What is work experience and what are the benefits?
What is work experience:
Work experience is any activity that helps young people understand what it’s like to work in a real job or career so they can start thinking about what job role or type of work might suit them in the future.
It could include:
- Spending time with a company or organisation
- Working on real work-based tasks or projects
- Talking to professionals about their jobs
- Learning about different careers and skills
In Year 10/11 students usually get the opportunity to have their first work experience in a real working environment. This is normally for a working week, Monday to Friday, and will sometimes be their first chance to be seen as a worker and to see themselves as a worker.
Students also often have work experience opportunities in Y12, through school or college. On some vocational/technical courses, work experience is a compulsory part of the course.
There are different types of work experience. placements.
What are the benefits of work experience:
Work experience is often the first step on a young person’s career journey towards working life. It offers a fantastic opportunity for a young person to show what they are capable of doing in a work situation, it looks good on a CV and is valued by employers.
Taking part in work experience can support young people to:
- Develop self-confidence and skills
- Experience a working environment
- Build experience for a CV
- Make contacts in an industry
- Decide which career path is right for them
- Think about the qualifications they might need to do if they want to do this job in the future
For some students, a positive work experience placement can be life changing!
What is Modern Work Experience?
Because work experience is such an important first step for young people, the government is reframing what schools offer and calling this 'modern work experience'.
Modern work experience gives every young person access to high-quality, multiple workplace experiences.
This aims to connect education and young people with industry and unlock the skills and opportunities of the future workforce.
The government’s ambition is for:
A minimum of two weeks’ worth of work experience by Year 11, made up of:
- At least one week of work experience activities in Years 7–9
- At least one week of placements in Years 10–11
Access for all learners, regardless of background, ensuring equitable participation.
Modern work experience will be implemented from September 2026.
Answers to these other questions might also help you:
- How can I help my child think about types of work and work experiences that might suit them?
- How can I help my child find a work experience placement?
- How can I help my child see what skills they have to offer to a work experience placement?
- How can I help my child prepare an email to send to an employer requesting work experience?
- How can I help my child get ready for a work placement so they feel more confident?
