By Sarah Jackson, Erith School

For most school pupils, the working world is an unfamiliar place. Fortunately, the work experience programme gives us the opportunity to see what it is really like. For two weeks, we shed our scholarly exterior and assume the role of new employee.

I carried out my work experience at Upper Belvedere library, from September 12 to 23.

I really enjoyed being in a working environment, and was able to develop my skills and qualities.

The main reason we do work experience is so that pupils can have a better understanding of the working environment. But we can benefit from it in many other ways. It helps us to learn and develop personal skills and qualities. It provides us with the opportunity to meet new people and assist customers. Also, work experience involves travelling to work, listening to instructions and carrying out tasks safely, so a pupil would learn to be more responsible and independent.

Pupils can use their work experience employer as a reference when applying for a job. In fact, on many occasions, pupils have been offered Saturday jobs at their placements, due to the good impression they made during work experience.

It should also be remembered that pupils can apply what they learnt on work experience to other aspects of their lives, such as school. Many school students, as proven by this student's words, have acknowledged the usefulness of work experience: "I feel work experience is a great opportunity in helping young people gain skills for life."

However, it does not just help the students. The employers themselves can also benefit from it. For one thing, they have extra help for two weeks, at no cost. In addition, they will be providing a service by allowing pupils to work there, in order to learn about work. "It is a satisfying part of any job to be able to encourage and nurture a student's life skills", said Upper Belvedere library manager Sandra Gratwick.

It is also extremely helpful when the company is looking for new employees. If the work experience placement has gone well, the employer can always keep that pupil in mind if an application comes through for the job.

It is clear, then, that work experience is an important and very useful programme, which benefits the pupil and employer alike. I know that I gained a lot from it, and need no longer wonder what the big, wide world of work is like.