Work Experience: Work Experience

Each student at the College is expected to take part in a minimum of 30-hours external work experience relevant to their planned career route. Your progress coach will talk to you about the most suitable option for you dependent on your future career plans and aspirations. Here are some options available:

• External work placement with an employer 30 hours
• Volunteering for 30 hours
• Online work experience programme with Speakers for School or an industry body
• Industry Placement of 315 hours + (T level students only).

To help you develop key employability skills you may also wish to complete some of the Continuing Personal Development (CPD) options below to prepare you for your 30 hours work experience: 

• Internal placement within a department of Lincoln College
• Social action project
• HE / UCAS event interactions
• Student enterprise project
• Project You activities

During 2021, Connor completed 32 hours work experience with a company who were building an extension on a customer's house. Connor enjoyed his work experience, in particular learning how to do the roof rafters and use power tools, despite both being new challenging experiences for him.   He developed his communication skills by asking questions and requesting guidance when needed. His experience of working with others helped him to improve his teamwork skills and he realised the importance of completing work on time. 

The whole experience confirmed to Connor that he had made the right career choice and he is even more determined to progress to Level 2 Site Carpentry. He was able to document the work he did by taking photos to create his own portfolio to show potential employers. So, he also feels more confident about approaching larger companies for an Industry Placement or Apprenticeship next year.

During your CPD session and your progress review you can discuss your career progression with your progress coach. They can support with:

• Choosing the right work experience option for you
• CV writing
• Researching organisations for placement
• Interview practice
• Target setting for placement
• Improving personal skills for your chosen industry
• Accepting feedback and developing for the future  
• Creating a LinkedIn profile

Your Progress Coach will support you to develop your skills and knowledge so that you can successfully find and complete an industry-related work experience placement during the academic year.  You will need to be proactive in approaching potential work experience placement providers using your own connections and networks, alongside exploring those opportunities created by the College.

How your work experience will help your career progression 

Learners are encouraged to have a choice in the skills knowledge and behaviours they wish to develop on placement and placement targets aim to reflect a young person’s individual career plan. For example, if you have an aspiration to move into an apprenticeship then work experience in a company that already supports apprentices may be preferable, to ensure you can gain the relevant experience and have an opportunity to ask questions and learn about your chosen route before committing to it. Equally, if your aspiration is to go onto higher education then you may choose to immerse yourself in UCAS activities and visiting or virtually taking part in University open days and course selections days, before you then complete your 30 hours of external work experience. Even if your overall plan is to go onto HE we always recommend completing some external work experience in the industry of your career direction, to test out if it may be something that interests you.