Workshadow Scheme
What is the WORKSHADOW scheme?
“I believe the Workshadow Scheme was invaluable, it really helped me make some informed career choices. It made me change my mind about a career I thought I would like to get into, but also informed me about a career I had no information about” (student 2011)
The Loughborough University Careers and Employability Centre has arranged over 140 work experience placements/visits for 2nd year undergraduates who are studying in the following schools and departments:
- School of the Arts, English and Drama
- School of Design
- Department of Economics
- Department of Information Science
- School of Social, Political and Geographical Studies
- School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences
If you are studying a degree, where a placement in a certain career may be more difficult to secure, then this is your opportunity to gain some work experience and strengthen your career progression.
Between 5th March – 20th April successful applicants will spend either a day shadowing a professional, or attend a company visit/event, to help them gain an insight into a potential career.
All participants will be requested to pay a £10 refundable deposit (payment by card incurs a 20p admin charge, or pay £10 cash) which will be reimbursed once a very short report and evaluation form have been completed after the placement. All participants receive a personalised Certificate confirming their involvement in the 2012 scheme. Additional benefits may include:
- Skills development
- Information for your CV
- Confidence building
- Opportunity to develop contacts
- Points towards the Loughborough Employability Award, if you have registered for this
- Material and possible contacts for assignments
- Further work experience
- Access to potential graduate jobs
What sort of placements are there?
A wide variety of employers kindly agree to make available a member of staff (the Guide) who will host the student (the Shadow) for the day. Many of these organisations are based within the Midlands. These employers recognise the value of the Workshadow Scheme placements for both the student and themselves, especially in terms of helping them to attract the best graduates.
Around 140 placements and group visits will be available in 2012, covering many different career areas for example Physiotherapy, Accountancy and Finance, PR, Social Work, Law, Charity Fundraiser, Environmental Conservation, Parliamentary Caseworker, Retail Management, Stage Management, Exercise Physiology, Health & Safety, Sports Development, Arts Marketing, Leisure Management, Ergonomic Research, Public Relations, Product Development, Business Management, Youth Shelter Worker, Press and Marketing etc.
What is the selection criteria?
The selection criteria covers a consideration for:-
- Students who have been unable to access certain types of work experience due to lack of opportunities
- Students who may have been unable to gain valuable work experience, due to personal circumstances, and by gaining this experience it may enhance their career progression
Please note that final decisions concerning the allocation of placements rest with the workshadow team.
When can I take part?
In many instances the final placement agenda and date will be arranged between each successful student and their placement company. Consequently, successful students may be required to contact their allocated Guide and finalise the agenda/date of their placement, unless a specific date has been identified.
Placements must be take place between 5th March – 20th May, unless an alternative date has been approved by the Workshadow Scheme Coordinator
What will I have to do?
If successful with your application, you will be asked to book a short appointment at the Careers and Employability Centre to collect further information about your allocated placement company and Guide. This meeting will also include:
- Signing a contract to confirm that you will make the final arrangements necessary and attend on the agreed date
- Providing a £10 refundable deposit, cash or credit card. Please note that there is a 2% charge at the time of booking if payment is made by credit/debit card.
- Agree to read the Briefing Materials and answer a short QUIZ (both made available to you on Learn), before you go out on your workshadow placement
- Agree to complete a short report and complete an evaluation form within two weeks of your placement
Successful students will also be invited to attend a De-Briefing Event, which will be held on May 2nd from 3.30pm, in K106, in the Herbert Manzoni Building.
Students participating in the Loughborough Employability Award should note that completion of a good quality report, evaluation form and attendance at the De-Briefing event, will enable them to apply for up to 20 points.
How much does it cost?
It does not cost you anything, apart from your travel and food costs. Please note that the Workshadow Coordinator may be able to provide a proportion of travel costs for students travelling a long distance, or attending a placement outside the Midlands area.
We ask all successful students to provide a £10 (cash/credit card) refundable deposit, which will be refunded as soon as you have attended your placement and have completed and submitted a short report on your experience and an evaluation form. Once submitted, you will also be able to collect a Workshadow Certificate from the Careers and Employability Centre providing you with evidence of your involvement.
How do I apply?
Interested applicants are invited to apply, using the online application form below (see ‘Click here to apply’ below), before Tuesday 31st January at 12.00 mid-day, indicating their 1st, 2nd or 3rd choice of placement.
A list of work experience placements can be accessed using the link below. If you require more details on a placement, then please call into the Careers and Employability Centre in the Herbert Manzoni building to access a folder containing all the student reports from last years scheme
View list of placement opportunities
There are more applicants than placements offered, so all applicants are requested to provide, on the application form, their reasons for wanting to be considered for the placement, plus how it will help them to progress with their career goals. Many placements are very popular and so a selection process will be conducted by the Workshadow Scheme Coordinator. The final decisions, concerning which placements are offered to whom, will take into account the above criteria and also the aim of providing a maximum number of students with a placement that matches their 1st, 2nd or 3rd choice.
Please note that final decisions concerning the allocation of placements rest with the workshadow team.
Apply now for the 2012 Workshadow Scheme
We look forward to receiving your application by 12.00 mid-day on 31st January. If you have any problems applying then please contact the Workshadow Team by Tel:01509 222052 or email: t.b.salsbury@lboro.ac.uk / c.mcbride@lboro.ac.uk