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Working> Traineeships: The European dimension

Working>Traineeships - United Kingdom

Traineeships are not as popular in the UK as they are in some other countries. Many employers don't offer a formal trainee scheme at all. However, you can always ask about volunteering to get work experience. You probably won't receive any money, but future employers will be impressed by your dedication! If you are a university student or a graduate, you may find that your university careers service has information on graduate traineeships.

BBC Work Experience

The BBC advertises work placement vacancies here. You can look up short-term opportunities in a range of work areas. Many (but not all) of the vacancies are in London.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/jobs/workexperience/index.shtml [EN]

BUNAC

The Work, Volunteer and Teach abroad programmes allow you to spend 5 weeks to 2 years in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa on a volunteering/teaching placement or training course related to your career. This programme is open to both students and non-students aged 18 or over. The information here applies to UK and Irish passport holders.

http://www.bunac.org/uk/ [EN]

Graduate Traineeships

Search for graduate trainee positions throughout the UK. Look for training opportunities by industry or location.

http://www.totaljobs.com/jobseekers/graduatetrainees.asp [EN]

International employment and training

Information for UK graduates and skilled workers who want to train in the USA. You can work for up to 18 months, getting work experience in your chosen field.

http://www.jobsamerica.co.uk/index1.htm [EN]

Internships Abroad

If you want to train overseas, consider the USA or Canada, where traineeships are more common than in the UK. This organisation helps students, recent graduates and young professionals find internships, work experience and professional career training in North America and Australia. Information is for British applicants only.

http://www.istplus.com [EN]

Internships for graduates

A list of organisations that offer internships for graduates, with a focus on the not-for-profit sector. This site is also of interest to those who are looking for volunteering opportunities in the environmental, development and social justice sectors.

http://www.ethicalcareers.org/ [EN]

Milkround

Search for internships in the UK and beyond with the help of this graduate recruitment site. You can also search for job vacancies and get advice on further study and gap years.

http://www.milkround.com/s4/jobseekers/zones/internships/default.asp [EN]

One Life - Work placements

Read up on why you should consider a work placement, how to go about finding one, how to apply and what to say in a speculative letter to an employer. Includes samples of CVs that you can use to help your application look impressive and professional.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onelife/work/options/work_exp.shtml [EN]

Placement UK

If you're coming to the UK from abroad and you want to get work experience, try this site. As long as you are an undergraduate or postgraduate student with an EU or EEA passport, you can apply for a placement. Search the vacancies for work in areas such as sales, office management, business and IT.

http://www.placement-uk.com [EN]

Prince's Trust

If you need work experience but face barriers to employment due to disadvantage (for instance, you are unemployed, have few formal qualifications, are a former offender or have been in care), then you can get help to improve your prospects. You can take part in the European programme, and spend several weeks gaining work experience in another country.

http://www.princes-trust.org.uk/Main%20Site%20v2/14-30%20and%20need%20help/ [EN]

STEP - Shell Technology Enterprise Programme

A scheme providing work experience in small- and medium-sized businesses. Only available to university students. Placements can be full-time during the summer or part-time during term, and can last for up to a year.

http://www.secureyoursuccess.co.uk [EN]

Work experience

University students and graduates may want to take a look at this site. It has advice on finding traineeships, internships and placements. There are case studies written by young people and employers about work experience and what they gained from it. There's also specialist advice for 15-18 year olds.

http://www.work-experience.org [EN]

Wales: Go Wales

Are you a university student or graduate looking for work experience? You could get a paid work placement or a short-term unpaid ‘taster’ placement. Find out how to apply.

http://www.gowales.co.uk [EN][CY]