Information for Parents and Pupils

Transcription

1 Holyrood Secondary Information for Parents and Pupils N MacLellan

2 What is work experience? It is an opportunity for S5 pupils to carry out real work tasks on employers premises and experience as closely as possible the hours, working conditions and disciplines they would encounter as employees. Why is work experience important? Motivates pupils towards a particular career and can facilitate future career decisions. Pupils identify and develop their employability skills. Pupils gain insight into the realities of working life. Has a positive impact on pupil s motivation and determination to succeed when back at school. Facilitates the process of completing the UCAS application personal statement and CV s. Links to Higher Education and Employment With fewer jobs and University places than before, you have to make yourself stand out from other applicants and you can do this through gaining work experience. Gaining relevant work experience and writing about it intelligently in your UCAS application personal statement may make the difference between getting an interview and instant rejection. Examples of courses which work experience Hospitals, care homes, hospices and GP surgeries. NHS and private dentist surgeries. Care homes, hospices. Bank, mortgage advisers, financial planners. Extensive work experience is essential with large and small animals, vet practices, pet shops, and farms. Tutoring in school, paired reading, primary, summer play schemes, nurseries. School newsletters, local paper, local radio stations, online blogs. Hotels, Gyms, Travel agents, local visitor attractions (e.g. Hampden) Software engineering, web design companies, HP plant in Erskine.

3 Work Experience Case Studies 1 2 Pupil Case Study Angela Baillie S5: Before the summer I did work experience at Head Office. I was sorting in the mail room and fixing the properties online. Work Experience definitely opens your eyes for what life is like after school. It made me realise how important school is and what grades I need to get to get the job I want. I also gained work experience at, I started off brushing floors, cleaning mirrors and making tea but now I work there every Saturday! Employer Arnold Clark Pre-Apprenticeship Programme The offer people aged 16 or over the opportunity to work towards a recognised qualification, skilled employment and greater career prospects. The programme offers individuals the chance to gain skills through shadowing motor vehicle technicians and vehicle refinishers to business administrators and customer services. Young people must carry out work experience within the preapprenticeship programme to be granted an apprenticeship following school as well as achieving the exam entry requirements.

4 Example of a S6 CV upon leaving Holyrood Jack McDonald 13 Boyd Avenue Glasgow G88 8ZZ Mobile No: jdmcdonald007@hotmail-it.com This pupil secured a modern apprenticeship with Morgan Stanley in which he will gain financial qualifications whilst getting paid. A fantastic opportunity that was made possible through work experience in Holyrood! Holyrood Secondary School, Dixon Road, Glasgow, G42 8AU. Attended English (N5) 1 Maths (2014) A Maths (N5) 1 Graphic Communication (2014) A Music (N5) 1 English (2015) B French (N4) 2 Physics (2015) B Graphic Communication (N5) 2 Physical Education (2015) B Physical Education 2 Music (2014) B Physics 2 Human Biology (2015) C Chemistry 3 I worked within various departments in Asda stocking shelves, processing orders, customer enquiries and answering telephone calls. I shadowed cashiers and helped with the cashing up procedures. I shadowed various members of staff and was responsible for cash handling, customer service and customer telephone calls. This placement gave me great insight into financial services and I gained practical experience dealing with the public. I shadowed chartered financial planners on pensions, investments and mortgages and developed my knowledge in these areas. I was involved in meeting clients, analysing data and shadowing all different team members. I gained a wealth of experience and insight into an industry that I want to develop a career in. I was a member of the 2012 Malawi team, a partnership project which involved fundraising, building and refurbishing classrooms. I worked as part of a team to benefit the education system in Malawi as well as developing my own personal skills. I was an S6 Prefect which involved maintaining the high standards of the school and helping to organise social events such as discos, ceilidhs and fundraising events. I have achieved the NPA Scottish bagpipes level 4 and I m now working on my level 5 qualification.

5 The first thing you need to do is research possible jobs you are interested in, speak to your family members, teachers, friends about this too. Go on to the World of Work website which has an A-Z list of jobs and careers and the necessary work experience and the qualifications required to do these. If you need help with this stage you can ask your Pastoral Care Teacher to arrange a meeting with the Careers Adviser. Finding your Work Experience Placement Finding your own placement allows pupils to seek their own work experience by approaching companies/establishments with and a which is provided by Pupils want to make a good first impression upon requesting a placement and approach a potential employer wearing a blazer and full school uniform and hand out their CV (similar to the one featured in this booklet) as well as the work experience form for employers to complete. In the past Holyrood pupils have secured placements at and labs. These are just some examples of the Work Experience possibilities that are available to you if you go out and find them! Changing Your Placement Once your placement has been confirmed you should not request to change this. Please be sure when you are requesting a job that you are happy with this and you realise you cannot change it for something else at a later date (due to time constraints).

6 September 2014 S5 work experience assemblies, all S5 issued with self-found work experience forms. October October deadline for work experience submissions. December 2014 Glasgow City Council health and safety check process begins * January 2015 Careers, world of work, work experience fayre. Pupil and parent information evening on 14 January. Key information must attend March 2015 Work Experience lesson in PSHE: how to write about work experience in your CV/personal statement. April 2015 S5 assembly on health and safety in the work place and preparing for your placement. Work Experience Lesson in PSHE: How to complete the work experience log book and how to write a thank you letter. May 2014 Distribution of bus passes. June 2014 Work experience week starting 15 June * Once confirmed, an information letter, placement details form, and parental permission (medical) form will be posted to your home address which you should complete as soon as possible and return to Miss MacLellan.

7 When you are out on work experience You MUST complete your Log Book each day and get it signed by your supervisor/line manager each day. The Log Book allows you to describe what you have learned, what tasks you have completed and the skills you have gained. When you are back at school, the Log Book will allow you to reflect on the experience you have gained and it is vital to help you write your UCAS personal statement. Your Pastoral Care teacher will request to read your Log Book when completing your UCAS reference. If you have not received a Log Book (or you have lost your copy) you must see Miss MacLellan prior to going out on work experience. Holyrood Holyrood Secondary Secondary Holyrood Secondary Work Experience Work Work Experience Log Log Book Book Log Book