Couldn't WE make a difference to Social Mobility? A MN Work Experience scheme?

[VulpusinaWilfsuit]

Look, there are what? Nearly a million members? And millions of views a week?

And the Meeja are always telling us how Important we are?

I've had an idea, based on Milburn's report and some recent posts on here...

...What if MN set up an informal or even a formal Work Experience exchange scheme? As you know, people who know peoplein the professions can always get work experience in a desirable workplace. But people who are socially excluded can't.

What if people who worked in the professions negotiated one or two WE placements in their office (lawyers, GP surgeries, firms, head offices or whatever...). I am willing to give it a go but whether an academic job is good advice for a teenager I'm not sure...

It would be a kind of Take Some Random MNer's Kid to Work Day.

I think there would need to be criteria, but what would they be? Or is this just a really bad idea?

I think it's a fantastic idea. Of course there are practical difficulties, there are with any idea, however great (or not so great) it is. But it is still worthwhile.

Wonder what Justine, Carrie et al would think?

Vonsudenfed, agree with every word. I did loads of work experience to get into journalism, but it was only one or two week stints - the place I worked at for longer offered to pay me (crap money but far better than nowt). No way I could have worked for free for months on end.

I will read this later when my los are in bed - but I think its a great idea

ROFL at "Oh dear I appear to have pissed on your bonfire" that should be enshrined as a MN phrase

As and aside how many mn members are there really?

How my MN members? Not sure, but there were 11,669 active threads during the last week.

I think thsi is a really interesting idea. If it could be done as part of teh school's work experience week I expect the school will help out with details.

Forgoto link

I think this is an utterly brilliant idea.

How about starting in a very low-level way?

One problem (and it's only a little problem, compared to other issues,) is that children live in networks constrained (or widened) by their social situation.

So, many children don't get an idea of the breadth of opportunities on offer, the range of life-choices there are.

Perhaps a way to start might be a section on mn where mn-ers post a small description of their job and their route into it? Then other mn-ers can CAT them and try and informally arrange work experience. And then deal with the issues that arise from that point.

There is a huge trust issue - but then, there always is, really.

I know that there are websites and articles in newpapers that already do job descriptions and routes in and so on - but the more places that these are made available is surely better?

I do think that just widening information is good, just by itself.

Anyway, that's just to get the ball rolling - because I notice that people are a little ... hesitant. But, hey, great things start somewhere, and often have terrible teething problems ... .

And confession time - I'm still a mum and a student, so have nothing of my own to offer . But maybe I can throw dh into the mix , if it gets going.