What are the benefits of work experience?
Benefits to students
- Careers education and guidance: raising pupils’ awareness of the factors which may determine career choice and the requirements of particular employment sectors.
- Attainment in individual subjects: enhancing pupils’ understanding of the skills developed within the curriculum.
- Support for vocational qualifications: improving pupils’ understanding of the vocational areas they are studying and acquisition of relevant knowledge and skills.
- Learning about the world of work: preparation for the transition from education to work and a recognition of the kinds of “employability” skills and attitudes required by employers; such as problem solving, flexibility and the ability to work with others.
- General personal and social development: enhancing their self confidence, maturity and their interpersonal skills.
Benefits to employers
Work Experience placements provide many opportunities and benefits to both employers. The most commonly cited by employers are:
1. Influence the quality of future employees: Employers can help improve the quality and preparedness of young people coming onto the labour market.
2. Development of recruitment channels: Building links with local schools can help attract school leavers into jobs and can reduce recruitment costs.
3. Influencing career choices: Many employers have found that work experience placements are the ideal way of raising the profile of career opportunities within their organisation and, in some cases, of dispelling unwarranted stereotyped views.
4. Raising the community profile: Many employers attach importance to raising their profile in the community. Work experience placements provide a valuable means of creating a positive image amongst young people, teachers, parents and employees.
5. Creation of Management development opportunities: The process of policy development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of work experience programmes gives scope for employees to develop their management and coaching skills and widen their experience.
6. Low cost skills development of staff: The student work place supervisors benefit from developing interpersonal, presentation and team working skills. They often gain self-confidence and a sense of worth through their contribution to the development of a young person. Supporting work experience can provide evidence for appraisal systems.
7. Increased motivation of employees: Companies participating in education-business link activities have found that such activities increase the motivation of their employees.
8. Reinforcing good health and safety processes: Having to work through an induction with a young person allows the organisation to review current working practices.
9. Innovation: Students ask questions and bring a new perspective to routine tasks. They often have fresh solutions, or time to research alternative approaches.
10. Real Outcomes: Students can undertake planned projects that staff have not had time to manage.
