Getting experience

Work experience is useful for a number of reasons, including finding out that the job is not what you want to do! However it is not always easy to obtain experience in the area you think that you want to work in, particularly when you are still at school. To help you, as a parent or carer, help your child find a work experience placement we have included some suggestions of organisations to approach.

Pre-16 students. It is difficult to get experience in a laboratory or other industrial setting because, at this age, students who are not studying post-16 science courses are unlikely to achieve the maximum benefit from such placements due to lack of understanding of the science involved. Hospitals also don’t normally take students of this age for work experience.

The opportunity to carry out a work experience placement is, however, valuable even if it is unrelated to a future career. Some pharmaceutical companies offer work experience in office areas to local students.

However work experience also includes paid work and a job at the weekend, or in an evening, can sometimes give an insight into careers in science. A job in a pharmacy, for example, would be relevant to anyone interested in a medically related career.

16-18: At this age it is often left up to the student to organise a placement in an area related to their future plans for study or work. However there are organisations that can help.

Nuffield Bursary Placements, often in industry or universities, are 4-6 week placements which are taken up during the summer holiday between Year 12 and 13. The student will be set a project to carry out during this period, normally something of relevance to the organisation. Information on these can be found on their website.

Some pharmaceutical companies offer week long and longer placements during school holidays. These are only likely to be offered to local students. Details may be available on their website.

Gap year placements are offered by some companies. See their websites for details.

University students. Some university courses offer a ‘year in industry’ as part of the course, these are invaluable and should always be taken up if offered. The year is paid at a rate that should allow the student to live comfortably for the year, and may allow them to save something towards their final year at university. Other universities offer a shorter period of industry based experience, these are also useful in helping the student develop skills that will be valued by industry.