Work experience is a great way to build the skills, behaviours and knowledge that are required for specific industries and ways of working.
Whether your work experience placement is in person or online, here are 8 ways you can make the most of your time and really get the benefits out of it.
Before you start
1. Be prepared
You may be nervous on your first day – it’s expected. You’re joining a new workplace with new people and new ways of doing things.
Take some of those nerves away by being prepared. Make sure you pack your bag the night before, plan enough time to get there, and have a pen and notepad to write things down.
Also, dress for the job! This might mean smart clothes, casual clothes, or even something you don’t mind getting dirty. It all depends on what kind of job you’re getting experience in, because they’re all different. If you’re unsure, ask what the dress requirement is and use the internet to search for ideas.
Are you going to be completing the work experience online? Then it’s essential you have basic digital skills to be able to communicate with your new colleagues. Common applications used are:
- Email (you may be using your personal email address, so it’s key to ensure it has a professional name e.g. YourName@outlook.com)
- Calendars (used for sending and accepting meeting invites)
- Video conferencing software like Zoom or Teams (used to have meetings)
Some businesses use software like Google or Microsoft teams that have all of these features built in.
2. Create goals
Think about what you want to get out of your work experience opportunity and make some SMART goals. Knowing what you’re doing this work experience for and planning how you’re going to achieve it will help you to use your time wisely.
Is there a specific skill you want to focus on such as your communication and teamwork ability? How about a specific type of work you want to gain more experience in like paid advertising in marketing?
Creating a SMART goal allows you to work towards something achievable, while planning how you’re going to get there during your time doing work experience.
During your work experience
3. Ask questions
Get to know people and start building relationships (this is also known as networking). You could ask people about:
- Their role
- Their daily tasks
- What they like about their role
- How they got to where they are
- If they have any tips or advice
There are no stupid questions! If you’re unsure or really want to know about something, then ask. This is your chance to find out what you need to know from professionals in the industry.
However, remember that the people you’ll work with also have their own job to do. Before you spam someone’s inbox with lots of emails or approach (especially interrupt) someone multiple times throughout the day, think ‘can I answer it myself?’. If you can, you might be able to use other information or the internet to find out. If not, then ask away!
4. Pay attention
This is the time to use your active listening skills! You’re there to learn, so listen carefully to what you’re told or you hear in meetings and take note of anything that’s interesting or useful.
Paying attention also includes managing yourself. While you’ll get support, your mentor won’t be holding your hand the entire time. Listen to what they have to say and make notes on how to manage your time, what you should be doing, when a task is due, and if you need to join any meetings.
Your mentor will let you know what’s expected of you and help you through it, but it’s up to you to listen and put it into practice.
5. Show initiative
Initiative is something that employers love to see – it shows you’re eager to learn and that you care.
If you’re running out of tasks to do, ask if there is anything else you can help with instead of sitting doing nothing. If you really want to get involved with a different project, ask if there is a way you could get involved.
The more effort you put in, the more valuable experience you’ll get out of it.
6. Ask for feedback
Asking for feedback, which will include praise and constructive criticism, is key. While you’ll likely get feedback at the end of your placement, it’s useful to ask for feedback during it as well.
This will give you the opportunity to explore the areas you could improve on, such as your communication or digital skills, while you’re still in the workplace with professionals around to help you.
After you finish
7. Add it to your CV
Keep a record of the knowledge and skills you learn, tasks you get involved with, and your achievements during your work experience.
This will make it so much easier to reflect upon the experience and add your time in the workplace to your CV to show off your hard work.
Remember to ask for a reference before you leave so that you have someone to vouch for you when you apply for a job.
8. Say thank you
End on a high note. Say thank you to everyone for the opportunity and let them know that you appreciate it. A card is a nice touch!
When you’re saying your goodbyes, make sure you ask if they would like to stay in touch and get their contact information. If you have a LinkedIn account, give them a follow and show your appreciation to the company there too – this also shows your network what you’ve been getting up to careerwise.
Looking for more advice or for work experience opportunities you can apply for? Visit the work experience hub.
And don’t forget to check out our Youth Friendly Employers! They offer a range of ways to gain experience, such as summer internships, free training courses, and in person and virtual work experience.
