• Question: What did you do for work experience? I'll be doing that in two years - or next year, I don't really know! Any recommendations on where to go? (Maybe take a look at what I want to do when I'm older, if you have the time to stop by my profile that is!).

    Asked by Cadet Faith to Greg, Jen, Laura, Mobeen, Paul on 7 Mar 2016.
    • Photo: Greg Melia

      Greg Melia answered on 7 Mar 2016:

      I was in the air cadets in school, so I arranged some work experience working on the Tornado jets at an RAF station. Unfortunately, the September 11th attacks happened just before I was due to go there, so all the planes flew out to Afghanistan and I had nothing to do!

    • Photo: Laura Haworth

      Laura Haworth answered on 7 Mar 2016:

      I have done a bit of work experience- in a dentists and in lots of different departments in a hospital. It is so important to do work experience as it gives you a real insight into a job and if you might like it and helps massively when applying for jobs even if it is not totally specific to the job you are applying for. I see you want to do something with horse- would you ever consider veterinary science and specialising with horses? Get experience in lots of things you think might interest you and see what you think!

    • Photo: Jen Lowe

      Jen Lowe answered on 7 Mar 2016:

      I did work experience in a lab at the University of Southampton. I got to slice up some possum brains, stain them and put them on slides so they could be looked at under a microscope. I got to see experiments done on rats. I did some electrical safety testing-so boring – no wonder they gave it to the work experience kid to do…
      I found it really interesting to see what scientists in labs do, experience a University environment and be treated like a student rather than a secondary school kid in a class. I recommend choosing something as close as possible to what you are considering doing when you are older – aim high and be ambitious – don’t think ‘I could never do that’. If you want to do a particular job you will be motivated to get the qualifications and experience you need.

    • Photo: Paul O'Mahoney

      Paul O'Mahoney answered on 8 Mar 2016:

      I saw on your profile that you are interested in horse riding – maybe there is a local stable where you could do your work experience? It might give you a good idea of what it’d be like to do it for a living!

    • Photo: Mobeen Ali

      Mobeen Ali answered on 9 Mar 2016:

      I’ve done lots of different things. I’ve shadowed a doctor, worked in a computer recycling shop, made and looked after websites and done some teaching.

      Do want ever interests you or is related to what you want to do in the future. Also try to do as many things as possible as it will develop many different skills and you can use the work experiences as examples of the skills that you have.

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