This document provides information on finding work experience opportunities and sources to look for them. It discusses the importance of work experience for most occupations and how it provides skills and a commitment to a role. Sources listed include speculative applications, part-time jobs, volunteering, and occupation-specific websites. Tips are provided for contacting employers, including clarifying goals, establishing strategies, identifying decision-makers, and maintaining contact. Networking is discussed as an important way to become part of a professional community and build contacts through events, competitions, discussions, and showcasing work. The key learning points are the importance of employability skills, conducting a skills audit, creating a program of learning with action items, considering various opportunity sources, and

1. Session title:
Sources of opportunities
Where to look and how to approach
companies / organisations
Guy Townsin and Paul Barnes

2. Learning outcomes
understanding of the wide range of opportunities and where they can
be found
effective communication with employers
further help

3. Work experience – key points
Essential for most occupations – understanding of role and shows commitment
Provides opportunity for acquisition of insights as well as generic and relevant
skills (employability)
Provides clear evidence of skills and other attributes

4. Sources of opportunities
opportunities for speculative applications
part time jobs
Volunteering
Initial general information (useful for preparatory reading and planning)
www.prospects.ac.uk
www.creativeskillset.org
www.ccskills.org.uk

5. Speculative applications – most opportunities for work
experience will not be advertised
www.wiredsussex.com
www.sedf.org.uk
www.ipa.co.uk
www.mediauk.com
www.biid.org.uk
These sources will help you to locate organisations
There are more – local and national
www.chb.com

6. Occupation/subject specific
www.bapla.org.uk www.photoassist.co.uk (photography)
www.theaoi.com (illustration)
www.fashionunited.do.uk www.drapersonline.com (fashion)
www.a-n.co.uk (art, graphics, illustration, photography)
www.gamesindustry.biz (computer games)
www.theknowledgeonline.com www.grapevinejobs.com (television)
www.filmcrewpro.com (film)
www.etnow.com (entertainment technology, venues)
www.musictank.co.uk (music)
www.animationforumwm.co.uk www.imagineanimation.net (animation)
www.writers.net (professional writing)
www.starnow.oc.uk www.spotlight.com (acting/theatre)

7. Finding a volunteering
placement – for the
Professional Experience unit

8. Benefits of Volunteering
Volunteering is a great way to boost your CV
It gives you the chance to try out your career ideas
 Gain real-life work experience that you can use as
examples in your graduate job interviews
Builds up the skills that employers will be looking for
in that all important graduate job hunt
Chance to serve the community

9. Finding opportunities
Rely on a number of different strategies;
• Networking – who do you know and can they
offer anything?
• Events – across campus
• National websites – www.do-it.org
• Students’ Union - www.upsu.net
• Volunteering at Purple Door

10. Volunteering @ Purple Door
Volunteering Bank
• Ongoing volunteering opportunities
• Across a wide range of disciplines
• Working for charities or statutory organisations
One off volunteering
• Specific needs from charitable organisations
• Will be a “unique” opportunity

11. Volunteering Opportunities
Headway – Marketing & Admin volunteer
RNLI – Student Engagement Co-ordinator
Alzheimer's Society – Publicity Volunteer
Kings Theatre – Events Assistant
Portsmouth City Council – Digital Champion

12. More Volunteer Examples
Portsmouth MIND – Wellbeing Volunteer
Hampshire Constabulary – Student Watch
Motiv8 – Appropriate Adult or Mentor
Aurora – Domestic Abuse Helpline Assistant
The Portsmouth Foyer – Mentor
Headway – Support Worker

13. Contacting employers to ask about work experience
Speculative enquiries – these do not have to be
difficult
Generally very straightforward
– just some simple ground rules

14. Clarify personal goals (what, when, how?) – this is where the action
plan/programme of learning are important
Formulate strategy (names, tasks, dates, timescales, review, check
website!! - e.g. King’s Theatre, BBC)
Key decision maker (HR manager, owner, managing director etc.)
Establish appropriate contact methods (telephone, letter etc)
CV, possibly samples of work
Try to maintain contact where possible/helpful

15. Networking – this is very important
First thoughts?.......
or perhaps…………

16. Actually networking is more - it is all about becoming part of a
professional community; building a professional mindset
Importance – information/latest trends, contacts, work experience
Some examples:
www.linkedin.com
www.viewcreatives.com
www.behance.net

17. Contacts with the profession
Events www.mediavolt.co.uk www.stellarnetwork.com
competitions www.daretobedigital.com
on-line discussions www.d-media-network.com
Showcasing of work www.allourbestwork.com
www.designgraduates.com www.everycreative.com
Blogs and other …………… www.wordpress.com
Key idea: the above and work experience can help you to become part of
a professional community, building networks and personal brand (this
can apply to all disciplines)

18. conclusion..….what are the key learning points here?
Importance of employability skills
these can be acquired and refined during your course
skills audit – what skills are needed? Evidence?
Programme of Learning with clear action points
many sources of opportunities – lateral thinking can help
networking is very useful (professional mindset)

19. Contact us
Purple Door Careers and Recruitment
Purple Door, 28 Guildhall Walk
Portsmouth
023 9284 2684
www.port.ac.uk/careers

20. Thank you – any questions??