Work Experience

[Swerve]

Being in year 10, I need to sort out where to go for work experience. I already know I would at least like to do something in retail as long as its available. Anyway, where have you done/where do you want to do work experience at?

[RYEB79]

I just lied like a good un and had 2 week off instead.

[Caesar]

Originally Posted by Swerve

I already know I would at least like to do something in retail as long as its available.

Why why why why why why WHY!!!

I work in retail and it's shhiiittttte (technically that's not a profanity). You find out there are people who have managed to reach a level of stupidity you may not have thought possible for human beings. And then there's the attention seekers that will make your life hell just for the sake of having people look at them while they scream their head off. Customers are human scum.

[Ed00wii]

I just lied like a good un and had 2 week off instead.

I'm in year 11, it's really a good quote (although there was lots of pressure for me to do it, and I stupidly did). Looking back I wish I'd have not done it at all, trust me - it's awful for almost everyone...I look back in hindsight that I couldn't have the initiative to just skip it.

As for Caesars comment

You find out there are people who have managed to reach a level of stupidity you may not have fought possible for human beings

I couldn't agree any more. Last year I did the Entertainer (kids shop)...It was dour. I beleive work experience is pretty pointless. ESPECIALLY in retail (I also work in an office which was better). But really, retail is full of thick peoples. And what's worse is that they (for once in their life) have some power over you. I felt drained after my week there, I hope that's the only time in my life that a dumb person has any kind of small power over me.

Also, I can honestly say that in retail, you learn what the other employees have learned in about 1 hour... But you don't get paid for it - after that it's all down hill and boring as ****e.

Trust RYEB...DON'T do it - it's not illegal

[snazy20]

Originally Posted by RYEB79

I just lied like a good un and had 2 week off instead.

Hehe, likewise best 2 weeks hols I had no measly school kids lurking about...had to pull a 'sicky' when my tutor said she was going to visit - I phoned the school when I knew it was my turn...

Happy days...

[hillyjo13]

i did mine at quarrybank primary school and it was great fun but did really bad and i mean really bad in my exams and ended up as a builder (quite a career change but rewarding none the less ) loved every minute of work experiance

[Nicko]

It's the most pointless exercise in the human world. You'd be very lucky to get a place anywhere that would even remotely benefit you in future life. Just pick the place that sounds least boring and get it over with.

[Ed00wii]

Indeed - I don't know why it's so over hyped by schools, it doesn't teach you anything.

Just either don't go (you can't get in trouble for being 'sick') or go to a SMALL place

[nutter]

I'm gonna disagree with you lot. I had my work experience 2 years ago in year 10, i managed to find my own placement in an apple repair place called "amsys". Now, i want to go into computers, mainly fixing them like what i had done on work experience... and to be honest, im GLAD i did go. For the simple reason that i have learned that it isn't boring, you get to know the workmates and its a right laugh, i thought it would be good then get boring, but i would be happy to do that again and again.

I find them fascinating and can't wait to take them apart/put them back together again. Straight after i turned 16 i applied for a part time job there, but they hadn't any vacancies so it was unfortunate.

If you find something you want to go into, i would recommend trying it out.

IT DOES help, think about it, you WANT to do retail when your older, your spend your whole school/college/(possibly uni) life leading up to it, spend money and time on it. You get the job...and within a week your bored, want to do something different? All them years wasted, atleast if you try retail out now, find out you hate it, you can think of other options

EDIT: dam, that post got long quick

[captainff]

Originally Posted by Ed00wii

But really, retail is full of thick peoples. And what's worse is that they (for once in their life) have some power over you.

Owning a business that faces the general public 360+ days of the year .. .. .. .. the general public suck. They have this attitude that because you work in a shop environment that you MUST be an idiot. I hate suit wearing office workers who have brains the size of rice but because they answer a phone for a living think they're somehow 'better' than you .. .. ..

All lines of work have idiots.. .. .. the things that work experience could teach you is how to spot them from a distance and how to avoid them.

Do it.

Use the experience to your advantage.