Work Experience for a year 11 student

[Teapot69]

Hi everyone not posted on here before but have followed for quite a while and have now signed up and ready to get involved, i think!

Its a big want for my 15 year old son who needs work experience for this December he will do anything but would love to get some work experience in computing either sales or repairs. We think he's talented (but we would) he has built his own computer from scratch and is always updating it, drives us crazy with his computer chat. he is always repairing computers for his friends and just seems to be very good with his hands.

I know most 15 year olds will not have much to offer but he does know how to work hard. He currently works two evenings a week washing up in a fish and chip shop and does a paper round every night.

He knows that work experience means just that but he just cant get his foot in the door.

He has tried all the "big" stores and some smaller ones. He's know even looking at other options but i think it would be a shame if he couldn't go into a computing environment just so he can see if this is the career he wants to follow.

He will kill me by the way for doing this.

Any suggestions?

 

[John Marwood]

Take out special insurance

If he's successful your family then has some kind of income to live on

 

[Withnail]

The place on Eastgate Street is the only independent left standing that I can think of.

* rummages *

Stafford Computing - http://www.stafford-towncentre.co.uk/directory/1147/Stafford+Computing.htm

 

[John Marwood]

The place on Eastgate Street is the only independent left standing that I can think of.

* rummages *

Stafford Computing - http://www.stafford-towncentre.co.uk/directory/1147/Stafford+Computing.htm

Surely you are not advising mixing with the enemy

Isn't this the place owned by the Conservative Councillor who sits on the planning committee and voted for building on Doxey Marshes ?

 

[proactive]

The place on Eastgate Street is the only independent left standing that I can think of.

* rummages *

Stafford Computing - http://www.stafford-towncentre.co.uk/directory/1147/Stafford+Computing.htm

No.

Just no.

 

[Bob]

There are many local companies that have an in house IT department so don't stop with the just the computer specific companies. To be fair though it sounds like your son could potential be better of staying away from the likes of PC world where any talent would be well and truly wasted.

Try the likes of screwfix and JCB, from what I've heard both companies are big on apprenticeships , the same may apply to work experience and they're are bound to have full time IT staff. Also target companies who advertise that the manage/sell their own software. There's a health and safety company on the Technology park who have developed in house software and sell that along with organising health and safety training. They may be worth contacting as there is the aspect of the computers and the sales.

In terms of the computer sales, possibly look at any retailer in electronics, or possibly just any role in sales to gain that experience. The same could apply to the repairs, maybe and electrical company or possibly a car dealership as most modern vehicles are mostly computerised now.

The problem you will have is insurance, most employers liability won't cover below the age of 16 which is why you are possibly struggling, one option could be to suggest that you could take out your own or offer covering the cost of any amendment to their policy depending on your financial situation, though I have no idea what the costs involved would be.

Good luck

 

[Carole]

Has he tried looking further afield?

Perhaps do a search for all computer based companies in the area and then work out which ones he can get to...for example Wolverhampton and Birmingham are easily accessible on the train.

Then e mail ALL of them listing all the reasons why they should choose him....keen, hardworking etc.

If he does Facebook or Twitter then he needs to get the word out there of what he is looking for.

When applying for something he really needs to spell out his good points, it's not a time to be coy, you have to big yourself up in a confident way without appearing too full of yourself. He also needs to mention that he has done a paper round....it shows that he can get up early and therefore turn up on time!!

I wish him the best of luck.

 

[Withnail]

No.

Just no.

Are you Nancy Reagan? I thought you died?

 

[Mikinton]

Try the local councils' IT departments (via their personnel sections, maybe). They don't really do "sales", or "repairs", but when I worked for the county they used to regularly take work experience students, and the experience they got was quite broad. Indeed, my son did two weeks (I think,) working with the Education Department's IT unit in Hixon, fixing, installing and configuring stuff. which he quite enjoyed. It was a long time ago (13 years?) and they'll be Entrust now, but I imagine the unit still exists somewhere nearby.

 

[proactive]

PC World also do work experience. Yes I know it's PC World but a job's a job.

Also, if he's as proficient with computers as you say then he might like to invest a few quid in some businesz insurance (it's actually very cheap) and place cards in the appropriate places touting for repair work.

 

[kyoto49]

IT dept's in big companies don't really do this type of support, building PC's and stuff. Generally they buy PC's ready built, get the supplier warranty, and if it's not fixable the whole unit get scrapped. Gone are the days when they upgraded a graphics card, or such like as most of them nowadays are onboard the motherboard.

You could try Stone Computers as they build computers to supply to IT departments:

https://www.stonegroup.co.uk/

Having said all of that, work expereince isn't about the place you work, but gaining necessary skills for work, so communications, processes etc so any big company no matter what their field will give good expereince of the working environment

 

[Teapot69]

Everyone a very big THANK YOU.

Lots and lots of ideas that i hadnt even considered. Will brave the said 15 year old later when he comes in and show him what ive done.

 

[Teapot69]

Take out special insurance

If he's successful your family then has some kind of income to live on

love it - but said 15 year old needs likes my cooking and doesnt do his own washing so stuck with me if he knows whats good.

 

[Teapot69]

IT dept's in big companies don't really do this type of support, building PC's and stuff. Generally they buy PC's ready built, get the supplier warranty, and if it's not fixable the whole unit get scrapped. Gone are the days when they upgraded a graphics card, or such like as most of them nowadays are onboard the motherboard.

You could try Stone Computers as they build computers to supply to IT departments:

https://www.stonegroup.co.uk/

Having said all of that, work expereince isn't about the place you work, but gaining necessary skills for work, so communications, processes etc so any big company no matter what their field will give good expereince of the working environment

Very true ..

 

[Teapot69]

PC World also do work experience. Yes I know it's PC World but a job's a job.

Also, if he's as proficient with computers as you say then he might like to invest a few quid in some businesz insurance (it's actually very cheap) and place cards in the appropriate places touting for repair work.

To be honest he wanted to do this but i had stopped him as i was worried about people "complaining" if he made a mistake and computer parts are not cheap if you mess up but your suggestion of insurance is a good one so i'll look into that thanks

 

[Teapot69]

Has he tried looking further afield?

Perhaps do a search for all computer based companies in the area and then work out which ones he can get to...for example Wolverhampton and Birmingham are easily accessible on the train.

Then e mail ALL of them listing all the reasons why they should choose him....keen, hardworking etc.

If he does Facebook or Twitter then he needs to get the word out there of what he is looking for.

When applying for something he really needs to spell out his good points, it's not a time to be coy, you have to big yourself up in a confident way without appearing too full of yourself. He also needs to mention that he has done a paper round....it shows that he can get up early and therefore turn up on time!!

I wish him the best of luck.

thank you. we have told him all this but as you would expect we come from the dark ages and dont know what we are talking about! he is not very good at "bigging himself up and often misses out becasue of his lack of self belief. However i shall be showing him your reply and others so he knows that others think and say the same.

 

[littleme]

Oooo - try Staffordshire Police - I know it may sound odd, but my son did his work experience there & they did lots of IT along with 'other' stuff that I probably shouldn't mention...

 

[littleme]

Oooooooooooor - try the schools own IT department....having the insurance is your main problem & the school defiantly has insurance!

 

[Bob]

He's looking forward to having a week away from school so, if not his school possibly another in the area.

 

[proactive]

To be honest he wanted to do this but i had stopped him as i was worried about people "complaining" if he made a mistake and computer parts are not cheap if you mess up but your suggestion of insurance is a good one so i'll look into that thanks

A bit of public liability and professional indemnity insurance for the sort if cover he would need wouldn't be very much at all. These types of insurance are much cheaper than car/home insurances.

It also gives you peace of mind if after repairing someone's computer, they then claim that it caused their house to burn down etc etc.