask local charity shops if he could help out? He would discover things like planning a staff rota, how to cash up, track goods in and out. Also he would experience working as part of a team, all of these are good basic transferable skills.

Another thought is to offer to help at a local church or cathedral, where they might run a lunch club or a food bank, organise tour groups and choirs etc etc.

I realise these aren't standard work experience venues, but I'm thinking of places that would be glad of some help, whilst still providing a learning experience for a teenager.

Charity shops don't usually take 15yo. It's due to the amount of extra admin they are required to go for under 16s . I discovered this when I was helping DD who
Was then 15 to find some volunteering work.

Mum97540 · 11/02/2023 00:18

Local council?

Ireallydohope · 11/02/2023 13:57

It's too young unless it's with family and friends or a business that underpays and takes advantage

My DS has to find work experience as part of his A Levels in any type of business. It doesn't have to be related to his studies.

Fortunately I've managed to use my network to secure him somewhere that's actually suitable for his A Levels and eventual degree. They did create a couple of hoops to jump through so it wasn't handed on a platter he had to earn it a bit.

YogaLite · 11/02/2023 14:18

You could tey a reception desk at your local leisure centre, that will be partly admin. We had that arranged through the school.

Or any office where any of your family or friends work.

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