Planning for work experience

Using information competently

Objectives

• Have basic information about the company my work experience placement is with

• Know how to get to my placement• Understand the value of information to my

company/job• Be aware of the sensitivity of sharing

information • Know where to go to find out more about

careers/jobs

What questions will we answer?

• What information do I need before I start?• What sort of information will I deal with when

at work?• Sharing my work experiences?• Where should I go to find out more about jobs

and careers?

What information do I need before I start?

• Who am I working for?• What should I wear?• What time will I be expected to work?• Where am I going? How will I get there?

Who am I working for?

• General details– company name– location (Where are they? Do they have a main office?)– contact name and telephone number

• Business type– Public: school; council; library; museum; hospital; police– Private: shop; mechanic’s garage; restaurant; solicitor;

electrician

• Maybe the company has its own website? – Check www.yell.com

What should I wear?• Business environment and job role will dictate attire• Where will you be working?

– Shop– Office– Sports centre– School

• What will you be doing?– Physical work– Sport– Fixing cars– Fitting carpets– Clerical

What time will I be expected to work?

• Different businesses have different working hours

– 9am to 5pm is, generally, normal working hours

• Businesses have to meet the needs of clients– Teachers– Nurses– Mechanic

Where am I going and how will I get there?

• Plan your journey– Bus/train/walk?– Time your potential journey, allowing for

traffic/delays

• Do a trial run• Use http://www.tfl.gov.uk/ and

http://maps.google.co.uk/ to help you plan

What sort of information will I deal with when at work?

• Client information• Company information• General, task-related information

Client information

• The Data Protection Act dictates that data/information is treated with confidentiality. – Telephone numbers– Addresses– DoBs– Financial information (accounts numbers etc.) – Sensitive, personal information

• You must not share client details with other people outside of the organisation, and sometimes with others working with you

Client information: Examples

• Working in a school, you are trusted with confidential information about young people

• Working for a decorator, you might have information about the client’s valuable possessions in their home

Company information

• You may learn sensitive details about the company you work for– Clients– Financial/accounts information– Employee information– Profits

General, task-related information

• Information is vital to effective running of a business– People rely on information to fulfil their

role/responsibilities– The sharing of relevant information is essential for

a company to be successful• Make sure you pass on information when

appropriate– If you are not sure… ask!

Sharing my work experiences?

• We like to share our day-to-day experiences, frustrations, successes with friends and family

• Think about how, in what way, you do this– Many of us share information on the internet,

through Facebook etc.– Think about who can read the information you

share online… – Do you want people you work with to read your

status updates?

Privacy settings

Recording your success

• Recording your success will help you reflect on what you have learnt and achieved

• It will also help you when you come to begin writing your CV

• How can you do this?– Reflective journal– Diary– Blog– Facebook updates

Where should I go to find out more about jobs and careers?

• Library – careers sections• School – teachers, careers advisor• Internet – websites• Connexions – careers service and advisors

Exploring careers and jobs

• What do I need to do to get a job as a … nurse/fireman/lawyer etc.

• Look at the career paths and plan what you need to achieve– Do I need to get specific GCSEs?– Is there a particular college course I should do?– Do I need to go to university?– Should I get an apprenticeship?

Useful websites• BBC Student Life– http://bit.ly/4s8c0y

• Connexions– http://www.connexions-direct.com

• City and Guilds– http://www.cityandguilds.com

• Need 2 Know – http://bit.ly/95rNt6

• Careers Box– http://www.careersbox.co.uk/