MyCareerVerse
MyCareerVerse
Transition Year

Finding somewhere to do your work experience

Nobody enjoys this bit. You have to walk up to an adult you do not know and ask them for something. The good news is that it is a much smaller ask than it feels like, most people say yes, and the ones who say no are not saying no to you.

Talk to your school before you ask anybody.
Most schools have rules about TY work experience, and some arrange it for you. There may be insurance to sort, a form for the employer to sign, an age limit, or a list of places the school already works with. Find that out first. It takes one conversation and it can save you arranging a placement you are not allowed to do.
Start here

You know more people than you think

Most Transition Year placements come through somebody the student already knew. Not through a cold email. Before you go near a stranger, go through these six and write down every name that comes to mind.

Ask the person, not the business. Do not ring a garage and ask for the manager. Ask your neighbour who works there whether they would mind asking for you. A name attached to a request changes it completely.
Ideas

Where to look, depending on what you are into

Pick whatever is closest. None of this is a list of places that will definitely take you, it is a list of the kinds of places worth asking in any town in Ireland.

Pick an area above and this fills in.

Animals

Places worth asking

A veterinary practiceKennels or a catteryA working farmA pet shopRiding stablesAn animal shelter or the ISPCAA dog grooming salon

What you would probably be doing

Cleaning out, feeding, holding animals steady, talking to owners at the desk, watching consultations.

Worth knowing. Vets are asked constantly, so ask early and ask the one your own family uses. A shelter or kennels will nearly always say yes and you will learn as much.

Children and teaching

Places worth asking

Your old primary schoolA creche or MontessoriAn after school clubA summer camp or Easter campThe local library children section

What you would probably be doing

Reading with children, setting up and tidying, helping in the yard, preparing materials for the teacher.

Worth knowing. Any placement with children under eighteen has extra rules. Your school will need to be involved and there may be vetting. Start this one early.

Health and care

Places worth asking

A pharmacyA physiotherapy clinicA dental surgeryA nursing homeA GP surgery, on receptionAn optician

What you would probably be doing

Reception, stock, tidying rooms between patients, sitting in where a patient agrees.

Worth knowing. You will not be allowed near patient records or clinical work, and that is normal. You are there to see how it runs.

Building and trades

Places worth asking

A building siteA carpenter or joinerA plumber or an electricianA builders merchantAn architect officeA quantity surveyor

What you would probably be doing

Carrying, measuring, tidying, watching, being handed the safe jobs.

Worth knowing. Sites have real safety rules and some will not take under sixteens at all. Ask what boots and gear you need before day one.

Cars and machines

Places worth asking

A garageA tyre and exhaust centreAn agricultural machinery dealerA bike shopA car valeting business

What you would probably be doing

Passing tools, cleaning parts, watching diagnostics, tidying the workshop.

Worth knowing. Small independent garages are far more likely to say yes than a main dealer.

Computers and tech

Places worth asking

A local IT support companyA web design studioA computer repair shopThe IT office in a big local employerA phone repair shop

What you would probably be doing

Watching builds and repairs, testing, basic setup, sitting in on support calls.

Worth knowing. This is a hard one to get locally, so widen it: almost every big employer in your town has an IT person.

Business and offices

Places worth asking

An accountantA solicitor officeAn insurance brokerThe credit unionAn estate agentThe county council offices

What you would probably be doing

Filing, scanning, reception, sitting in on the parts that are not confidential.

Worth knowing. Offices are used to TY students and often have a form ready. The credit union in particular is worth asking.

Shops and retail

Places worth asking

A supermarketA pharmacy counterA clothes shopA hardware shopA garden centreA bookshop

What you would probably be doing

Shelving, stock, helping customers find things, the till once they trust you.

Worth knowing. The easiest yes on this whole page. Also the one that teaches you most about dealing with the public.

Food and hospitality

Places worth asking

A cafeA restaurant kitchenA hotelA bakeryA deli counter

What you would probably be doing

Prep, clearing, plating, setting up, seeing a service from the inside.

Worth knowing. Kitchens are hot, loud and fast. If you like that, you will love it. Ask about hours, because some will want evenings.

Sport and fitness

Places worth asking

A gym or leisure centreThe GAA or soccer club officeA physiotherapy clinicA sports shopA swimming pool

What you would probably be doing

Setting up, coaching younger groups, reception, watching sessions.

Worth knowing. If you already play at a club, ask there first. They know you and that matters more than anything on your CV.

Art, design and making

Places worth asking

A graphic design studioA print shopA sign makerA picture framerA craft or pottery workshopA joinery workshop

What you would probably be doing

Watching jobs come in and go out, helping with finishing, seeing how a design becomes a thing.

Worth knowing. Bring something you made. It matters more here than anywhere else on this page.

Music, drama and media

Places worth asking

The local radio stationA theatre or arts centreA recording studioThe local newspaperA photographerA video production company

What you would probably be doing

Sitting in, logging, setting up, running errands, watching a show get built.

Worth knowing. Very competitive and worth asking anyway. Local radio takes more TY students than people expect.

Hair and beauty

Places worth asking

A hair salonA barberA beauty salonA nail bar

What you would probably be doing

Washing, sweeping, reception, watching, handing things over.

Worth knowing. Saturdays are the busiest day, so do not ask on one. Go in on a quiet Tuesday morning.

Farming, food and outdoors

Places worth asking

A working farmThe local co-opA garden centreA landscaping businessCoillte or a forestry contractorThe Teagasc office

What you would probably be doing

Whatever the season needs. This is the one where you will be genuinely useful.

Worth knowing. If anyone in your family farms, that is your placement sorted. If not, the co-op knows everyone.

Helping people and community

Places worth asking

A charity shopCitizens InformationA community centreForoige or a youth clubMeals on WheelsA day care centre

What you would probably be doing

Sorting, serving, helping at activities, talking to people who are glad you turned up.

Worth knowing. The most likely yes of anything here, and the placements students say they got most out of.
The hard part

How to actually ask

Three ways in. Walking in works best for shops, cafes, salons and garages. Ringing works best for offices, clinics and anywhere with a receptionist. Email works best when you have a name to send it to.

Before you go in

Go on a quiet morning, not a Saturday and not at lunchtime. Bring a printed copy of your CV. Go on your own if you can face it, because it looks better than arriving with your mother, and go in the door rather than hovering outside talking yourself out of it.

What to say

Hello. My name is your name and I am a Transition Year student at your school.

I am looking for a week of work experience in month and I would really like to do it here. I have my CV with me. Would you be the right person to ask, or is there somebody else I should talk to?

That is the whole thing. Stop talking after the question and let them answer.

If they say leave it in and we will be in touch: ask when would be a good time to call back, and then actually call back. Most students do not, and that is often the only reason they never hear anything.

This is the one people dread. Write the script out, put it in front of you, and read it. Nobody on the other end can tell you are reading.

What to say

Hello, my name is your name. I am a Transition Year student at your school.

I am looking for a week of work experience in month and I was hoping to do it with you. Could you tell me who I should talk to about that?
If they say the manager is not here: When would be a good time to ring back? Then write the time down and ring back.
If they ask you to email: Thank you. What address should I send it to, and is there a name I should put on it? A name matters. Ask for it.
If they say we do not take students: That is fine, thank you for your time. Then hang up and ring the next one. It costs you nothing.
Ring from somewhere quiet and have your dates in front of you. The single most common stumble is being asked what week you need and not knowing.

Email is the weakest of the three on its own, because it is easy to ignore. It is the strongest when it follows a phone call or a visit, and you can say I called in on Tuesday and you asked me to send this on.

Keep it short

Four short paragraphs. Who you are, what you are asking for, why them, and a thank you. Attach the CV as a PDF, not a photograph of a page.

The CV builder writes this email for you. Fill in your CV, open the Cover email panel, put the business name in and copy the whole thing.
It will happen

When somebody says no

Expect to ask about five places to get one yes. That is not you doing it badly, that is the normal rate. The students who end up somewhere good are almost never the most confident ones, they are the ones who asked the fifth place.

Say this
  • That is no problem, thank you for your time.
  • Would you mind if I left my CV anyway, in case it changes?
  • Is there anywhere else you would suggest I try?
Do not do this
  • Do not argue or ask them why.
  • Do not apologise for having asked. You did nothing wrong.
  • Do not stop after one. Or three.
That last question is worth asking every single time. People who cannot take you will very often tell you who can, and a suggestion from somebody in the trade is worth more than any list on a website, including this one.
Checklist

Have these ready before you ask anybody

1

Your exact dates

The first question you will be asked. Get them from your school and know them by heart.

2

A printed CV

One page, printed, in a folder so it does not arrive creased.

3

Whatever form your school needs signed

Bring it with you. Asking somebody to sign something you have to come back with later loses you people.

4

An answer to why here

One sentence. It does not have to be clever, it has to be true.

5

Somebody at home who knows what you are doing

Tell them where you are going and when. That is a rule, not advice.

Next

Where to go from here

Build your CV
One page, and the email to send with it
Your work experience planner
Track who you asked and what they said