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.

Elevator statements are usually the domain of marketers and small business owners, but with a little adaption can also prove useful for career changers as a self promotional and networking tool.

Far from being some sort of presentation you make to the occupants of a lift (though I could imagine one or two would be stand up comedians, or politicians, relishing such a captive audience), an elevator statement is in-fact a way of effectively conveying information quickly, and where time is short.

Such as the brief amount of time you are in an elevator.

Here’s how it works. You walk into a lift and another occupant nods at you, and you nod back. By the time you have reached your floor, they have introduced themselves and explained their company provides various training and motivational courses for small to medium size enterprises.

You marvel at how, in the space of what seems like ten seconds, you have the lowdown on the services offered by the business of a complete stranger whom you are sharing an elevator with!

In a way an elevator statement is like a small pitch for business, and in a competitive marketplace such a simple device could be all it takes to snare a deal.

Despite the name though, they can be used in any situation where an opportunity to mention your work, or business, arises and time is very short. This could be in the queue at a bank, a taxi rank, or a chance encounter with a former associate as you are hurrying along the street to an appointment.

And while being great for those in sales and marketing, the concept can also be used by career changers as a way of networking and generating job leads.

Now I’m not suggesting you devise a self promotional spiel and then start eyeballing everyone you meet in an elevator. Rather, what you can do is prepare a short statement outlining your career change ambitions, that can be dropped into everyday conversation.

And sometimes just the simple fact that you are looking for something new is going around the grapevine can be enough to bring opportunities your way.

So think of your “elevator statement” as being more of a way of networking and spreading the word, like a mini press release if you like, that summarises your career change intentions.

Now it’s time to get to work. What’s the best way to describe the sort of work you are looking for, while being descriptive and also concise? How much could you say in the space of 20 seconds? In ten seconds?

Time yourself, you’ll be surprised at just how much information you can convey in that sort of a time frame, if you think it through carefully.

Try this “elevator statement” as a starting point:

“I’m a photographer but have spent the last few months doing IT courses, as I would like to do some web development work going forward.”

You are not only clearly expressing your intentions to become a web developer, but also conveying your commitment by mentioning your studies. Now start telling people, anyone, family, friends, neighbours, whoever you come into contact with.

It may only take the single instance of a say a neighbour, to hear that a business colleague is looking for a web developer, to set things in motion!

Here’s a summary of the benefits of a career change elevator statement;

1. Not only are you creating an elevator statement for public consumption, you are also composing a personal “mission statement” of sorts, as it put your objectives, and the way you intend achieving them, in clear focus.

2. Getting word about your career change intentions around through interpersonal networks just may generate the job lead you are looking for. Remember personal recommendations are often highly regarded, we all like hearing a “good word” about something, or someone, from a person we know or trust.

3. Also, bear in mind that only a quarter to a third of jobs are ever advertised, meaning the rest are filled by other means. Having word going around the streets you are after work can therefore only be a good thing.

4. Crafting a personal elevator statement is relatively quick and simple, and there is really nothing to lose from having one, even if nothing comes of it.

As a quick follow up to yesterday’s article, Tips for fine tuning your CV, I thought I would point out a few examples of what a little creativity can do to spice up a resume.

While the CVs I have featured are mostly those of web or graphic designers, if you study them closely you may find one or two simple ideas you could apply to your own resume.

You don’t need any design expertise, or even the ability to produce graphics, but see if you can simply draw some inspiration from the layout of the information, or the way the headings are styled, for example.

• Michael Efford is Perth based a multimedia and graphic designer, and uses a combination of two font colours and a two column layout to produce a CV that is very simple, yet very striking.
• Lee Stephens an Australian web designer currently based in Europe, has an elegant, classically styled resume, which also features images of some of his work.
• Lily Feng is a New York based photographer and designer, whose CV is just one page in length! I know she’s only been working a couple of years, but this is a great example of how less is more.
• Adrian Redman also uses a two column layout. Notice how the spacing of the information and the truncated headings create a document that is eye catching without really trying to be.
• Tony Cormack uses a splash of colour to make his CV stand out in the crowd! Another example of a one page CV.

A CV that just stands out that little bit more could prove a valuable asset for career changers, especially if it catches the eye of the right person.

Think of it as being an attention creating gimmick that isn’t trying to be such!