Year 10 Work EXPERIENCE

Next week all our Year 10 students will undertake a week of Work Experience.

This can be an unnerving time as well as an exciting one.

Whilst we, as parents, are quite used to the world of work, if we put ourselves in our children’s shoes and remember our first day of work, we can go a little way to understanding some of their apprehensions and trepidation. Having a good discussion prior to going can go a long way to alleviate their anxiety. Some of the things we can do as parents to help our kids could include the following:

Help to prepare what they will wear to work (please hairdressers ….. don’t wear high heels - your feet may never recover!). Make sure you are warm and comfortable. If you are working outdoors – wear layers and bring a coat.

Take a traffic run prior to starting so you know what time you will need to leave home. One of the worst things you can do is be late on your first day. If you are taking public transport, make sure you have a timetable – take an earlier bus/train rather than aiming to be there just on time. BEING ON TIME MEANS TEN MINUTES BEFORE YOUR SHIFT STARTS. This will give you a chance to put your bag/backpack down or use the bathroom if you need.

Ensure you know the name of your boss/supervisor and always use their name. You may need to ask if they prefer to be called Mr Smith or John. This is a sign of respect.

Make sure you use good eye contact. This is the first port of communication and SO important. It suggests confidence and interest. Remember if you are not feeling it …. fake it until you make it!

If your child feels unsafe … please contact the school immediately so this can be dealt with. (Of course, this is different than feeling uncomfortable as we would expect in a situation where we are out of our comfort zone)

If your child is upset and doesn’t want to return the next day - if there is nothing untoward but they are simply overwhelmed, talk through this with them – it is PERFECTLY NORMAL to feel challenged. This is part of their learning.

Make sure they have lunch on the first day – they will not know if there is somewhere to buy lunch until they get there. They need to be fueled adequately. A water bottle is a must.

Allow them the independence that this experience will require of them – it is sometimes hard to watch our kids go into the great unknown.

Your child will get a student pack from school that includes the Work Experience arrangement form, a booklet for them to fill out to help them get the most out of the experience, a letter about what to expect and their Occupational Health and Safety certificates - they can show their employer these to show that this legal requirement has been undertaken.

It must go without saying – IF YOUR CHILD IS UNWELL AND UNABLE TO ATTEND WORK - CONTACT THE EMPLOYER AT THE VERY START OF THE DAY AND CONTACT THE SCHOOL. The Work Experience arrangement form will have the names and numbers of all parties involved.

A staff member will be in contact - either a visit will be arranged or the student and employer will be contacted by phone.

I wish each and every one of our Year 10 students a great experience – there is a lot to discover about this program, not just about the industry they are entering but also about themselves.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL!

Term 2 School Holiday short courses at Frankston, Dandenong and MP TTC’s

Mrs Elena Flodstrom

Careers and Pathways Coordinator

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