Step Three: Choosing the Right Work Experience

There are two types of work experience: on-site and virtual placements.  So, what is the difference?

On-site work experience

These are placements where you will work alongside others in a work environment like an office, laboratory, factory, shop, hotel or perhaps outdoors. The length of a work experience placement could be from one day to a few weeks, and it is usually unpaid. It offers a chance to gain practical insights about an organisation and what the day-to-day jobs involve there.

Being placed with an organisation is a great way to:
• Find out more about different jobs in the area you are interested in.
• Network for future jobs.
• Earn valuable experience and develop new skills.
• Have a real employee experience.
• Learn about a company’s recruitment process.

RSC Education has a helpful guide on their website, for secondary school students thinking about work experience, check it out here.

Virtual work experience

These can provide you with an insight into what it’s like to work in an industry or job whilst working from home or remotely. These opportunities can range from half a day to one week. They may last longer depending on their nature and your age. Virtual work experience placements are available in a range of industries, from fashion to technology, law to marketing, and more.

Not all virtual work experience is the same. Some virtual opportunities are open to everyone. They tend to provide a platform to find out more about the job, view pre-recorded videos on what it’s like to work there and virtual tours and possibly take part in some live Q&A sessions.

More structured virtual opportunities tend to have a competitive application process. These roles may provide you with a supervisor, give you project work and enable you to access networking and training opportunities. Virtual work experience could include:

  • Consuming digital training materials (e.g.  reading articles and watching videos).
  • Taking virtual tours of work premises.
  • Live sessions (via video calls and online meetings using conferencing tools like Zoom).
  • Completing activities at home and sending the results to your supervisor for feedback.

The Parents’ Guide has a good blog on why a virtual work experience might be the right path for you, read it here.Best Apprenticeships also has a handy guide to virtual work experience, for more information.

We have produced a handy pros and cons document to help you decide:

Download it here

Check out the other steps...

Step One: Narrowing Your Options

Find out the questions you need to ask yourself to help narrow your options and figure out what you want from your work experience.

Find out more about 'Step One: Narrowing Your Options'

Step Two: Exploring What Jobs You Could Do

Explore what jobs you could do as part of your work experience and find out what careers other blind and partially sighted people are doing.

Find out more about 'Step Two: Exploring What Jobs You Could Do'

Step Four: Identifying an Employer

Find out about the different approaches you can take to finding your work experience opportunity.

Find out more about 'Step Four: Identifying an Employer'

Step Five: Approaching an Employer

Discover how to make the approach to the employer you wish to set up your work experience with and don’t forget to download our handy approach letter template!

Find out more about 'Step Five: Approaching an Employer'

Step Six: Getting the Right Support in Place

Find out what you need to do to make sure you have all the right support in place to make the most of your work experience.

Find out more about 'Step Six: Getting the Right Support in Place'

Step Seven: After Your Work Experience

Learn how to use what you have gained from your work experience to benefit the next step of your education or career journey.

Find out more about 'Step Seven: After Your Work Experience'
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