Work experience in Years 11 and 12

You will probably do work experience at some point during Year 11 or 12. It’s a great chance to get a taste of a job and see what skills you’re going to need for the world of work.

Work experience: how it can help you

work experience can be a great help if you’re still wondering what sort of career you want

A work placement is your opportunity to spend some 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 for example in further or higher education, as well as in your future career. With schools, work placements may be in Years 10 or 11.

How to organise a work placement

Your school may provide support to help 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 employer that matches your needs.

If they don't, they may advise you on an alternative employer but this takes time, so make sure you mention it early on when you're planning your placement. If you want any extra information, advice, guidance or you'd like to discuss exactly what happens during a placement, talk to a careers teacher or adviser.

Find your local Careers Office

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. This person will give you a tour and tell you everything you need to know on your first day, so make sure you ask them any 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.

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 – so be patient. You should also remember to act professionally at all times.

After your placement

Once your placement is over, take a look over the notes you 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 progress file if you're thinking of applying for a part-time or holiday job.