Work experience Year 11 Week Commencing :20 th October 2014

Developing skills for work A recent survey of 500 Company Directors identified ‘top 10’ skills and qualities being the most important 1 ) Honesty and integrity 2 ) Basic literacy skills 3) Basic oral communication skills (e.g. telephone skills) 4) Reliability 5) Being hardworking and having a good work ethic 6) Basic Numeracy skills 7) A positive ‘can do’ attitude 8) Punctuality 9) The ability to meet deadlines 10) Team working and co-operation skills

Why do work experience? gain confidence learn about the world of work experience going to work each day explore careers/jobs be inspired for the future develop employability skills references/weekend jobs/contacts BUILD UP YOUR CV and PROVIDE EVIDENCE

Last year’s students placements  Hospitals  Shops  Nursery Schools  Solicitors  Primary Schools  Offices  Theatre  Music Industry  Architects  Leisure Centre/Gyms  Accountants  Florists  Dentists  Vets  Design/PR  Farm/Stables  Council  Business  Engineering  Animal care projects  Golf clubs  Dog grooming  Mechanics  Pharmacy

A selection of the organisations that Y11 students found placements in last year

Interesting Hard work but fun Exciting Tiring Different Useful Loved It! Didn’t want to leave People were friendly I got a Saturday Job! Thinking about my future now… Learnt a lot about myself A great opportunity thoughts about work experience Boring at times Learnt new skills

Work Experience Procedure March-May : Students search for own placement Forms: By Friday 2 nd May Blue consent form By Friday 2 nd May Pink health form By Friday 23 rd May your yellow placement form

Support Drop in sessions to see Mrs Witts on Thursday lunch times in the Main School Careers Office Support given with where to locate employers, writing letters/CVs/ s & phone calls

Tips on looking for a placement Do your Research Persevere! Most students have to contact between 5 to 30 places before securing a placement Remember the employers are giving you a favour Go it alone – it is best if student’s search for placements independently and not with a friend as employers are less keen to take students in pairs/groups.

Where to look for a placement 1.By foot: walking around local area to see what companies/employers are available (eg: shopping centres/high streets) 2.Past work experience (on school website, Careers Section, Year 11, Work Experience 3.The ‘Do-It’ website quickly find ways to help in your community simply by typing in your postcode. - Ask friends & family

How to approach an employer Face to Face - for organisations that are usually open to the public eg: shops/hairdressers. You could pop in and ask to speak to the manager.

How to approach an employer By phone: For smaller companies telephoning can be the best method – ask to speak to the manager or person responsible for Human Resources. Phoning is also useful for finding out the correct name and address of the person you need to contact.

How to approach an employer By letter or This is usually the best way to contact employers. Always attach your CV. If you are ing it is best to find out the correct address – just sending an to a general “info” address is often usually very unsuccessful – find out the name of person involved with work experience Make sure you use a professional sounding address preferably with your name only.

Health & Safety All placements are checked for health & safety through health & safety visits carried out by qualified person Placements who do not pass the health & safety criteria will be “refused” Risk Assessments classified as High or Medium risk will be given to students and their parents for signature

FAQs  Can I do my work experience abroad/outside Warwickshire? Yes, but at parents own risk. Please discuss with Mrs. Witts  My daughter wants to be a doctor/nurse can she do a placement in a hospital? Only very limited placements available at local hospitals but if anyone would like a placement at a hopsital they must see Mrs Witts. Try GPs, special needs providers, Care homes.  What happens if I miss the deadline? If you do not complete by deadlines you loose chance of going on work experience!