Finding out about work experience opportunities

 

As more people than ever are studying at degree level, the competition for graduate positions is increasingly strong and you will need to stand out from the crowd when applying for jobs. Employers increasingly want new recruits to be able to add value to their company straight away. If you can demonstrate that you have already achieved a certain level of competence, you will be far more likely to get the job you want.  Remember your top priority in your final year will be your coursework, so you need to look at your first couple of years to gain work experience.

The Careers Service or the Job Shop cannot place you in a work experinece opportunity directly, however we will do all we can to provide you with information and advice to help you in your search. We have information on work experience opportunities, placements and vacation work. At the beginning of each academic year we receive a supply of free magazines the content of which is devoted to work experience/placements.

Call in to collect your own personal copy but please remember when they are gone they are gone! Reference copies will however still be available. We also have a reference book, "Into work experience – positive experiences of disabled people" - Published by Skill National Bureau for Students with Disabilities.

There are long running schemes such as Shell Step which can offer you help in finding suitable work locally and the Leonardo Da Vinci project which can help you find a work placement abroad and improve your language skills.

News and Events

 

City Solicitors' Educational Trust (CSET) Summer School 2010. There will be two one-week Summer Schools and the dates are:

Monday 12 July - Saturday 17 July 2010
Monday 19 July - Saturday 24 July 2010
There are 100 all-expenses paid places available on each event. The link to the website for complete information is http://cset.org.uk/?page=summer-school|

Blast are offering 100's of 18-24 year olds the chance to work with the BBC.

So if you know anyone aged 18-24 whothinks they could be a  radio or tv presenter or fancy themselves as a producer, scriptwriter or events organiser, tell them to get to the Blast website! To apply visit www.bbc.co.uk/workexperience/blast | or click on the image below. Spread the word to anyone you know who may be interested and do get in touch if you have any questions.

Pearson plc, owners of Penguin, The Financial Times and Pearson Education are inviting interested students and graduates to attend 'Getting into Pearson' an open evening about the Pearson Diversity Summer Internship, aimed at final year students and graduates from ethnic minority backgrounds. This presentation will be an opportunity to learn more about the Pearson Diversity Summer Internship, how to apply and what the benefits are. Thursday, 11^th March, 6 - 8pm, Pearson Head Office, 80 Strand, London, WC2R ORL
Candidates should send an email by March 1^st 2010  to gettingintopearson@pearson.com|. 

Internships are available in the following areas: Marketing, Finance, Sales, Publicity/PR, Internal and External Communications, Journalism, Research, Book Production, Editorial, Human Resources
To find out more visit: http://summerinternships.pearson.com|

Volunteering

This is a very useful way of gaining relevant experience and for some sectors is the usual way of addressing lack of experience. Some students may want to gain or use their existing volunteering experience as evidence for work based learning modules. Check information on www.bolton.ac.uk/volunteering|

Useful websites

• Prospects Work Experience - a one stop resource for all your work experience needs. Search for placements and find everything you need to know about how to get work experience.
• Graduate training jobs and undergraduate placements -made available to us by University of Cumbria
•  www.shellstep.org.uk Gives information on the Shell STEP Programme. It is a paid work experience programme which usually takes place over an eight week period in the summer, however there are some projects available on a part time basis throughout the academic year. STEP is open to second or penultimate year students only, and as its intention is to give a taste of the working world then you are unlikely to have had extensive work experience. Applications can be made on-line. Although applications are accepted all year round the bulk of the summer opportunities are dealt with from March onwards.
• www.work-experience.org. National Council for work experience. This site is useful, however it usually features placements with large companies. 
• www.do-it.org.uk Volunteering opportunities searchable database using your postcode.
•  EuroPlacement (www.europlacement.com)
  This organisation is a global platform for internships, (work)placements and graduation assignments on an international level, not just in Europe.
• Fledglings (www.fledglings.net)
  You need to register. Useful listings of placement vacancies.
• GTI (www.gti.co.uk)
  GTI are the publishers of the annual Guide to Work Experience - see the Jobs section of the site.
• www.europeantrainingservices.com - Leonardo Da Vinci scheme for 10 week placements in Europe that can be used by graduates.

• The United Euro Bridge is a voluntary organisation providing work experience for university graduates. We have a large number of work experiences available in enterprises throughout Europe. The placements last 24 weeks and are all funded by Leonardo da Vinci-part of the Lifelong Learning programme. The placements available are advertised on our website: www.unitedeurobridge.org/J/index.php| 

•  http://www.summerjobs4u.co.uk/

• http://www.visionandmedia.co.uk - for students looking to work in the digital creative industries.

• www.itjobsforgraduates.com a specialist job board for IT graduates in the UK who also advertise IT internships and graduate schemes/ programmes and training.

• Work Experience USA - CCUSA can find you a job based on your skills for the summer or find your own using the website provided. Most jobs are seasonal retail, restaurant or hospitality, national parks, amusement parks or other tourist destinations.  

• http://www.employ-ability.org.uk EmployAbility is the not-for-profit organisation that manages and facilitates the attraction, selection and recruitment of disabled students and graduates for blue-chip 'disability inclusive' employers. It offers both internships for undergraduates (summer placements) and graduate training schemes.

• If you are interested in obtaining a TEFL qualification to enable you to teach English abroad then the the attached link will give you userful information.