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Work Experience

Work experience is a great addition to your CV. It can help to demonstrate your capabilities and commitment to an employer, and can support your job, university, or apprenticeship application by highlighting skills that are both relevant and transferable to what you are applying for.

Start Your Career in Health and Social Care

Not in education, employment or training? Aged 19 – 24 and on Universal Credit?

The Kickstart Scheme is a fantastic way for you to start on a career pathway with the NHS working within General Practice, Dental Practices and the Health and Social Care sector. The Kickstart Scheme will support you in developing new skills and experience working in a vibrant environment on a quality paid placement and the potential of a permanent progressive career position on completion of your initial six month paid work placement (25 hours per week).

What sort of Kickstart roles are available? 

  • NHS — Admin Assistant, Receptionist, Healthcare Assistant, Care Assistant, Activity and Entertainment Co-ordinator (these roles are continually updated)

Prince’s Trust will support with:

  • Employability support
  • 3 – 6 months of 1 to 1 mentoring
  • Guaranteed Kickstart interview
  • MYND Up mental health support

Nottingham City Council are looking for casual business administration staff to support their staff.

You can find more information including how to apply below.

NCW WOW Show

During the current COVID-19 crisis, it may not be possible to access your work experience or have to so the NCW WOW Show — CareersCast Q&A is now available to view and may help you!

You can access the NCW WOW Show here.

This is the follow up programme to our It’s Your Future show produced for National Careers Week and where the employers featured in the NCW show were able to talk to students directly to answer their questions and provide key information and website links. 

Here are five advantages of work experience:

  • Enhance your competitive edge
    • Show that you have been proactive — with so much competition for jobs and apprenticeships it’s important to stand out from the crowd. School or college leavers will not have much previous experience in the roles they’re applying for, but if you have undertaken some work experience, in a related industry – this can make a big difference to both your application and your confidence in the role you are applying for. 
  • Transferable skills employers want
    • Communication skills, team work, problem solving, motivation and time management are all soft skills; essential in the workplace and valued by employers
  • A taste of industry
    • Shadowing and observing colleagues – and asking questions, will give you the opportunity to find out first-hand if the job is for you. Work experience can support you in deciding if a role or industry is a good fit for you. Increased workplace confidence and sector knowledge leads to informed choices — helping you to decide on the type of job, apprenticeship or course 
  • Build relationships for the future
    • Online platforms like LinkedIn allow you to network and build relationships with industry professionals. Representing yourself in a positive and professional manner can lead to increased opportunities for job advancement both internally and externally
  • Personal Development
    • Along with the soft skills and technical skills you’ll develop on work placement, you’ll have the chance to build your confidence in a working environment and enhance your communication skills. By reflecting on everything you achieved during your placement, you will enhance your professional development and this will set you apart from less-experienced peers.