Year 10 Work Experience Programme
Contents
- Templates for e-mails/letters to employers
- How to add a placement to Grofar
- Student checklist for the work placement
Deadline for placement applications
Applying for Work Experience
A well written work experience application letter or email could make all the difference when it comes to being considered for your work experience placement. Not only will it help you to stand out from other applicants, but it can also help you be successful in gaining your chosen placement.
We have drafted work experience letters and email templates to give you a few ideas and help get you started. Remember that these are only an example and should be amended and adapted to showcase you, your interests and your reasons for wanting a placement with them.
What you need to tell the employer:
- Your contact details – full postal address (including a phone number and email address if you have one)
- If you are applying by email, make sure your email address is suitable and not offensive to anyone
- The dates of your work experience
- What kind of role you are looking for
- Your career goals (and why this placement would help you)
- A little bit about yourself – like your skills, interests, hobbies if you are part of any clubs, teams or any achievements you have both in and out of school
- And importantly why you want this placement!
Remember to be professional, polite and to always check your grammar, punctuation, and any spelling mistakes.
Work Experience placement email template 1
Work Experience placement email template 2
Login In to Grofar: All students should have received an invitation to their school e-mail (sent 01.11.23).
- You’ll need to enter your username and password in the fields. If you are 1st time user, you might be asked to generate a password.
- Press ‘Login’. This will take you through to your Grofar dashboard.
Getting started
Your student portal is designed to track your work experience activity. It is the story of your development, your experiences, your knowledge, and your skills.
Introduction to the Student Portal 2 min video: https://passportsupport.grofar.com/hc/en-gb/articles/17819066929553-Video-Introduction-to-the-Student-Portal
Entering placement details on Grofar
- To start searching for opportunities on the system click the opportunities tab on the left-hand side. You can also search by company using the businesses tab.
- This will take you to the opportunities page. you can search for opportunities to find out a bit more about the work placement. These opportunities have supported WEX in previous years. Use the filter option to narrow your search results.
- From your selection you can then look at the company details, find a contact name and email address for the company, you are also able to view google maps to find out where company is based.
If you like the look of this placement, you can add it to your applications (wish list)
- All your potential placements will now sit in the applications tab.
Contact the company if you are interested to get further info by calling them or sending an email.
- Once you have had confirmation back from the employer that they are happy to take you on placement, remove the other opportunities until you are left with just the one you are interested and then select apply. This will then send your request to your tutor and the H&S team for checking.
How to apply for an opportunity that doesn’t exist on the database.
You may be accepted by a company that doesn’t exist on the database. For example, it could be a placement with a family members business. If this is the case, you can add this opportunity to the database.
- Simply Click the placements tab. Then click on the little pencil icon (edit placement)
- Fill out the details of placement.
- Don’t forget an emergency contact person. This could be the school or your parents/carers.
- Once completed read the statement and tick to say you understand. And submit. This will now go to your teacher for review.
- Help and Support: If you get stuck at any point, then Grofar has got a useful guide and videos on how to use the system.
Or speak to the Careers and work experience coordinator in your school.
Work Experience Process/Stages
- Find placement – students to approach employers and agree placements
- Students & parents complete and sign consent form and return to tutor/Mrs Berry
- Students add details of placements onto Grofar (for approval)
- Work experience co-ordinator ([email protected]) checks and approves applications and sends them to EBL for H&S checks
- Closing date for applications is 15th March 2024
- EBL approve or decline placements and students advised (this can take 8-12 weeks)
- Students ensure they attend any required induction pre-placements and/or ensure they are prepared
- Placement starts (8th – 11thJuly 2024)
Student Checklist for your Work Experience Placement
Work experience gives you an insight into the world of work, and possibly to the field of your chosen career. It also helps you gain valuable skills and experience so you can make more informed choices about your next steps, either into higher education or the world of work.
Your responsibilities before placement:
- Be organised – ensure you contact the placement and know when you need to arrive, where to report to and what the dress code is. Find out about breaks/lunches and whether you need to take a packed lunch with you.
Your responsibilities on placement:
- Make a good first impression – make sure you are suitably dressed
- Be organised – arrive at your placement at the agreed start time, and have everything you need for the day
- Notify both the placement and school ([email protected] / call 01630 652121) as soon as possible in the event of absence.
- Get involved – the more you get stuck in, the more experience you’ll gain.
- Discuss any difficulties you may have with the placement and school’s work experience co-ordinator ([email protected]) if they arise.
- Observe confidentiality at all times and adhere to the policies and procedures relevant to that placement, including health & safety policies and instructions.
Remember the employer is giving their time to support you in the placement, so be respectful and professional and enjoy the experience!
