Work Experience Diary 2017
Name:………………………………………………………
Employer:………………………………………………….
INTRODUCTION
This booklet is intended for you to complete as part of your placement. It should help
you think more about what you are doing and why you are doing it – hopefully
helping you to gain maximum benefit from your Work Experience.
WHY WORK EXPERIENCE?
Work experience will give you a chance to:
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Research the jobs market, growth industries and choices available
Sample a working environment
Observe the difference between school and working life
Gain more self-confidence
Use key skills in the workplace
WORK EXPERIENCE CHECK LIST.
Before your work experience placement, you must find out:
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Where the company is situated, how to get there??
What time you start and finish and who to report to - Try not to be late!
What type of clothing to wear?
What the arrangements are for lunch? Does the firm have a canteen? Do you
need to take a packed lunch?
REMEMBER TO:
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Observe the safety regulations
Listen carefully to all instructions given by your supervisor in your workplace
Ask questions if unsure
Be courteous and polite
Turn off your mobile phone
Do not chew gum
Thank everyone before you leave for their help
Ask for a reference if appropriate
Don’t fool around
FINALLY, GOOD LUCK!!!
Enjoy your work experience and you should learn a lot from it. Do not worry if you
feel a bit nervous before hand. This is only natural as it is something new to you but
do ask questions employers want you to be interested.
The important thing is that you will have been introduced to the role of work and will
have discovered why your schoolwork is so important for your future.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
This record book belongs to…………………………………………..
Home telephone number____________________
School__________________________________
Class/Group__________________
School Address__________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________Telephone number_______________________
Name of teacher in charge of work experience___________________________________________
My placement is with……………………………………………………….
Company/Organisation______________________________________________________________
Address__________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Telephone number________________________
Name of main contact________________________________________________________________
Name of supervisor_________________________________________________________________
My job title is………………………………………………………………..
The dates of my placement are……………………………………………..
PREPARING for an INTERVIEW
You may need to have an interview with your prospective placement provider before the placement is
confirmed. It is necessary….
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To let them meet you and make sure you will be suitable for this area of work
So that you know where and with whom you will be working
Interviews are rarely formal, but you still need to be prepared for one first impressions count. Here are
some tips to help you.
Presentation
Make sure you are
dressed neatly and
look as though you are
taking this interview
seriously.
Arriving for your
interview
First, find out how to get
there: get there on time.
Arriving late does not give
a good impression. On
arrival, let someone know
you have arrived. Give
your name and whom you
have come to see.
Communication
Think about the questions
they might ask you.
Be polite and smile - it
costs nothing and gives a
good impression.
Don’t just say “yes” or “no”.
Think about your answer
and respond fully.
Questions….
Think about any questions you
might want to ask…what kind
of work will you be doing, what
you will need to take.
Prepare to be asked questions
such as “what do you want to
do when you leave school” or
“why do you want to come
here”. Try to give positive
answers.
THE INTERVIEW
The person who interviewed me was…………………………..
His/Her job title was: ___________________________________________________________
On the first day I report to………………………………….at…………………….
The department I work in is called…………………………………………………
The days I work are……………………………I start at……….and finish at………
Clothing
Smart office dress?
wear?
Clothes for dirty work?
Clothes for outdoor work?
Will uniforms/overalls be provided?
What type of shoes will you wear?
Travel
How long will this take?
What will you need to
How will you get to work?
What time will you leave?
What will this cost?
Have you got bus pass?
Lunch
A packed lunch?
Money to buy lunch at work?
Money to buy lunch outside?
Will you take?
HEALTH AND SAFETY
IT IS VITAL that you follow the health and safety rules whilst you are on your work
experience placement.
YOU have a personal responsibility to do this aswell as your employer.
Each employer will have specific instructions relating to the workplace.
The rules are there to ensure that you do not do anything to endanger yourself or others
working in the workplace – including colleagues and customers.
Work Experience may be your first time in the work place.
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Learn how to work safely and obey safety rules!
Use all safety equipment and protective clothing provided!
Report things that seem dangerous, damaged or faulty!
Never play practical jokes-they can kill!
Only use tools, machinery or substances after you have been trained and given
permission to do it!
ACCIDENTS can happen in a split second.
NEVER cut corners to save time.
BE SMART- think before you act.
ASK if you don’t understand something.
DON’T do anything you think is unsafe.
You can learn more about health and safety at:
www.bbc-safety.co.uk
www.safetynew.co.uk
www.rospa.co.uk
www.youngworker.co.uk
MY FIRST DAY
It would be useful for you to record your feelings about the placement on your first day. You
may find they change quite a lot as you progress in your placement.
How did you
feel?
How did you
get to your
workplace?
What were your
expectations of the
placement?
Who did you
work with?
What work did you
have to do?
How did you feel at the
end of the first day?
How do you feel
about tomorrow?
Before tomorrow:
Should you:
Dress differently?
Get up earlier?
Take extra money?
Ask more questions?
Try harder?
Words, which might help you…
Tired out * friendly * helpful * frightening * exciting * difficult * exhausted *
complicated * confused * lonely * challenged * exhilarated * satisfied * different
* encouraged * worried * boring * disinterested * nervous * stimulating *
DIARY
Please give a brief detail of the activities that you have completed each day.
Try to do this daily so that you don’t forget what you have done
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
LEARNING through WORK EXPERIENCE
Write down six different things that you have done well in your job.
Decide which key skill you think it shows you have learned or improved.
Ask your supervisor to sign it if they agree you can do this successfully.
E.g. I answered the telephone and took a message successfully at least five
times.
Key
Skill
C
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
KEY SKILL ABBREVIATIONS (a short way of writing them down)
C
Communication
N
Application of number
IT
Information Technology
WO
Working with Others
IP
Improving Learning and
Performance
Problem Solving
PS
PP
Practical/Physical
Skill
Listening, speaking, asking questions, discussing,
using the telephone, writing, reading and
responding.
Using numbers, measuring, recording data,
handling money, doing calculations.
Using a fax machine, using computers to search,
Select, prepare and present information.
Getting along with others, working in a team, being
flexible, being co-operative with colleagues.
Setting targets, action planning, managing time,
learning from others, developing confidence.
Recognising and describing problems, making
decisions, selecting and carrying out solutions.
Handling equipment, making things, showing
co-ordination.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
Signed
Does the company have an equal opportunities policy?
Yes/No
Have you seen and read it?
Yes/No
Have you been treated like and adult? Give an example:
……………………………………………………………………………………………
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How is it different from school?
………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………
Are there men and women doing jobs you didn’t expect?
Men
Women
Both
What special facilities are there for people with disabilities? (Ramp, wide doors,
lifts etc)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
Are there any people with disabilities working in the company?
Yes/No
MY EVALUATION of WORK EXPERIENCE
When your placement is completed, you need to spend some time reflecting on
what you have done, what you did well, who helped you, what you have learnedand then look at where you go now…
My placement was at…
My main tasks were…
The job I was doing was…
My supervisor was_____________________
My hours were…
I worked with_________________________
The work I enjoyed doing most was…
TIP
because…
Try to think
of the kinds
of tasks you
enjoy doingwhat made
you enjoy
this more?
TIP
Try to think
of the tasks
you least
enjoyedwhat made
you enjoy
them less?
The part of the job I enjoyed least was…
because…
How would I rate my placement for?
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Active involvement
/10
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Friendliness
/10
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Learning new skills
/10
Where Do I Go Now
TIP
Try to think was it boring,
stimulating, challenging.
Were you treated as an
adult, able to ask for help?
What did you experience?
Talk to Mrs Hill about your options now. Look
at courses or training programmes.