Help me make daughter stand out! Work experiance 2010

Penny-Pincher!!

I'm not sure what Trident is and no, it's not a vet.

The letter the school sent out 2 months ago encouraged the parents to help the children with their choice of placement.

If she gets offered this placement, it will give her opportunity for the future. Like I said before, there are 15 openings and over 2000 applicants each year, so its fierce competition!

She doesnt go on Bebo or Myspace.

They do have certain requirements for candidates and DD has this written into her referances. You can also only apply from certain postcodes.

Thanks for all the constructual advice.

PP
xx

SUESMITH_2

trident is the company that most schools use to sort out work placements

i wish her every luck, what is it she wants to do?

my friends daughter wanted to do theatrical costumery sp? and she was v lucky and got a placement with a very nice place where thats all they do, she discovered after working there that it wasnt for her - shes off to do social anthropology now!

cbrown372

So is it the company that she has to apply to that only take on 15 applicants out of 2,000, if so there are enough hoops they have to jump through with the schools career officers visiting to check health and safety, insurance etc along with reading through 2,000 application forms. The last thing anyone is going to have to do is sit down and watch a powerpoint or video of each and every student.

Sorry if thats not construtual enough for you but if I was sifting through 2,000 applications the ones that would stand out for me are short and to the point.

UglyBetty

From experience, sifting through so many applications is difficult when you have time constraints, so as SueSmith and others said don't make a CD, Video or USB stick as they won't have time to view it. Also ensure that there are no mistakes and the form is filled in perfectly (incorrect ones are easily sifted out). Same goes for drawing on envelopes etc. Follow the guidelines to the letter, and advise your daughter to consider all (alternative) options and to get some voluntary work underway. She could also send/take her 'CV' round to other places that she wants to go to. It's tough out there and sometimes the most unexpected results happen from disappointment if you stay determined and positive. Focus on the end goal (ie relevant work experience) and not just the one limited option (x company). Good Luck!

judyjetson

What is the work experience connected with? Is it working with animals, is it art-based or both? If it's the former, I would steer clear from the artwork, however talented your daughter is. If it's not relevant, it will detract from her application.

Previous work experience or volunteering, however, will be advantageous.

A far cry from my day, when it was just what do you want to do and we'll send you there. I wanted to be a journalist so it was off to the local paper. I decided not to pursue that route but ironically, via a couple of jobs I did end up in media.

thisuseridistakenagain

sounds like you have it all covered there. if you are sending photos maybe send some of her with the annimals for a cute touch.

never_enough

cbrown372 wrote: »

So is it the company that she has to apply to that only take on 15 applicants out of 2,000, if so there are enough hoops they have to jump through with the schools career officers visiting to check health and safety, insurance etc along with reading through 2,000 application forms. The last thing anyone is going to have to do is sit down and watch a powerpoint or video of each and every student.

Sorry if thats not construtual enough for you but if I was sifting through 2,000 applications the ones that would stand out for me are short and to the point.

Agree with this.
Hope she gets the one she wants, but don't worry too much, it's only a work placement.
The main thing is that she learns something from wherever she ends up.

Alcmene

I would suggest making her application utterly professional. Make sure it looks amazing, is complete, and above all does not contain any mistakes.

cbrown372

thisuseridistakenagain wrote: »

sounds like you have it all covered there. if you are sending photos maybe send some of her with the annimals for a cute touch.

As you have thanked this post I take it this is considered constructual advice whereas I'd say the opposite. Cute touches are for school project work,a short, consise and accurate application form is for work experience.

Woby_Tide

I know you obviously don't want to mention what the placement is for whatever reason but if you give an indication of what field it is in and what role she wants then someone in that field/sector may be able to offer some better inside/direct advice.