Most students who arrange their own work experience do so by writing a letter or email to a potential employer. Getting this right significantly improves your chances of receiving a positive response. A strong request letter is short, specific, professional, and makes it easy for the employer to say yes.
What a work experience request letter needs to do
Your letter or email has one goal: to make it as easy as possible for the employer to say yes to hosting you. This means being clear about who you are, what you are asking for (a specific duration and approximate dates), why you have chosen this particular organisation, and how you can be contacted. Vague, generic letters that could have been sent to any employer are the most common reason students receive no response. Employers receive many work experience requests, particularly from students during school placement season. A letter that is clearly addressed to them, references something specific about their work, and is written in a professional tone stands out immediately.
How to find the right person to contact
Do not address your letter to "To Whom It May Concern" if you can avoid it. Research the organisation's website and find a relevant contact — HR manager, practice manager, or the person responsible for recruitment or early careers. At smaller businesses, the manager or owner is often the right person. If you cannot find a specific name, calling the organisation to ask who handles work experience requests takes two minutes and makes your letter immediately more targeted.
What to include in the letter
Paragraph 1 — Introduction: state clearly who you are, what year you are in, and your school or institution. Include the approximate dates you are looking for. Paragraph 2 — Why this organisation: explain specifically why you have chosen them. Reference something real — a practice area, a client type, a project you read about, a specific aspect of what they do. One or two sentences is enough; it just needs to be genuine and specific. Paragraph 3 — What you bring: briefly describe any relevant interests, experience, or skills. This does not need to be extensive — at school level, showing genuine curiosity and enthusiasm is sufficient. Paragraph 4 — Logistics: confirm that you have any necessary permissions, state that you are happy to provide a reference from your school if required, and thank them for their time.
Common mistakes that reduce your chances of a response
Sending a generic letter that could apply to any employer. Specifying dates that are too rigid — offer a range rather than a single week. Writing too much — a work experience request should be no longer than one side of A4 or the equivalent in email length. Poor spelling or grammar — this is the first impression you make. Not following up — if you have not heard back within two weeks, a polite follow-up email is entirely appropriate and often effective.
Following up after the letter
If you do not receive a response within two weeks, send a polite follow-up email. Keep it brief: restate your name, the dates you are looking for, and express continued interest. Many employers simply lose emails or have competing priorities — a follow-up is not pushy if done once, professionally. If you are still unsuccessful, move on and contact other employers. Do not contact the same employer more than twice without a response.
Template
Template[Your Full Name]
[Your Address]
[Date]
[Employer Name]
[Job Title, if known]
[Organisation Name]
[Address]
Dear [Mr/Ms/Dr Surname] / Dear [First Name],
I am a Year [10/11/12] student at [School Name] and I am writing to enquire about the possibility of completing a week of work experience at [Organisation Name].
I am particularly interested in [organisation name] because [specific reason — reference a practice area, project, client type, or aspect of their work that you have researched]. I am keen to learn more about [relevant area] and to gain a first-hand understanding of how [type of work] is done in practice.
I am flexible on dates, though the week of [approximate date range] would work well for me. I would be happy to discuss timing that suits your team. I can provide a reference from my school if required, and all necessary insurance and parental permissions can be arranged through my school's careers department.
I would be very grateful for any opportunity to visit, even for a day if a longer placement is not possible. Please do not hesitate to contact me at [email address] or [phone number] if you have any questions.
Thank you very much for considering my request.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[School Name]
Replace every [highlighted placeholder] with your own specific content.
Checklist
- Addressed to a named individual where possible
- States clearly who you are and what year group you are in
- Specifies approximate dates or a range of dates
- Includes at least one specific reason for choosing this organisation
- No more than one page (A4) or equivalent email length
- Spell-checked and grammar-checked
- Includes your contact details and school contact if required
- Follow-up reminder scheduled for two weeks after sending
Common mistakes to avoid
- Generic letter not tailored to the specific employer
- Overly long — more than one page is rarely appropriate at this stage
- Rigid single-week date requirement that gives the employer no flexibility
- No specific reason given for choosing that organisation
- Poor spelling, grammar, or informal language
- Not following up after no response