Getting work experience can often mean getting your foot on the first rung of the career ladder. Look beyond the fact it will often mean no pay, and see it as a vital stepping stone to your future job.
If you’re on a hospitality or cheffing course, getting work experience is almost certain to be an integral part of your course, and your tutors will help you to set up an appropriate placement.
If you’re trying to get into hospitality, you’ll need to do your research. Start by getting in touch with the National Council for Work Experience http://www.work-experience.org/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/p!eLacegf. At least one hospitality company, Premier Travel Inn, advertises its Business Management Placement Scheme on the NCW’s website, and there are other opportunities for hospitality workers, including some abroad.
Decide what sector you want to work in – contract catering, hotels, restaurants, pubs. There is huge variety in hospitality. Start researching your local area for major employers that could give you valuable work experience.
If you have any contacts in hospitality, they may be able to help you find the vital placement, or advise you on where to go or who to ask.
If you know exactly what you want to do and who you’d like to work for, contact them directly. Show the right kind of enthusiasm and passion for the job, and you could end up in a top kitchen if the head chef likes what he/she sees. See below for tips on writing a covering letter.
It will be up to you to show a potential employer that you can be beneficial to them during the work experience, and not just someone for whom they have to find something to do. Equally, make sure you will get something out of it. Peeling carrots and potatoes all day is all fine and well, but you’ll want to get a bit more out of it than that.
Find out if it will be possible to shadow various people in different departments in order to get an appreciation of the business as a whole. Show willingness to be there late at night or early in the morning, if necessary.
You’re unlikely to get paid for your work experience; however, if the employer likes what he/she sees, there’s a chance they may offer you a job after you finish your work experience, or further down the road.
Even if this employer can’t use you, they may be able to provide you with a vital reference for another job, and it will provide you with actual experience that another employer may see as a key advantage.
Basic employability skills can be gained during work experience, including: working in a team; leadership; negotiation; sales and marketing; communication; problem solving; creativity and personal effectiveness.
The people you meet could also be useful. In addition to making new friends, these people could move on and recommend you to a new employer, so be sure you keep in touch with them once you leave.
To get the most out of the experience, you need to plan for it. Know exactly what you want to get out of it, and afterwards look back on the experience to reflect what you have gained.
Writing a letter to get work experience
• Finding work experience can be a bit like finding a job. Your covering letter needs to draw attention to your skills and abilities, your passion and desire to gain work experience from that particular company.
• Try to show that you’ve done some research about the company (look at its website, at the very least) and use the information in the letter to show that you are keen and interested. Be sure to include your CV, and refer to it in your covering letter. Even if you don’t have any relevant experience, try to detail your strengths.
• Concentrate on telling the employer how they will benefit from taking you on for work experience.
• Keep your letter short – four or five paragraphs on one side of A4.