Work experience

Work experience can help pupils to:

• consider their career options
• give them real experience about what jobs entail and what working is like
• have an opportunity to find out what they like or do not like doing
• have an opportunity to get some practical experience
• start to develop 'employability' skills
• add to their CV, making them a better prospect for future employers

Work experience for school pupils takes place in the final year of compulsory education – usually S4. It normally consists of a one week placement with an employer.

The value of a period of work experience is well recognised. Employers want to recruit school leavers who have an understanding of the world of work.

See Work experience guidance 2006 on the Learning and Teaching Scotland website.

Contact details

To find out more about work experience in your area please contact:

Glasgow

mking@dts.es.glasgow.sch.uk

Renfrew

Eileen.Haughton@careers-scotland.org.uk

West Dunbartonshire

angela.simms@west-dunbarton.gov.uk

Links

Virtual Work Experience provides helpful information that teachers can use to introduce pupils to work experience.

14 Scottish Local Authorities now subscribe to the Work It programme which allows pupils to book placements