Experience needed

Most schools organise work experience in Year 10 or 11, often with the help of outside agencies. Your school, probably with outside expert help, will make sure that your placement is safe, and will probably help to find a suitable business for you.

The benefits of experience:

• it gives you an insight into the world of work
• it enables you to 'taste' different work areas
• it gives a positive message to future employers about you, especially if you have gained encouraging reports
• it may help you to make decisions about your future
• you gain transferable skills
• you gain an understanding of the expectations when you are working with others.

But how do you get experience?

Speak to your school staff member who organises work experience, your careers co-ordinator or Connexions personal adviser.

Work experience

Although you probably won't get paid, the new skills you gain and new contacts you make will be very valuable to you when you are applying for work or for a college place in the future.

You can also try work shadowing (being alongside someone while they are doing a specific role). Try to find contacts through family and friends.

Part-time or holiday work

Getting a part-time job or holiday work will build your employability skills. Sometimes they can even lead to permanent jobs.

Voluntary work

There are many ways in which you could do voluntary work, some of which may offer opportunities for accreditation.

• Vinspired - helps people aged 16-25 to find volunteering opportunities. Visit www.vinspired.com
• The Prince's Trust - runs a range of programmes for people aged 14-30 and aims to build confidence, motivation and team-building skills. Courses last between one and six months, locally and further afield. Call 0800 842 842 or visit www.princes-trust.org.uk
• The Duke of Edinburgh's Award - is for people aged 14-25 and offers three levels of award: bronze, silver and gold. The award is split into service and skills. Visit : www.theaward.org
• Youth Parliament - is aimed at people aged 11-18, has over 300 elected members and works just like the real parliament. Your views could be heard by politicians and organisations. Visit : www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk

This is less common for school leavers, but at 18 some students have a gap year before moving into higher education. This means taking a year off to study, work or travel, at home or abroad, before beginning their higher education course. You can find out more at your local Connexions centre or visit : www.yearoutgroup.org or www.connexions-direct.com.