Offering to pay money for volunteer work/work experience?

[Victor McDade]

I'm in my mid 20s and I'm currently working towards a change in career. Did the whole school/uni thing in my late teens before foolishly dropping out and then spending the next 3-4 years doing dead end office work and travelling. Anyway I returned to college last year to sit my A-levels and achieved the grades needed for my desired University course (it's medically related).

But before I submit my application this autumn I need some work experience in a hospital/health centre setting (i.e shadowing someone round for a few days). I've written lots of letters and haven't had very much success. I guess this is understandable as such individuals must receive countless letters and emails from school leavers and those looking for work experience.

I've come up with what I think is a solution - can I offer to pay these professionals for their help? A couple of hundred pounds to let me tag along with them for half a day? Is this an appropriate question to even ask? Alternatively I could even pay the same amount to a charity of their choice.

Any thoughts?

[fergywales]

You have been declined the opportunity to work for free to gain experience, so you wish to offer to pay them to allow you to do the same?



Surely you just need to write to the HR department of your local trust hospital and request the opportunity to shadow for a couple of mornings/afternoons?

[davepoth]

Or volunteering for the Hospital's volunteer group (usually "Friends of the .... hospital")

[rog007]

The reason you may have struggled to get traction is that Hospitals are struggling to meet the demands of those in training who need to be supervised. Keep trying but it will be an uphill struggle as most Trusts are currently under duress. Have you considered becoming a First Responder? http://www.wmas.nhs.uk/our_services/types_of_servi...

Might be worth considering. Contact your local ambulance trust as most are still keen to attract more volunteers. Good luck!