Work Experience Making the most of it

Diaries You will get your diary today and must take it with you to your placement. At the end of each day you must complete the diary section for that day. There is a section at the end for your employer to fill out – please ask them to do so at the end of the week. Bring your diaries back into school on when you return. Do not lose them!

Staff visits Almost all of you will get a visit from a teacher during the course of the week. We generally do these on the Tuesday – Thursday. Visits will be quite short and are just to check that things are going okay and help with any problems that you or the employer may be having. We will try not to embarrass you or cramp your style and will stay only as long as necessary. We will check to see you are filling in your diary.

Sickness or absence If you are unwell and cannot attend your placement on any day, it is critical that you do the following: Inform the placement so they do not panic if you do not arrive; Inform the school so that we are aware and don’t try to visit you that day This must be done every day you are sick.

Problems on the placement If you have any problems, normally these can be resolved with a polite conversation with your supervisor on placement. If any serious issues occur either tell the member of staff that visits you or contact Mrs Demian or Mr Vigeon at the school, and we will try to resolve the issue. Do not do anything that you feel unsafe doing.

Be Punctual, Be Polite, Be Realistic While on placement you will be expected to behave like an employee, as far as that is possible. Make sure you arrive punctually. Always be polite to the employer and other employees – they have gone out of their way to give your this placement. Be realistic – they are not about to give you really important, critical, tasks that could destroy their business! You will likely be given fairly basic tasks to start with and possibly more involved tasks later in the week if you prove yourself.

Behaviour Remember that your behaviour in front of other employees or customers on your placement must be exemplary at all times. You are representing the school and your generation, and it is really important that you give a great impression. If your behaviour falls below the expected standards you may find that you are asked to leave the placement.

Enjoy, have fun and learn Squeeze every last bit of experience from your placement. All work experience is useful, even if it doesn’t go exactly as you expected.