A few weeks ago I wrote about the value of speaking to what I referred to as a “career insider” in order to get the low down, or nitty gritty, on a job or career that you are interested in.

While having a chat to someone who knows what they are talking about is an excellent way to gain insights and learn things that may have evaded your research efforts to date, there is no substitute for some on-the-job experience.

The term “work experience” probably takes many of us back to our high school, or university days, where in some cases a certain amount of practical experience was a compulsory aspect of whatever course of study we were doing.

As always it is one thing to read, or study, about the workings of a certain profession, while it is another matter all together to gain first hand experience of it.

Several years ago a friend who was studying a commerce degree spent a week working in the finance department of a well known Australian company, and at the end of the “experience” quipped “I can’t believe I need a degree to work in a place like that!”

She went on say that there wasn’t one instance in the week she spent there, where she was able to apply anything she had learnt at university. While her assessment was mildly sarcastic, it nevertheless illustrates how big the divide between the theoretical, and the practical, can be.

Since work experience terms are relatively short in length, usually only lasting a week or two, there is no way every on-the-job situation and eventuality, both positive and negative, will arise. Nevertheless it is still something career changers should consider, as it offers a number of benefits.

In the first instance it can reaffirm the desire to pursue a specific career, and secondly it can provide some sort of an on the ground feel for what a particular role entails.

It can also be a way of building networks and contacts, especially if you manage to make a good impression. I’ve seen a number of instances where someone who has come into a company for work experience, has subsequently been favourably considered for roles that have arisen after their on-the-job time.

While quite valuable, work experience opportunities can be difficult to come by though. When we did our on-the-job stints while at high school or university, it was usually as a result of an arrangement between the school and the participating workplaces.

And since very few work experience opportunities are ever publicly advertised, it is up to the individual to track down possibilities. This can be achieved though in much the same way as a targeted job search, which I wrote about last week.

Essentially this means finding, and contacting, a company you are interested in doing work experience at, and seeing if an arrangement can be made. You could also try asking around family and friends, and your other networks, to see if any opportunities exist.

There are a few things to remember though.

You will need to be flexible, and prepared to fit in with the host workplace’s schedule. Any companies agreeing to provide you with work experience will want it to take place at a time that suits them.

In most instances you will not be paid since you are there to learn, and the host company is in effect doing you a favour, but I have heard of one or two cases where people do get some recompense.

I also know of a few companies that have made very small, ex gratia, cash payments to assist with a work experience person’s travel costs for example. This has been purely at the discretion of the companies in question though, and should neither be expected or requested.

You also need to be mindful of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) regulations, and insurance cover matters, and should check these issues with the host workplace prior to your engagement.

Tomorrow in the second part of this article, I will supply a few tips and some advice for finding, and gaining the most from, a work experience role.