Work Experience For Work Experience!

[Budlet]

My son applied to a company for a work experience placement. They kept him waiting for nearly seven weeks before telling him that they have appointed someone with more experience. How on earth are kids today supposed to get jobs when they can't even get experience because they need experience!!!

[gordiescotland1]

It probably went to a woman

[Budlet]

That's exactly what my husband said!

[ummmm]

I used to work for a plumber and we had applications for work experience on a daily basis. There are only so many apprentices a company can take on. They actually cost money to train and earn the company nothing.

What field of work is your son wanting to go into?

[factor-fiction]

It's frustrating but I suppose the person who got the job must have been in the same position of having no experience at some stage yet still managed to get on the ladder (although I suppose that could have been through personal contacts).
The easiest way in is usually through a contact or through something where he can show a real interest. I wish him luck

[Barquentine]

Try and think laterally. There may be a sideways way in. Is there anything in the same/similar field where your son could volunteer? Keep applying as well since it can be just a numbers game. Set an upper limit though. In 1999 I read about a law graduate who applied to 679 firms before he got a training contract. I set that as my limit and was successful after only 170 odd applications!

[Prudie]

I'm a bit confused because work experience does not usually end in appointment. I oversee about 12 work experience students a year but they are on short unpaid - well- experience. What exactly did your son apply for and was it advertised?

[nailit]

Im 48 and have had the same thing. And Im not a kid :-(
God help us

[factor-fiction]

Hi Prudie- I read it that this was just a short term work experience placement (which I assume would have been unpaid). It could have been one of those one or two week ones students do in Year 10 or maybe it was a sort of internship (although I think Budlet would have used that term if it was).
The reference to getting a job was asking how could one get a job that required experience if it's so difficult even to get a placement (and jence experience) in the first place

[ummmm]

I was thinking apprenticeship.

[Prudie]

Hi FF - that is how I read it at first - the short term Yr 10 type which is the one I deal with. There is obviously no expectation that it leads to an appointment. Competition for these places is tough and taking on someone for the short term can quite frankly be a nause for the 'mentor', especially if they have no experience. It was the use of 'appointment' that threw me as though Budlet's son was applying for a placement that would lead to a job. Different type of work experience IMO.

[factor-fiction]

Yes, I think when Budlet says "....appointed someone with more experience" I think she meant "gave the work experience placement...". I suppose some firms will take part in these schemes each year but can only offer one or two places.