TOWNLEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL CAREERS HUB
Work Experience
Embedded Files
Work experience is what will make you stand out from the crowd and will help you land your dream career. It can help to build your CV and help you discover which career could be right for you.
At Townley Grammar School we encourage you to find your own work placement and where possible, we prefer this to be during the school holidays.
The Benefits of Work Experience
Sharpen your skills
Builds essential employability & technical skills
Boost Employability
Secure a role with practical experience
Test drive your career
Figure out what you enjoy before starting a career
Grow your network
Make professional contacts
Theory into practice
Apply your skills to the real world
Understand reality
Many placements are unpaid but value is high
Hints and Tips from the Careers Department:
Gain hands-on work experience:
Secure a part-time job: earn money while developing vital employability skills
Volunteer your time: Boost your CV by browsing opportunities on platforms like the NCVO Volunteering Directory or the Doit Life Platform.
Support a Family Venture: Offer your time to help out with a friend or family member's business.
Launch a Micro-Business: Gain ultimate entrepreneurial experience by starting your own small enterprise.
Industry specific & Professional Guidance
Consult Professional Bodies: Look for student resources on major institutional websites, such as:
The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) for engineering roles.
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) for architecture pathways.
The Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) for healthcare routes.
Use Sector-Specific Careers Hubs: Research specialized fields using platforms like Health Careers, Medic Mentor, Tomorrow's Engineers, the Engineering Development Trust (EDT), or The Lawyer Portal.
Direct Employer Research
Utilise Unifrog: Use the Unifrog Apprenticeships Finder Tool to track employer contact details and application pathways.
Check 'Early Careers' Pages: Target employer websites directly to look for school leaver schemes, internships, or graduate tracks.
Scout Social Media: Monitor company Facebook and LinkedIn pages for sudden recruitment drives or local vacancies.
Attend Open Days: Participate in face-to-face or virtual company events to network directly with recruiters.
Explore Digital and Virtual Placements
Try Virtual Work Experience: Access free, flexible, company-backed programs via The Forage or immersive career insights through Springpod.
Apply for Competitive Placements: Connect with modern student networks like Speakers for Schools and Uptree for targeted in-person and virtual insights.
Unifrog
We manage our work experience programme through the Unifrog Placements Tool (www.unifrog.org). This platform streamlines essential administrative tasks, such as collecting employer Risk Assessments and Health & Safety policies, while securing necessary parent/carer approvals.
How the Process Works:
Secure the Role: The student must first agree on the placement details with the employer.
Log the Placement: The student logs into Unifrog and adds the details using the Placements tool on their homepage. Accuracy is vital here to ensure the system works correctly.
Automated Approvals: Unifrog will automatically email the employer, parent/guardian, and school to collect the required permissions and safety information.
Helpful Resources:
Quick-Start Video: To understand the process in under two minutes, check out the Unifrog Student Guide to Placements, which features a short animation showing how everything works.
Full Guide Library: You can browse the complete set of placement resources in the Unifrog Placement Guides.
Learn More: To find out more about how the platform works, visit the official Unifrog website.
Useful Resources
Page updated
Report abuse