Finding work experience and voluntary work
Gaining a paid or unpaid work experience placement can really help strengthen your child’s university application. It shows real commitment to, and experience of, their chosen subject.
Work experience also gives students a real taste of what a
career in a chosen subject would actually be like, and will help to ensure that they make the right
long term decision.
For some Higher Education courses, such as pharmacy or social work, work experience may be an essential part of the entry requirements. Your child should look carefully at the entry requirements for their chosen courses, to find out whether work experience is necessary, and if so, what type of work experience is expected.
Be persistent!
Both Target Jobs and Prospects tell you more about work experience and allow you to search for work placement opportunities. Competition for work experience, particularly paid, will be high - it's important that your child applies as early as possible and takes the time to make a strong application.
Some organisations - particularly large blue chip and public sector organisations - will advertise work experience posts so your child may be able to find opportunities by looking within the careers sections of the relevant websites.
Even if an organisation is not advertising any opportunities they may still be willing to provide work experience (especially if unpaid and for a limited period) to students who approach them directly. This could be a good way to find local work experience with smaller organisations.
Being creative in your search
Personal contacts and networking can be an excellent way to find work experience. Family members, friends, parents of your child’s friends and teachers may all be able to put your child in touch with someone who could offer them a work experience placement, or even offer them a placement themselves!
If you and your child do not have any relevant contacts, encourage your child to approach companies and individuals directly. Many companies are willing to take on students for work experience if approached in a professional and enthusiastic way - encourage your child to write letters, emails or even use social media like Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
If your child cannot find work experience that is directly related to their chosen subject, they may still be able to find work experience that would help to enhance transferable skills or knowledge which will be relevant to that subject. For example, if your child wishes to study a degree related to accounting but has been unable to find work experience with an accountancy firm, then they could consider applying for work experience with an insurance firm which would still enable them to develop skills which are relevant to accountancy - for example, working with applied mathematics and data analysis.
Remember that any work experience placement, irrespective of whether it is directly related to the chosen field of study, will allow your child to demonstrate in their personal statement and in any university admissions interviews that they are hardworking, motivated, and willing to learn new things - all of which are very important personal attributes that admissions officers will look favourably on.
Voluntary work
An alternative to paid work experience is voluntary work, which can be undertaken either in the UK or abroad. Voluntary work will provide your child with new experiences that can be made reference to in their university application, and will again help to demonstrate positive personal attributes in their personal statement - for example being socially conscious, hard working, and open to new experiences.
Within the UK there are likely to be opportunities for your child to volunteer in areas which are related to their subject choice. For example:
- psychology applicants could volunteer to work with mental health charities, retirement homes, or local playgroups
- law applicants could volunteer to work for civil rights or legal support organisations
- politics applicants could volunteer to work with a local or national political party.
Alternatively, if your child has a particular musical, artistic or sporting ability then they could volunteer to teach young people new skills. A good website to start looking for UK based voluntary work is the volunteers section of Gov.uk.
Many students choose to volunteer abroad in order to gain work experience whilst travelling to different regions. Some of the key areas of voluntary work abroad include:
- providing support to individuals in developing countries (for example by teaching or supporting medical services)
- helping with community building projects in remote or underdeveloped areas
- supporting environmental management and conservation.
If your child chooses to consider voluntary work abroad then they should research the organisation carefully, and ensure that if asked to pay any money up front that they understand what it is for and who it will go to.
Your should also check with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to ensure that it is safe to travel to the region(s) that they intend to visit.
