Work Experience Ellen Alexander Careers Adviser

1. Work ExperienceEllen AlexanderCareers Adviser

2. The aimhelp you understand the world of work in a general senseto build your confidence to learn the ‘soft skills’ - the skills you need to thrive in the workplace such as communication, using your initiative, teamwork etc

3. it helps you develop general workplace skills, for example: experience of the workplace, it’s politics, culture and routinesworking alongside adultscarrying out new tasks

4. It’ll help you identify your own skills and perhaps even highlight the areas that you might want to work on and it’ll give you a good understanding of your strengths and weaknessesIt doesn’t necessarily have to be related to the type of career you’re interested inIt’ll help you build up contacts and, you never know, they might even give you a heads up about a future job or recommend you to another companyYou may be offered a part-time job afterwardsIt’s something to put on your CV

5. The legal side: • Your employer must have Employer Liability Insurance • placements should be between 7am and 7pm only • You must have a 30 min. break after working 4.5 hours • You can’t work more than 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week • You’re not permitted to work on scaffolding or at heights • You’re not allowed to receive payment while on a work placement, however an employer can contribute to certain expenses such as travel costs and meals - Work experience: A Guide for Secondary Schools, DfES 2002

6. Finding a placement: • write down a list of jobs you are interested in • get online and make a list of local businesses that offer these kinds of jobs e.g. “engineering firms in Brandon” • use business directories like yell.com or thomsonlocal.com to help you search • Large organisations sometimes have a special section on their website that will tell you how and when to apply for work experience e.g. NNUH, Norwich Theatre Royal • With smaller companies you will need to track down their details and call them or send an email to see if they have anything on offer

9. email your CV to learningatwork@westsuffolk.gov.uk

10. West Suffolk Hospital – Bury St Edmunds • Year 10 and 11 work experience • 1 week in non-clinical departments • human resources and communications • the medical library • the estates and facilities department

12. Work Experience Letter • Example

13. Your address and postcode Telephone number Date Dear Mr/Mrs……………………………………, I am a Year 10 student at IES Breckland and I will be completing my work experience from (start date) to (end date). I am responsible for finding my own placement and am writing to you in the hope that you are able to offer me a placement within your company/organisation. The reason I would like to complete my placement at (company name) is because (explain why you have chosen to write to them e.g. I am interested in finding out more about………………………… or I would like to gain experience in………………………………………..) At school I am studying (e.g. Design Technology) and have enjoyed learning about………………………….. Explain about any responsibilities you have, both in or out of school, or any hobbies/interests you have, or any things you are good at e.g. online coding. Describe your personal qualities e.g. patient and caring/good team player etc. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Yours sincerely, Your Signature Your name

14. State which department you are interested in e.g. Finance and why you would like to work there in particular. It shows you have done your research and are thinking about them. Think about the skills and attributes they’ll be looking for. What skills do you have that will make them pick up the phone and call you in for an interview? Highlight your key selling points

17. Use ‘buzzwords’ or positive verbs such as: Negotiated achieved co-ordinated Developed organised demonstrated Designed supervised improved TOP TIP: Find out the name and email address of the company/recruiting manager to write to. Don’t forget to follow it up a few days later with a phone call. They’re busy people, they’re not ignoring you!

18. Companies in Suffolkby sector

19. ICT/Digital Creative • Green Duck • BT • Cisco • 3M • Nokia • O2 • Huawei • Htk • Itron

20. Health & Social Care Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital West Suffolk Hospital Local Health centres Suffolk County Council Suffolk Community Healthcare Health East Local care homes

21. Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering • Aponic • Thales • Bosch • Philips Avent • Delphi • The MEL Group • Cotherm • Vitec Group • Brafe • Herga

22. Agriculture, Science & Food • Muntons • Greene King • Adnams • Bird’s Eye • Pepsico • Copella • Aspalls • Agricola • Earnest Doe • Farms across the county

23. Energy (inc. Renewables) • Orbis Energy • EDF Energy • Siemens • SSE • Flow Energy • UK Power Networks • Smartest Energy • HavenPower • Treatt

24. Financial & Insurance • LV • AXA • Lovewell Blake • KPMG • Hastings Direct • Willis Towers Watson • RSM • Ipswich Building Society

25. Tourism & Culture • National Trust • Newmarket Racecourse • Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds • Ipswich Town FC • High Lodge

26. Retail • Debenhams • Marks & Spencer • The Arc • Glasswells • Superdrug • Boots • Supermarkets • Local Independent Retailers

27. Construction and the Built Environment • RG Carter • DayleBayliss Associates • GJ Bream • Robert Norman Construction • Flagship Homes • Concertus • Breheny • Tarmac

28. Bio Tech • BASF • The National Stud • Nestor • Animal Health Trust • Genzyme • University of Suffolk • UEA • Sanofi • Envigo

29. Tesco Suffolk Housing Brandon Bridge Hotel Brandon Leisure Centre Tilly’s Tearooms Blushes Forest Animal Boarding Last year’s pupils went to… Mundford Primary School Norfolk Constabulary BT Tramps Quorn Foods OMAR Homes Leaping Hare High Lodge Didlington Nursery Mark’s Traditional Greengrocers Zack FM

30. Headway Suffolk Brandon Library Brandon Pre-School & Nursery Whitlingham Adventure Apollo Stables Feltwell Primary School Katies’sBeautique The Original Factory Shop Meat Market Animal Health Trust Total Photography and also… Perfect Touch Fledgling’s Pre-School Co-op Thetford Golf Club Glade Primary School Dako Furniture Ltd Servest Wilson Reclaims SWM Motors Riches Transport Inspire Sports Integra Vet Services

31. If you’re really stuck… …come and see me!