You will probably have the best week of your school life! You will find the adults friendly and helpful – they want you to succeed! They will all have experienced a first day at work!
During your placement you should have the chance to record your learning in a diary or Connexions West of England Work Experience Certificate Log Book/Log Book Plus. You may also be able to discuss your experience with someone who works at the placement.
Making the most of your placement
- Go into the placement with a positive attitude - you’ll have a much more enjoyable time.
- Be clear about what you want to get out of the placement – this way the employer can build a programme to best suit your needs.
- Be on time, be polite and communicate clearly.
- Listen very carefully to the health and safety briefing and use any protective clothing or equipment given to you.
- Behave in a safe way – follow the example of your supervisor.
- Don’t ever do anything you think is too dangerous or difficult for you to do – explain how you feel and ask for help.
- All jobs include some routine tasks, so look for things you may be able to help with.
- You will be expected to follow the routines and working hours of other employees in your placement, even though you won’t be getting paid.
- All employers want you to learn from being there, but they are busy people, so listen carefully to what you are told and do your best to finish tasks.
- Ask questions – people like to talk about their job.
- Respect the fact that some of people you will be working with will have different backgrounds and cultures.
- If you have a problem speak to your supervisor in the placement. If that doesn’t help, contact your school – if necessary somebody will visit to help sort things out.
What happens if…?
| PROBLEM | SOLUTION |
|---|---|
| What if, on the first day, I forget who to report to? | Go to reception and explain who you are and why you are there. |
| What if I arrive late for work? | Apologise and explain why. |
| What if I am too ill to go to my work placement? | 1. Phone school and tell them immediately. 2. Phone your employer and tell them. |
| What if I forget what to do? | Ask questions – you are there to learn. |
| What if I don’t understand what to do? | People will expect this to happen. Ask them to explain in another way. |
| What if I am worried about something? | If you feel you can’t talk about it to your supervisor then talk to your work experience coordinator. |
If you are using the Connexions West of England Work Experience Certificate Log Book or Log Book Plus the following needs to be done during your work experience placement.
| On day 1 | Page |
|---|---|
| Show your employer the work experience action plan | 9 - 10 |
| Complete the health and safety sheet | 11 |
| Complete the time, attendance and safety sheet | 12 |
| Every day | Page |
|---|---|
| Collect evidence for the work experience action plan | 9 - 10 |
| Complete the time, attendance and safety sheet | 12 |
| Complete the diary (Work Experience Certificate Log Book Plus only) | 13-14 |
| On the last day | Page |
|---|---|
| Get employer’s signature on the work experience action plan | 10 |
| Get employer’s signature on the time sheet | 12 |
| Ask the employer to fill in the comment box and sign it | 17 |
| Check work experience action plan has been completed | 9 – 10 |
| Check all evidence has been collected | |
Learner Entitlement - read what you are entitled to during your placement.