Download our FREE smartphone app today!
Work Experience
As part of our careers programme, we provide Year 10 students with the opportunity to take part in Work Experience.
Participation is not compulsory, but represents the possibility for students to engage in a week long experience that could provide a valuable insight into the world of employment.
| Deadlines | |
|---|---|
| Complete the online survey | 11 October |
Work Experience is an opportunity to experience working life. Harris Academy Purley will do it's best to support you with finding a placement. However, many organisations request direct contact from the student. Since placements are incredibly competitive, we strongly advise that you start contacting companies early and find a placement yourself. There will be knock backs; no is a common answer. Don't give up! The survey below helps us direct you and support you in finding a suitable organisation to work with for a week.
The process
If students wish to take part in the week, the following steps need to be completed by the deadlines above.
- Complete the online survey
- Complete the Work Experience Booking Form, which you can download from the bottom of this page.
- Arrange an interview with your work experience employer.
As soon as your Work Experience Booking Form is returned, the Academy will make contact with your prospective employer to confirm the placement and to send them relevant documents.
How to find a placement
A work placement is your opportunity to spend a period of time outside the classroom, learning about a particular job or area of work. It can help you decide on your options for after Year 11 and will give you the opportunity to develop and show evidence of vital skills such as self-confidence, communication, independence and a variety of others, depending on what kind of placement you do.
What types of Work Experience Can I do?
Most of you will be expected to find your own placements. Think about what you want to do. What are your favourite subjects? Ask for help making a list of related jobs. If you start looking in time you will be able to find a suitable placement.
English: Newspapers, Libraries, Press Officer, Teacher, Solicitors, Advertising, TV & Film, radio
Maths: Banking, Accountancy & finance, Engineering, Meteorology
Geography: Environmental services, Development organisations, Charities, Politics
Family is often a good source for finding placements. Do your parents/guardians do something you are interested in? How about your brothers and sisters or your aunties and uncles? Do you already know anywhere you may like to work? e.g. a shop that you like, or an organisation you pass on the way to school?
Go to www.yell.co.uk and search for a local business in the field of work you would like to do.
For example, you could search for "solicitor" in "Croydon". Give this a try!
You could also try www.prospects.ac.uk where you can research job roles and sectors, up-to-date industry insights, job opportunities for subjects you are studying and more.
Tips for a successful placement
Make a list of 10 places you would like to apply to.
Call or visit them and ask if they have work experience opportunities. For example: “Hello, I’m enquiring about the possibility of organising a work experience placement with you from 2nd July.”
If they offer work experience, they will tell you what to do next. Remember, competition for work experience can be really tough, so you'll need to make the right impression when asking them.
Be selfish. Don’t ask for you AND a friend; employers are unlikely to want a group of friends hanging out at their business. You will also come across more confident and keen if you are asking just for yourself.
World of Work
Click here to fill in the Year 10 and Year 11 survey
Click here to fill in the Year 9 survey
Virtual work experience opportunities
Wates
Dates: 22nd June 2021
Eligibility: 14- 19 year olds interested in Construction.
Application Deadline: 24th May 2021
Thames Water- Technology Revolution
Date: 23rd June 2021
Eligibility: 14 – 19 year olds.
Application Deadline: 30th May 2021
Govia Thameslink Railway
Date: 24th June 2021
Eligibility: 14 – 19 year olds interested in how technology is used in the transport industry.
Application Deadline: 3rd June 2021
British Airways
Dates: 23rd June 2021
Eligibility: 14+ Interested in Women in Engineering
Application Deadline: 31st May 2021
Virgin Money - London
Dates: 25th June 2021
Eligibility: 14 -19 year olds.
Application Deadline: 28th May 2021
VMLY&R Commerce
Dates: 26th - 30th July 2021
Eligibility: 16+ Interested in Marketing/ Communications/ Advertising
Application Deadline: 07th June 2021
SCS Railway (Camden Students only)
Dates: 28th June - 2nd July 2021
Eligibility: 15+
Application Deadline: 31st May 2021
â¯
Springer Nature (Camden Only)
Dates: 30th June 2021
Eligibility: 16+
Application Deadline: 1st June 2021
Architecture 00
Dates: 17th June 2021
Eligibility: 14+
Application Deadline: 31st May 2021
Argonon
Dates: 8th July 2021
Eligibility: 14+ interested in Television Production
Application Deadline: 14th June 2021
Camden Sparks (Camden Only)
Dates: 28th June - 2nd July
Eligibility: 14+
Application Deadline: 7th June 2021
