Website of the UK government

Work experience: how it can help you

A work placement is your opportunity to spend a period of time outside the classroom, learning about a particular job or area of work.

During your placement, you'll be able to find out what skills employers look for when they're hiring someone to fill a job vacancy.

You will also get the chance to develop your self-confidence and communication skills. This will help you to work better with other people in further or higher education, as well as in your future career.

With schools, work placements are only available in Years 10 or 11. You won't be able to do a work placement with your school until you reach this age.

Types of work experience

A work experience placement could involve working in a business or organisation full-time for one to three weeks, or spending one day per week in the workplace over a number of months.

A placement may form part of your course if you're doing a GCSE in a practical subject like engineering or art and design. And the new Diploma qualification - available in selected schools and colleges from September 2008 - involves at least ten days of work experience.

• More about the Diploma Opens new window

Young Apprenticeships

Extended work experience is a central part of the Young Apprenticeship programme, which is now being offered by a growing number of schools. You study the normal curriculum at school, and over Years 10 and 11 spend 50 days gaining experience with an employer, training company or college. During this time, you’ll be working towards work-related qualifications such as NVQs.

If you complete the programme, you may be able to move more quickly towards a full-time Apprenticeship in your chosen area. However, you could also decide to stay on in full-time education, either at school or college.

Check with your teachers whether Young Apprenticeships are available at your school.

• More about Apprenticeships

How to organise a work placement

Your school will usually organise a work experience placement for you and make sure all the paperwork is filled out correctly. But you will be involved in deciding what sort of area you'd like to spend your placement in, and what you'd like to achieve during your time there.

Think about the subjects that you're studying and the sort of career you would like to follow in the future. Then see if your school already has links with a company that closely matches your needs. If they don't, they may be able to set up new links with a company - but this takes time, so make sure you mention it early on when you're planning your placement.

If you want any extra advice - or you'd like to discuss exactly what happens during a placement - talk to a careers teacher or adviser, or someone at your local Connexions office.

• Find your nearest Connexions office Opens new window

Making the most of your placement: top tips

If you want to get the most out of your work experience, there are a few things you should do both during and after your placement.

During your placement

You should be given a placement mentor or supervisor. They will give you a tour and tell you everything you need to know on your first day, so make sure you ask them any general questions you have. The supervisor will make sure you understand the health and safety rules and your own responsibilities while you’re at work.

Your school will probably ask you to keep a record of your placement, so remember to write down what you've done at the end of every day and any comments that you'd like to make.

You should also remember to act professionally at all times during your placement. There may be some days when you only get a little bit of work to do, or the people you are working with are too busy to go through things with you – be patient.

After your placement

Once your placement is over, take a look over the notes you have made and have a think about what you've achieved and how well you think you've done. Your placement employer should also give you feedback. If they don't, make sure you ask for it.

You may also want to add details about your placement to your CV if you're thinking of applying for a part-time or holiday job.

• More about work experience from Connexions Direct Opens new window

• Read a placement survival guide and case studies from The Trident Trust Opens new window

• Things you need2know about work experience Opens new window

More useful links

• Work experience and volunteering (young people section)

• Getting a holiday job (young people section)

• Finding a career that's right for you (young people section)