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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/jun/23/work-experience-site-myinternswap-locks-out-less-privileged
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| Work experience swap site 'locks out less privileged pupils' | Work experience swap site 'locks out less privileged pupils' |
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| A new website billing itself as “the new old boys’ network”, which helps parents swap work experience placements for their children, has been criticised for potentially excluding less privileged families from the most attractive opportunities. | A new website billing itself as “the new old boys’ network”, which helps parents swap work experience placements for their children, has been criticised for potentially excluding less privileged families from the most attractive opportunities. |
| MyInternSwap.com facilitates direct family-to-family exchanges of internships for 15- and 16-year-olds. It charges members £24 for an annual subscription. | MyInternSwap.com facilitates direct family-to-family exchanges of internships for 15- and 16-year-olds. It charges members £24 for an annual subscription. |
| Its founder, Nick Simmons, who runs a design agency in Notting Hill, said he came up with the idea when his daughter Izzy told him her schoolfriend Marina was looking for work experience in design. | Its founder, Nick Simmons, who runs a design agency in Notting Hill, said he came up with the idea when his daughter Izzy told him her schoolfriend Marina was looking for work experience in design. |
| “Finding a placement is often down to who you know, but not everyone has those sorts of connections,” Simmons said. “I agreed to give Marina a placement, and by way of saying thank you her mother found Izzy experience at the thinktank where she worked. | “Finding a placement is often down to who you know, but not everyone has those sorts of connections,” Simmons said. “I agreed to give Marina a placement, and by way of saying thank you her mother found Izzy experience at the thinktank where she worked. |
| “It’s a tool we hope will kick the old boy network into touch and help democratise the process of securing valuable work experience.” | “It’s a tool we hope will kick the old boy network into touch and help democratise the process of securing valuable work experience.” |
| However, there has been criticism that the service may help reinforce a situation where teenagers whose parents do not work in sought-after professions miss out on such opportunities. | However, there has been criticism that the service may help reinforce a situation where teenagers whose parents do not work in sought-after professions miss out on such opportunities. |
| Tanya de Grunwald, founder of the careers website Graduate Fog and a campaigner for fair internships, said that though the website might seem harmless, it was important to see the bigger picture. | |
| “MyInternSwap is a neat idea with a cute name, but it effectively encourages parents in managerial roles in desirable professions to trade CV-enhancing career opportunities amongst each other, locking out those from less privileged backgrounds,” she said. | “MyInternSwap is a neat idea with a cute name, but it effectively encourages parents in managerial roles in desirable professions to trade CV-enhancing career opportunities amongst each other, locking out those from less privileged backgrounds,” she said. |
| De Grunwald said the site was digitising a practice that had been happening for years and needed to change. “In today’s tough job market, work experience is a valuable commodity so the best placements must be accessible to young people from all backgrounds.” | De Grunwald said the site was digitising a practice that had been happening for years and needed to change. “In today’s tough job market, work experience is a valuable commodity so the best placements must be accessible to young people from all backgrounds.” |
| Research by the social mobility and child poverty commission found that unacknowledged “poshness tests” at elite British companies were thwarting the career prospects of talented working-class applicants and reinforcing social division. | Research by the social mobility and child poverty commission found that unacknowledged “poshness tests” at elite British companies were thwarting the career prospects of talented working-class applicants and reinforcing social division. |
| MyInternSwap, which launched this year, has generated more than 700 offers of placements in 40 countries, according to Simmons. As well as placements in sectors such as finance, engineering and law, opportunities in construction, catering, retail and even boat-building may also be available. | MyInternSwap, which launched this year, has generated more than 700 offers of placements in 40 countries, according to Simmons. As well as placements in sectors such as finance, engineering and law, opportunities in construction, catering, retail and even boat-building may also be available. |
| Simmons said there were plans for an “orphan scheme” that would allow larger employers to offer placements for teenagers whose parents cannot provide reciprocal slots. | Simmons said there were plans for an “orphan scheme” that would allow larger employers to offer placements for teenagers whose parents cannot provide reciprocal slots. |