Vocational Preparation

Overview of the Jobsearch and work experience modules

Aims

• To enable students to identify and practise various jobsearch skills.

• To give students an overview of work related pay and conditions

• To inform students of different types of employment available including self-employment

Units

• Unit 1: Sourcing Information

• Unit 2: Investigation of a sample of jobs

• Unit 3: Jobsearch practice

• Unit 4: Interview skills

• Unit 5: Pay and conditions

• Unit 6: Self-employment

Types of activities in this module• A lot of work on job advertisements. Where can

you find out about vacancies? Terminology used in advertisements.

• Visit to a local FÁS office or visit from a FÁS representative. How can FÁS help in the jobsearch process. Students would prepare a questionnaire.

• The advantages and disadvantages of different jobs

• Students would explore their own skills and qualities using simple questionnaires

SOME QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT JOB ADVERTISEMENTS:

Is there an age requirement for this job?

What qualifications / training is required?

What skills are needed?

What experience is required? Is useful?

What type of personality would you need to do that job?

Do you know EXACTLY what sort of work you will be applying for?

What other information is given? What can this tell you about the job or the workplace?

How do you go about applying for each job?

Which advertisement appeals to you most? Why does it? Why don't the others?

Would you apply for any of these jobs? Why? Why not?

Activities• Students would build an understanding of the different

characteristics, skills and qualifications needed for different jobs of interest to them.

• Students explore the possible effects of working in an unsatisfying job by carrying out an interview e.g. a member of their family

• Selection processes used by employers e.g. brainstorm these

• Letters of application, CV, application forms….lots of practice

Activities• Mock interviews. How can this be arranged?

• Some information on unemployment and benefits.

• Employment regulations e.g. minimum age

• Awareness of deductions from salaries (maths applications) business textbooks

• Self-employment: What skills and qualities are needed (brainstorm). Arrange a visitor to classroom

• Investigate agencies who assist business start-ups.

Useful websites

• www.comhairle.ie • http://www.fas.ie/en/Job+Seeker/ • http://www.inou.ie • http://www.employmentrights.ie• http://www.jobsearch.ie

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/schools/11_16/gogetit/

careerstoolbox/library.shtml • http://www.enfield-workex.org.uk/students.htm• http://www.enterprise-ireland.com/StartBusiness/• http://www.corkceb.ie/

Key Assignments

1.I prepared a display (e.g. poster/collage etc) as part of a group which showed our individual skills and how these related to particular job vacancies

2.I prepared a personal jobsearch folder that included items such as my CV, Letters to and from potential employers, photographs, job advertisements

Key Assignments

3. I participated in a mock interview and reported on my performance

4. I reported on an interview with either a self-employed person or a person who had experience of being in a job that he or she was dissatisfied with

WORK EXPERIENCE• “Work experience is used to describe schemes

in which only part of the full ‘experience’ of work is available. It is applied to schemes in which people experience work tasks in work environments but without taking on the full identity of a worker.

• The key distinction is that the role of students on a work experience scheme is not that of employee but of learner” – Watts.

• “The quality of student learning from work experience is in direct proportion to the quality of preparation and debriefing”. Watts.

PARTNERSHIP IN A WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAMME

• Teacher

• School

• Student

• Employer

• Parent

Key Features of a Successful Work Experience Programme

Articulate the PURPOSE of work experience.

INTEGRATE Work Experience into a whole school plan.

Clearly ALLOCATE RESPONSIBILITY for organising work experience to an individual member(s) of staff.

Ensure that staff, students, parents and employers are accurately INFORMED about work experience.

Keep DOCUMENTATION for work experience clear, coherent and consistent.

Key Features of a Successful Work Experience Programme (Cont)

PREPARE students prior to placement.

Effectively MONITOR students when they are on work placement.

DE-BRIEF students after the placement.

ASSESSMENT of the work experience should involve students, employers and teachers.

Build EVALUATION into the work experience programme.

TEACHING STRATEGIESPhase I – Preparation• Teaching and learning activities prior to

students’ allocation of workplaces. Aim to prepare all students in general way for the experience.

Phase II – Briefing• Occurs after allocation of workplaces.• Focuses on operational issues.Phase III – The Placement• When students are on employer’s premises.• Teachers may endeavour to guide student

learning in the workplace (structured tasks, workbooks, diaries, visits etc.)

TEACHING STRATEGIES (Cont)

Phase IV – Debriefing

• Occurs immediately afterwards.

• Reflection and analysis of learning.

Phase V – Follow Up

• Subsequent learning experiences which draw upon and/or extend learning from work experience.

Timing of Work Experience

1. Planning work experience over 2 years

2. Coordination of Leaving Certificate Applied work experience and other work experience within the school

3. Work experience in local schools

4. Time set aside for briefing and debriefing

Integration of Work Experience in Leaving Certificate Applied

• List of students and their respective placements to management and teaching team

• General information on type of business/job (where applicable)

• Identification and negotiating of particular tasks to be carried out in the workplace

• Negotiating of skills to be developed• Identification of applications of specific courses

in real workplace setting• Visits to workplaces by individual teachers• Using students as resource people

Involvement of Parents• Understand purpose and relevance of

work experience

• Understand what work experience means:– Non-payment– Working outside school– Working hours– Attendance, punctuality, dress requirements– In-built costs – travel, lunch etc.– Health and safety aspects

• No direct supervision by the school while students are on employers’ premises

Involvement of Parents (Cont)

• Insurance arrangements (Personal & school)

• Parental consent

• Agreed procedures where problems arise

• Contact telephone numbers

• Listening to young people and their insights and observations while they are on work experience

• Parental evaluation of work experience

Student Expectations• Opportunity to experience work in a real

workplace outside school

• Interesting and varied activities

• Possibility of making contacts for part-time work or future career

• Possibility of being “paid”

• Serves purpose in deciding on an appropriate career choice

• Development of specific skills

Students Finding their own Work ExperienceRequirements

• Letter of introduction from school• Definition of purpose and duration of placement• Details on insurance• Preparation for asking (role play the situation)• Follow up by school prior to placement• Name of contact person in school• Pre-placement visit by school• Placement with relatives?

WORK EXPERIENCE IN LEAVING CERTIFICATE APPLIED

•Central to the whole programme•Key underlying principle preparation of young people for adult and working life•Vocational Preparation accounts for a large percentage of LCA curriculum•Possibility of doing four modules of work experience•Involves a range of learning experiences related to world of work and specific careers

• Integration of learning from work experience across other courses and as a resource to other courses

• Progression from one work experience to the next

• Negotiation of specific on-the-job tasks with the employer

• Relevance of school programme to real life experience

• Part of overall assessment– 8 credits available for 4 modules– Possibilities of using work experience for student task– Part of Final Examinations in English and

Communication both written and oral

Work Experience 1Pre-Placement Planning Unit

• Experience of work• Self assessment• Goals for this placement• Personal Qualities to be displayed• Employers’ Report• Difficult Situations• Basic Skills required• Details of Placement (hours, dress code etc.)• Information Gathering required• Hopes/Fears/Expectations

Placement Unit• Service/Product• No. of employees, sections/departments &

various jobs here• Working hours/shifts• Attendance/time-keeping monitoring system• Tools/Equipment/Materials used• Tasks given• Identify qualifications, training, skills etc. for one

job• Health & Safety• Workplace facilities• Job opportunities & selection procedures here• Daily reflection

Operational Unit/Employer’s Report

• Attendance/Timetabling• Dress• Following Instructions• Learning new skills• Completing tasks• Initiative• Adaptability/Attitude to job• Communication• Health & Safety Observance• Suitability

Review of Experience• Learning on working life• Skills/Qualities developed• Own performance• Reality v Expectations• Sharing experiences• Re-evaluation of vocational interests and

career plans• Skills/Qualities to be developed• Completion of assignments• Thank you letter/card

Key AssignmentsWork Experience 1

• I listed what I personally wanted to learn from my work experience placement.

• I made specific arrangements for my first day on

work experience. • I completed a report on my work placement and

recorded my reflections on a daily basis.• As part of a group I explained what I learned

from my work placement and I developed ideas and strategies for future placements.

Leaving Certificate Applied Reflective Journal

• Before Work Experience placement• Myself and this Work Experience placement• During Work Experience placement• After Work Experience placement• Employer’s report• Advice for other students• Was Work Experience placement what I

expected?• Looking to the future

Inserts• Monitoring Record of Work Experience• Employer’s Record of Attendance and

Evaluation

WORK EXPERIENCE 2, 3, 4WORK EXPERIENCE 2, 3, 4UNIT 1 - PRE-PLACEMENT

• Previous experience of work.• Current personal, social and vocational skills.• Collage of experience.• Skills/qualities to offer.• Target for next placement.• C.V./Interview• Finding and making arrangements for placement.• Goals and action plan for this placement.• Practise job skills.• Details of placement.• Reflection prior to placement (expectations, hopes,

anxieties)• Employer's expectations• Implications of placement regarding information to be

gathered.

UNIT 2 - PLACEMENT UNITUNIT 2 - PLACEMENT UNIT • Service• Company information• Organisational chart• Working arrangements available• Working hours• Marketing• Investigation of one specific job• Health and safety• Rights and responsibilities of workers• Practise and apply skills• Application of school learning.• Interview worker• Job opportunities and selection procedures• Career plan for LCA graduate• Reflection diary

UNIT 3 - OPERATIONAL UNITUNIT 3 - OPERATIONAL UNITEmployer's Report

• Attendance and punctuality.• Appropriate dress.• Following instructions.• Completion of tasks.• Competence in relation to tasks.• Responsibility.• Dealing with criticism.• Interest.• Adapting to workplace.• Communication.• Observance of health and safety.

UNIT 4 - REVIEW OF UNIT 4 - REVIEW OF EXPERIENCEEXPERIENCE

• What learned.• Skills/qualities now.• New knowledge, understanding.• Compare and contrast with previous placement.• Learning about working life.• Evaluate performance.• Sharing experience.• Unexpected outcomes.• Current career plans.• Future skill development.• Employer's expectations.• Completion of relevant assignments.

Key AssignmentsWork Experience 2, 3, 4

• I reviewed my previous experiences of work and prepared an action plan identifying the personal, social and vocational skills and knowledge I want to develop through this specific work placement.

• I completed a report on this particular work placement. In this report I included new knowledge and understanding gained. I also recorded, on a daily basis, reflections of my experiences while on work placement.

• I discussed my workplace performance with my teacher

and prepared a personal career path chart. • As part of a group I prepared a visual presentation of what

I have learned about the world of work.

Out-of-School

BUILDING YOUR TALENT BANK•Local Business/Organisation Directory•Yellow Pages•Directory of Services•Citizens’ Information Service•Whole School Staff•Friends, neighbours, relations etc.•N.B. Start small and build your talent bank•Evaluate•Show recognition for contribution

LINKS WITH THE COMMUNITY• List of agencies in the local community.

• Names, phone numbers, contact details.

• Hours of operation.

• Possibility of visitors to school.

• Out-of-school visit by students.

PURPOSE OF LINK• Extent of involvement• Activities involved• Amount of information required• How contact will be made• Timing/Duration• Specific Arrangements• Follow up