About Trident
Trident is a work experience scheme that all Jersey secondary schools take part in. It is a unique opportunity to experience working life while still at school.
Trident is part of your school curriculum and gives you the chance to:
-
work alongside adults as part of a team
- develop and practice a range of new and essential skills
- become more confident in your abilities
- relate your school curriculum and qualifications to the work place
- make more informed decisions about your future
- gain a real understanding of working life and employers’ expectations
- build contacts that may help you with future employment
Trident work experience dates
The duration of the placements is two weeks (full time).
School | Dates of work experience 2023
|
---|
Hautlieu School
| 30 January to 10 February
|
Beaulieu Convent School | 6 March to 17 March
|
Les Quennevais School
| 20 March to 31 March
|
Grainville School
| 5 June to 16 June
|
Victoria College
| 5 June to 16 June
|
Le Rocquier School
| 19 June to 30 June
|
De La Salle College
| 19 June to 30 June
|
Haute Vallee School
| 10 July to 21 July
|
Jersey College for Girls
| 10 July to 21 July
|
What to think about when choosing your placement
Trident is about gaining basic employability skills.
The most important thing is that you choose something that really interests you. It may be something you are thinking of doing when you leave full time education and you want to see what it's like. Or it may be something you have always wanted to try even though you may not want to take it up as a full time job.
Things to consider:
You have to make six choices and you should be willing to be placed at any of your choices.
Some opportunities are seasonal and not all are available for every placement period.
How to apply for Trident
If your placement takes place in the spring or summer terms, you will be asked to make your choices in September or October before your placement.
You will have a briefing at school explaining the scheme and showing you how to access the Trident website to view the available jobs.
You will receive a letter from your school with your username and password. This letter will include instructions on how to apply on the Trident website.
You will be asked to make six choices from a database of around 500 jobs.
It is important that you will be happy with any job you are allocated as once a placement has been confirmed it can't be changed.
Once you have your password you can access the Trident website below to start the application process.
You will need to complete the Trident application form and hand it in to your school.
The Trident website
Arranging your own work experience placement
If the job you want is not in the scheme you can approach an employer to ask if they would consider offering you a work placement. You will need to have all the facts ready including the date and length of your work experience.
You will be able to either download an ‘own placement form’ or your teacher will be able to give you a copy.
Don't forget to attach your completed own placement form with your Trident application form and hand both of these in to your school.
Choosing again
About 20% of students will be asked to choose again. This is because an employer can't take the student at that time.
You will receive a letter sent to your home address from Trident, with instructions. You will need to go online back on the Trident website and look at which opportunities are available.
Once you have make new choices, print your reselection form and return it to the Trident office in the pre-paid envelope provided. You will need to do this as quickly as possible as the remaining jobs are reducing in number all the time.
If you need help to make new selections you can contact the Trident office for advice.
Next steps once your Trident placement has been confirmed
Your information pack will contain:
- a blue agreement form
- a job description
- an information sheet
- a letter to your parents
In order to make a good first impression, it's important that you contact the employer as soon as possible to arrange an interview. You will need to get the blue agreement form signed so that you can return it to school in good time.
It's often difficult to get through to people and if so, speak to your teacher or the Trident office.
If you haven't returned the blue agreement form to your school or Trident, you won't be allowed to start work.
Getting the best out of the experience
Remember, having a work experience student is not easy for your employer. There may be times when they need to catch up on their own work. If you find yourself without much to do, don’t complain that you’re bored. Think of something helpful to do and suggest it to your supervisor / team member.
Being interested and enthusiastic are the best attributes you can have. This makes the employer feel that the effort they are putting in is worthwhile and you in turn will get the most out of your experience.
Don’t forget, your employer isn't a teaching establishment there for your benefit. In most cases the employer is a commercial organisation that is expected to show a profit and meet deadlines and targets.