Vanessa Said:

work experience placement and actual job?

We Answered:

Yeah why not. They know how you work already and probably be impressed you are thinking of commiting to the company further.

Melinda Said:

Should I try and change my work experience placement?

We Answered:

I went to a vets for my work experience and decided it wasn't for me, I am now planning to study engineering. All my teachers and career advisers thought this was fine. So what ever you decide I wouldn't worry about it.

John Said:

Year 10 work experience placement in Sheffield?

We Answered:

i did mine at pets at home , but it was the vet surgery called companion care. and i was in year 10 so if you got one near you , you shouldnt have any probs (Y)

Steven Said:

Where can a 15 year old get a good journalism work experience placement?

We Answered:

Getting a good journalism work experience placement is very competitive.

Please please do NOT email random people. You will get yourself blacklisted that way.

First, decide what local newspapers or magazines you may be interested in. Then telephone their main number and ask for the details of the person who deals with work experience placements

Then send them a full letter of application together with a correct CV (ie, at your age, on one page only, correctly spelled, punctuated etc).

Do not email. Newspapers will not open unsolicited attachments. Your email will be deleted.

Most applications are rejected at this stage because the name of the person dealing with this is incorrect or spelled wrongly - that's the quick way we sift out the hundreds of applications we get every week
We then look at the CV and reject all those with spelling/punctuation errors . If we're still holding your letter we'll now actually read it.

Unfortunately, work experience is hard to get, and getting harder, if your are not already on an NCTJ-accredited course, or at least applying for one. (this may be another reason why you're rejected - just letting you know this for info)

Your best bet is local papers - the more local the better. Many have a policy of encouraging local youngsters - or at least those who fit the above criteria!

So to answer the second part of your question - no you don't need contacts at all (although, of course, if your Dad is editor of the Guardian it doens't hurt!). What newspapers are looking for is to give work experience to people who will take the time and trouble to research properly and have basic literacy skills.

Finally, be aware that demand for these places is especially intensive in School and Uni holidays. You may need to apply now for something next summer

Maureen Said:

What is learnt and can be reflected on from a work experience placement?

We Answered:

Hi,
Work experience provides you with an insight to the world-of-work. You have to make arrangements to get to work on-time, to behave in a responsible way and to respect authority figures.

You have to engage with other employees and possibly with management too. You will be expected to be enthusiastic, to be curious to learn and to work unsupervised or as part of a team

You may be invited to attend meetings and contribute useful inputs to prosper the business. You need to be appropriately dressed and your behavior must be impeccable.

Any matters about the company that you work for must not be divulged elsewhere. Ideally you should keep a diary and make notes each day about your experiences for that day - never trust your memory. You do this so that at a later time when you are seeking full time employment you will have a record of 'actual work' that you can use when completing your Resume.

Each day you would note any new learning, something that you didn't know before. If you keep a decent record as suggested above, then you will be able to reflect on the information and new experiences for each day.

At meetings you could listen well, note what people say and how they get their points across. Be prepared that you may be asked your opinion about something. If you haven't a useful contribution, simply say that. Never speak about something that you don't fully understand.

You have to think critically and make whatever you wish to contribute to be useful and productive. You also need to expect to be challenged about anything you say.

What you gain from work-experience will be an insight as to how a company or business operates. Does the company supply a service or products. Who are their competitors? What have you seen that could be improved? Is safety 'on-the-job' an emphasized and implemented by management?

I hope to have provided you with information that will help you with your assignment.

Brad Said:

Does anyone know where i could find a work experience placement for the school hoidays?

We Answered:

Call up local law firms and ask if they have any intern positions available. Explain your age and reason for wanting an internship. I'll bet someone would be willing to give you an entry level position. You might have to be content doing work like filing, getting coffee, etc, but you can gain valuable experience and see what the job is really about.

Cindy Said:

What should I put in a letter applying for a medical work experience placement?

We Answered:

When applying for a job a cover letter should be sent or posted with your resume. If you are not sure what to write, review these cover letter samples.

Your cover letter should be specific to the position you are applying for, relating your skills and experience to those noted in the job posting. Your cover letter is your first (and best) chance to make a good impression! Review cover letter tips to help ensure your cover letter gets noticed.

Take the time to review cover letter examples and then make sure that your letter explains how your skills relate to the criteria listed in the job posting.