As I said yesterday work experience can be a valuable exercise for anyone who would like to find out more about what a job entails on a day-to-day basis.

And while work experience opportunities aren’t exactly a dime a dozen, you should be able to find something with a little searching around though.

Since such possibilities are not waiting behind every door you knock on, you will need to make the most of the chances that do come along, and with this in mind I’ve prepared a list of some things to think about when looking for, or undertaking, work experience.

Emphasis your skills and knowledge
Before considering a work experience request, an employer will want to know you have something to offer the company and that you will, in return for being granted an opportunity to be part of the workplace, be able to make some sort of contribution.

Therefore think of asking for work experience as being the same as applying for a regular job. Put your best foot forward, and make sure the workplace is aware you have the appropriate skills.

While an employer will obviously understand you don’t have a whole lot of experience, they will still want to know you at least have some sort of understanding of what is happening, and can participate somehow, while you are there.

Rules of engagement
Before commencing the work experience period find out exactly how involved you will be in the process. In some instances you will be quite active, while in other situations you may be expected to sit quietly and purely observe.

I once heard of a commercial photographer who was happy to provide photography students with on-the-job “experience” on the strict proviso they did not actually get involved, or ask him any questions while he was with clients, or working.

This is something that has to be respected, and while it may seem you are not gaining much “hands on” experience, you can still learn a lot from simply being a fly on the wall as it were, so long as you pay close attention to what is happening.

Take notes
Don’t forget to take a notepad and a couple of pens. You will probably spend a lot of time “looking over someone’s shoulder” and watching how they work, so keep notes of what is happening.

Try and write down as much as you can, even if this is just keeping a record of how each day unfolds. Record details of meetings, problems and issues that arise and how they are resolved, plus any other tips, or handy “inside” knowledge, that comes to light while you are present.

Remember you are with someone who knows what they are doing inside out, so this is a great chance to learn a few “tricks of the trade”!

Any questions?
Remember that workloads can fluctuate and deadlines vary on very short notice, especially in creative or publishing environments.

For example the web design studio that last week told you they were a “little quiet”, may have a rush of work on when you arrive. Therefore bear in the mind the person you are sitting with may not have time to stop and explain every last thing they are doing.

Rather than interrupt with questions every few minutes, write them down and see if some time can be set aside later to discuss them.

Network!
While onsite try and get as involved as you are able to. If a problem needs solving, see if you can suggest a solution. Make your presence felt in as helpful a way as possible.

Introduce yourself to as many people as you can, and tell then what it is you are doing, and why. Get to know people and build up some rapport, and see if you can stay in contact with them after you leave.

If you can, go along to the company’s “Friday afternoon” drinks if you are invited, and view it as an opportunity to network.

Remember a lot of jobs are filled through contacts and networks, so it is well worth the effort.

Conclusion
While you are unlikely to be paid for doing work experience, if you make the right impression your efforts could be rewarded in other ways.

The person you were working with may be prepared to offer you a reference, or possibly even recommend you for a vacancy in the company, or even to an associate working elsewhere who is looking to hire.

If nothing else however, you will at least leave your work experience time with a better understanding of the sort of work you one day want to do.

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.