Think work experience is just about making the tea?
Then think again
Work experience is what you make it. Go in with the right attitude, and you can learn loads, have a great time and even make contacts that might help you get proper work one day.
Go in with a face on you, and you’ll end up being ignored or put to work on menial tasks just to keep you out the way.
If you haven’t done it already, most people will do some work experience through their school in Year 10 or 11. But don’t rely on your teacher to get you a placement in a theatre or with a theatre company. You could end up stacking shelves in Aldi, walking dogs with behavioural problems or filing papers in the council offices. Find out well in advance when your work experience is coming up and be prepared to organise your own. (See How to get it)
Many people who want to work in theatre will sort out extra work experience during their school, college or university holidays. Because they know that competition for jobs is so fierce, they want to make their CVs look as good as possible.
Useful links:
Clever thinking
Other ways of getting work experience as well as taking part in an work placement include:
- Joining a youth theatre
- Volunteering. Check out vinspired
- Work shadowing (ie following a theatre professional around for a day or two, obviously with their permission. Otherwise, it’s simply stalking)
- Taking a casual job in a local theatre eg stage hand, usher, bar work
- Working somewhere other than a theatre where you can learn similar skills eg a cinema, a music venue, at an outdoor event, a conference or exhibition etc
- Doing an Arts Award
Q. What would you do differently if you did your work experience again?
A. I’d probably ask more questions and be a little bit cheeky and ask for a job at the end of it. Why not?
Lateisha Lovelace-Hanson, 18, Huddersfield
