What is Work Experience?
• The term 'work experience' generally refers to a
specified period of time that an individual spends in
a business - during which they have an opportunity
to learn directly about working life and the working
environment.
• Some work experience positions offer people the
chance to try their hand at particular tasks, others
simply provide an opportunity to watch and learn.
Work Experience
The government has made it optional.....
...so it's up to you to decide:
Iain Smith, Chesham Grammar Parent Skills Network
October 16th 2013
Context and introduction
•
1 million recent school leavers are unemployed
- 1 in six 16 to 24 year-olds is a "NEET”
- Of these around 185,000 are aged 16 -18
•
Over 10% of 2012 graduates are skill unemployed
•
Way more 2013 graduates are unemployed
•
Lots of graduates end up taking non grad jobs....or staying
on in even higher education
•
...... so its tough to get a job regardless of when you leave
full time education
What do employers think?
How many believe that work experience is
essential to ensure young people are ready for
work?
Almost 80%
What do employers think?
How many are more likely to hire a young
person with work experience over someone with
none?
67%
What do employers think?
How many have given a full-time job to
someone they’ve taken on for work experience?
50%
What do employers think?
What percentage of
businesses have recruited
someone from a graduate
placement scheme?
only 28%
What else do employers think?
Young people with work
experience are thought to be
more employable because:
• They understand the work environment better and how to
conduct themselves in it (77%)
• They have a better attitude towards work and learning on
the job (70%)
• They have a better understanding of industry / know what
they are getting into (66%)
What do employers think?
More than 60% of employers
think that young people
do not understand
what employers are looking for
So...what are they looking for?
•
Strong core skills such as numeracy, literacy &
communication are more valued than academic qualifications
•
“The skills almost everyone needs to do almost any job”
(Confederation of British Industry)
•
Meaning...in a work context:
- self-management
- thinking and solving problems
- working together and communicating
- understanding business
- understanding the working environment
- numeracy...literacy...IT....communications
And when you have an interview
•
Make sure you have researched THAT company
•
Have a good set of stories to tell
•
Of course, talk about your qualifications
•
But also show that you have the skills they are looking for...
•
...and how you got them
Conclusion: 2 thoughts
Getting your qualifications is
really important...
...but just isn't enough
Any work experience
is good work experience
Parent Skills Network
Academic study
and the world of work
in partnership