Now that you are in Year 12, you will be thinking about what to do when you leave school. Work experience can help you learn about different jobs and give you some ideas about future careers.
Work experience means stepping into the world of work and discovering more about a job that interests you. It is all part of finding out which jobs do or don’t appeal to you. It is a chance to consider various career pathways and what you want to do after school.
What is Work Experience?
Work experience typically involves spending one or two weeks in a business environment. You will observe how the business operates and have tasks to do. You’ll see how other staff work and learn about different roles. Work experience is unpaid, but you will benefit from what you learn.
Organising work experience
Most schools have a work experience service. They usually help you with this in Year 12. They have career advisors who have relationships with local businesses and can advise you on how to apply.
You can also arrange your own work experience. You can prepare your CV and contact local businesses by calling in to speak to the manager or phoning or emailing them. It is good to talk to people you know to see if they have ideas on work experience you could do.
Benefits of Work Experience
Work experience can help you to:
- Improve your skills.
- Build confidence.
- Develop communication skills.
- Become more independent.
- See how companies operate.
- Build your CV.
Work experience can be the first step in exploring careers that interest you.
Here are 10 Work Experience ideas for Year 12s:
Estate Agents
Your college or Sixth Form can advise you on work experience, but you can also approach estate agents directly. Work experience can involve working in an office and using a computer. You will observe staff at work and discuss the job with experienced professionals.
Larger estate agents often offer work experience for students. Carter Jonas starts accepting work experience applications in September each year for the following summer. Their placements are one or two weeks long.
Estate agents qualify for the job by taking apprenticeships and professional courses.
Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK has research institutes and centres across the UK. They offer work experience for one week to students in Years 12 and 13.
They have two work experience programmes. One is a research placement that gives you hands-on experience in research laboratories and the application of specific technologies. You will learn how to culture cells, tissue staining techniques, the basics of microscopy and tissue compositions and how to isolate and multiply DNA.
The second programme is a non-scientific placement in operations. You will gain insight into finance, human resources and property services.
Applications are made through the website.
Cisco
Would you like to know more about careers in technology? One way would be to have work experience with Cisco, a leading technology company.
Cisco offers work experience for Years 11 and 12 that is virtual or hybrid (a mixture of virtual and in-person). The hybrid programme has sessions available in a range of work areas, such as marketing, sales, engineering, IT, cyber security, customer service, and more. There’ll be presentations, mock interviews, practical workshops and tours.
Cisco also has virtual and hybrid work experience for young women in Year 12 or 13. You could learn about sales, IT, marketing, engineering and more. You will develop your presentation, communication, problem-solving, and teamwork skills.
The hybrid programmes run over four days and include two days in the Manchester or London office. Applications are made through the Cisco website.
Schools
If you are interested in being a teacher, your career adviser at school should be able to arrange work experience for you. However, you can apply directly. Maybe you could approach your old school or speak to someone you know who is a teacher.
You can choose whether to do work experience in a primary, secondary or special needs school. You will see how a teacher manages a classroom, and you may help individual students or small groups.
School work experience usually lasts two days, but it can be longer.
BBC
The BBC is the world’s leading broadcaster. They deliver content to their audience through TV, radio, iPlayer, Sounds, News, Sport and more.
The BBC runs taster days of work experience across the UK for students aged 16-18.
On a taster day, you will have the chance to:
- Learn about the media industry and workplace environment.
- Find out about career opportunities at the BBC.
- Develop some hands-on skills.
- Spend time in a BBC studio.
- Learn about the BBC apprenticeship.
You must let your school know if you have applied. Applications are made through the BBC website.
Met Office
The Met Office is the United Kingdom’s national weather and climate service. It has a work experience programme that has two parts.
The first part is an online work experience. It is available to all UK students aged between 13 and 18, and everyone who registers is guaranteed a place. You will explore typical roles in the Met Office through a series of videos, projects and webinars.
After completing the first part, you can apply for the second part of the work experience.
Students are placed in teams that include forecasting, technology, engineering, and communications. This is a two- to three-day in-person placement that has limited places available.
NHS Hospital
Many NHS hospitals offer work experience to students but there is a lot of competition for places. Information can be found on hospital websites, and applications can be made online.
An example is the Royal Berkshire Foundation NHS Trust, which has two schemes. One is for medicine, and the other is for all other areas, including midwifery, nursing, allied health professions, pathology, clinical engineering and pharmacy.
These unpaid places are usually for one week. Applicants need to demonstrate their interest in the area they are applying for and show some understanding of the role.
The Armed Forces
You can find out more about being in the army by attending a free four-day residential work experience for 14-18 year olds. Applications must be made through schools.
Serving soldiers help to run the programme, which develops teamwork, leadership, confidence and resilience. You can experience a bit of army life and learn about career opportunities. You have a logbook to complete where you describe what you’ve done and reflect on the experience.
Virtual Work Experience
Springpod works with employers and universities to offer free online work experience courses that usually last about ten hours. Some can be taken immediately, while others must be booked in advance.
There are work experience courses for most careers, including art and design, computing, architecture, healthcare, engineering, and finance. These courses are interactive and informative and include hearing from industry experts.
Graphics
If you would like to work in graphics design, you would benefit from having work experience at a design company. You can get advice from school on doing this and also try applying directly to local companies.
Starting a portfolio of your best artwork would help with your application. Being in a design studio and observing designers at work can teach you alot about this profession.
Some design companies advertise work experience. An example is Bonacia, a design company in Peterborough. Their work experience is for 14s and over. You can apply on their website and they also ask for a personal statement.
Making the most of work experience
Make sure you add your work experience to your CV. Write a bit about what you did and what you learned.
It is useful to reflect on your work experience. You can write about your experience and answer these questions:
- What did you enjoy most about your work experience?
- What did you enjoy least?
- What did you learn?
- Did you improve any skills?
- Would you like to work in this field? Why/why not?
- What would you like to do next to find out more about careers?
Good luck on your work experience journey!
