Help me make daughter stand out! Work experiance 2010

Mips

I would suggest encouraging her all you can, however, not going over the top is just as important.

If this is built up to hysteria levels, should she not get the placement, she is going to feel rejected, sad..

.. never a good thing for such a young person

Making presentations etc smacks of pushy parenting!

Penny-Pincher!!

Hi Guys!

Thanks for all the replies and apologise for not getting back to all the responses but we've had alot on our plate recently.

DD received a letter this morning shortlisting her to an interview next month. Based on this interview, she will then be given or not given a placement. It will be 15-20 mins and she has to wear smart clothing etc. We've told her to be herself, courteous and attentive. She has done public speaking and interviewing techniques before, so confidence wise I think she will be fine.

They noted in their letter that they were impressed by her school referances, personal statement, picture and eagerness.

She desperately needed some good news as her Grandad has only days to live and has been very upset about it. She understands that she still hasnt got a place, but TBH, DD is just so pleased she has got this far!

Thanks again!

PP
xx

tiamai_d

If nothing else, the interview experience is good.

Best of luck to her, I'm sure she will knock em dead!

RoxieW

Even if she doesnt get it then there is nothing to stop her applying for a similar 'work experience' off of her own back. I have done this several times and each time it has led to an offer of paid work (obv she is younger but it can still be arranged).
I know it is important to you and her but try not to put too much pressure on it. From the numbers you state the odds are still pretty slim no matter what you do and you dont want her to feel too disappointed. It is not the end of her world/future career if she doesnt do the right work placement at 14. In fact - it doesnt really count for a great deal at that age. At the age of 24 or whenever she finishes her education and is looking for work noone will ask what work placement she did at age 14. It counts for even less as a school work placement as students all over the country will be doing the same. Far better for her to arrange some experience off of her own back at 17 - 18 or whenever to help her decide firmly what area she wants to go into and perhaps lead to offer of a job
Not wanting to put a downer on it - realise it seems important right now but pressure and disappointement at such a pivotal/impressionable age can be counter productive.

RoxieW

Penny-Pincher!! wrote: »

Hi Guys!

Thanks for all the replies and apologise for not getting back to all the responses but we've had alot on our plate recently.

DD received a letter this morning shortlisting her to an interview next month. Based on this interview, she will then be given or not given a placement. It will be 15-20 mins and she has to wear smart clothing etc. We've told her to be herself, courteous and attentive. She has done public speaking and interviewing techniques before, so confidence wise I think she will be fine.

They noted in their letter that they were impressed by her school referances, personal statement, picture and eagerness.

She desperately needed some good news as her Grandad has only days to live and has been very upset about it. She understands that she still hasnt got a place, but TBH, DD is just so pleased she has got this far!

Thanks again!

PP
xx

my word - this seems completely over the top for a 14yr olds w.e placement!

RoxieW

Penny-Pincher!! wrote: »

Thanks for the reply.

Its applying for a very popular placement for work experiance.

DD is fully aware of what is involved within work experiance and what it actually means. Of course its going to be hard work! She has known what her career path would roughly be from about age 5 and has worked very hard to get where she is now. Discipline, working well with others, getting up early/leaving late and doing what she is asked is every day practice for her school anyway.

PP
xx

:eek: sorry - just reading through all the posts. Your daughter has about 60 years of further education and work ahead of her. Surely childhood isnt really the place to be thinking so carefully and, as you say. working towards such things? I'm all for work experience placements - as I say, I've done a few and they've always led to good things - but as an adult. The ones done as a CHILD are surely just a taster of 'work' in general and yes, they can be helpful if giving you an idea if you love or hate something but they really arent much more useful then that. I certainly wouldnt pin hopes on your daughter getting opportunities from it - surely she has many more years of education ahead of her first anyway? And it definitely will do her career path no harm if she doesnt get one school w.e. placement at the age of 14. Sorry, have children myself and know it is easy to get wrapped up in their achievements and we all want the best for them, but I hope you are more low key about this around her.
I hope she gets it but she will have much bigger fish to fry in the future - gcse's, a levels, uni, placements etc etc.

sleepless_saver

...........

Penny-Pincher!!

Thanks for the comments.

Roxie-Thanks for your opinion. As a family we are grounded and realistic. I understand she has many years ahead of her at 15, but she is focused and knows what she wants and has done since she was about 5.

Surely children think about what they would like to do or be when they are grown up....I know I did. Maybe I am just lucky that she has always known what she would like to do, but I dont think this has spoilt her childhood, if that's what you mean?

I think as decent parents we do need to encourage our children with regards to education and options available to them.

Thanks again.

PP
xx

RoxieW

Of course, nothing wrong with encouragement at all. But to be 'working hard' towards a specific career in the early teens as you stated seems a touch extreme. Sorry - i just think the best thing you can do for your daughter is not build up this 'interview' (which I think is very OTT and quite a scary thing for a child - plus just drawing out the 'selection' process will make it more nerve wracking and even more disappointing if she is not successful) and be relaxed but positive (whatever the outcome) about the whole thing.
Just my opinion - i really wish her the best of luck and i totally understand where you are coming from - I'd probably be the same with my own child lol - but looking at it objectively that's my advice.

Penny-Pincher!!

RoxieW wrote: »

Of course, nothing wrong with encouragement at all. But to be 'working hard' towards a specific career in the early teens as you stated seems a touch extreme. Sorry - i just think the best thing you can do for your daughter is not build up this 'interview' (which I think is very OTT and quite a scary thing for a child - plus just drawing out the 'selection' process will make it more nerve wracking and even more disappointing if she is not successful) and be relaxed but positive (whatever the outcome) about the whole thing.
Just my opinion - i really wish her the best of luck and i totally understand where you are coming from - I'd probably be the same with my own child lol - but looking at it objectively that's my advice.

Thanks Roxie. I do appreciate your comments. I know what you mean and personally, I do feel its a little OTT for a placement, but I suppose as its such in demand they can be a little picky IYKWIM:rolleyes:

When she sat her 11+, I honestly didnt think ahe would pass, but she was adament (sp) that she would and knew then what school she wanted to go to. She didnt even want me to put a comprehensive school down on the forms to decide what school she would like to attend whether she did or didnt pass. Of course I did do, but she is so strong willed, but in a good constructive way I suppose. DD had even drafted a letter if she didnt pass to send to the headmaster of the Grammar school she wanted to attend and explain why she wanted to attend that particular school. She was 10 at the time:eek::eek::eek::eek:.....everytime I said to her, I really dont think you will pass (as she wanted it so badly and I didnt want her to get her hopes up) she just walked away laughing saying we will see. I wish I had her optimism sometimes:D

Its almost as if she has a point to prove or something. AAAAAHHHHHHHHHH...kids!!

Thanks

PP
xx