Work experience is most valuable when it matches a student’s interests and educational direction. Year 10 is an ideal time to begin exploring this alignment as students begin to narrow down subject choices and future goals.
To help with this decision, here’s a simple checklist that Year 10 students can use:
- What subjects do I enjoy and perform well in?
- Are there careers linked to those subjects?
- Do I prefer working with people, technology, ideas or hands-on activities?
- What skills do I want to build? (e.g. teamwork, creativity, problem-solving)
- Do I want to explore something I’m passionate about or something new?
- Is there a Focus XR experience that can help me learn more before applying?
Focus XR plays an important role here. By offering immersive previews of different careers, it gives students a way to test and reflect before committing to a real-world placement. If students enjoy science, for instance, they might explore immersive experiences in healthcare or environmental engineering. A legal or media setting might resonate more if they prefer writing or analysis.
This process builds self-awareness. It helps students make more confident decisions, use their placement time effectively, and gain real insights.
It also supports conversations between students, teachers, and parents. Together, they can choose a placement that reflects the student’s strengths and aspirations.
Matching work experience with education leads to better engagement, deeper learning, and a clearer sense of direction. And with Focus XR, that journey starts earlier and with far more insight.
