Work Experience

[TrialsIsHard]

Hi guys,

I know people on here are in all manner of jobs and have all kinds of connections, so thought it was worth posting on here to help me find a work experience!

I'm looking to do physics through uni, so any ideas for places that would be interesting to do an experience at would be greatly appreciated. Things such as stress testing components, as I think that would be fun. But I did run out of ideas pretty quickly..

And if any of you happen to be in an interesting physics based job (I don't know what branch of physics I want to do), I'd be great if you could explain to me what you do/where I could possibly get a placement.

Ideas and comments welcome

[thinkdougie]

Maybe google metallurgical companies around your area and give them a call?

Just a thought

Work experience in my eyes is such a great thing. When I did work experience I went to look at the industrial labs on the steel works near where I live. Once I left school I managed to become a industrial chemist trainee there. I have now moved to a different part of the steel works and I am now a chemical engineer on a coke oven gas cleaning plant. Try put everything into work experience you'll never what will happen!

Edited May 3, 2013 by thinkdougie

[M-i-t-c-h]

Echoing what has been said above. I'm in a very different industry to the above but it rings true for whatever you want to do. Do as much and as many work experiences places as you can, especially unpaid ones. When an employer (or even a uni) comes to look at you and sees you have seeked and completed unpaid work for 4 weeks in a field that you have a genuine passion for - it sets you apart from most others who are interested in your chosen field. The other thing, which has happened to me, you may find you don't like doing the job you thought you wanted.

VERY IMPORTANT:

Pick up the phone!! In this world of online comms and email it can be very easy to find the right person on LinkedIn and send them an email. Don't do it. If you pick up the phone and call them you get the opportunity to have direct, human, contact with the decision maker - who will 1) remember you and 2) can't directly ignore you / put it to the back of the pile / forget about it. If you don't get through to them first time try again a few days later. We do not actively take on work-ex people however if someone phones me or my team we will usually take them on for a few weeks. They have already proved that they are above doing the easy thing and really want to get some experience.

Hope that helps.

Edited May 18, 2013 by M-i-t-c-h