A dream work placement secured
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
How a Year 12 student used one idea from our Work Experience talk....and secured a placement in their dream research lab 🧪 that same evening!
Last week Dale delivered an assembly at Bishop Stopford School about how Year 12 students can find meaningful work experience.
A couple of days later he received this message from a student.
Eli has just secured a summer placement in a genetics mutations laboratory in Cambridge....his dream area.
The interesting part?
He had already been rejected from the organisation’s formal work experience programme.
But instead of stopping there, Eli tried a different approach.
During the talk Dale mentioned the idea of going “one rung down the ladder.”
If the formal route or the most obvious contact doesn’t work, look for the people leading the teams and projects within the organisation.
If the world leading organisation doesn't reply....try the equally amazing company who are a bit less well known.
So that’s what he did.
Eli identified the scientist 👩🔬 who leads the mutations lab and sent a thoughtful email. Not asking for work experience, but asking for guidance.
He mentioned a specific aspect of the lab’s research approach he had been reading about, and asked whether it might be possible to visit for a day or two to learn more about the work and see what research in that field is really like.
That small shift turned a “no” into a “yes”.
There are three lessons here that we think apply far beyond Year 12 students:
🪜 Go one rung down the ladder
Opportunities don’t only come from the most visible doors. The people leading projects and teams are often closest to the work and open to sharing what they do. Less well known companies can be easier to get support from.
🕵♂️ Do your research and show it!
Referencing a specific project or piece of work makes your message genuine and shows real interest.
⏳ Ask for time, not “work experience”
Asking to meet, observe, or spend a day learning can feel far more manageable than a formal 'placement' request.
Huge credit to Eli for putting the advice into action. 👏
Sometimes the opportunity isn’t further up the ladder.
It’s just one rung down ⬇️
If you'd like to chat about inspiring your Year 12 students who are searching for Work Experience opportunities drop Dale a message and he can chat through some ideas.
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