Getting the most out of Work Experience

 

Telephone the placement company before your work placement:

• to introduce yourself  to your  placement supervisor

• to ask for information about the company, what tasks you will be doing on the placement  and to confirm some practical arrangements (e.g. clothing, start and finish times)
• to answer questions from your placement supervisor, which might include explaining what you want from the placement.

 

Practice Active Listening – pay attention to other people so that they feel you understand what they are saying. You may need to do this in the following situations:

• induction briefing –  e.g. about health and safety procedures

• explanation of work tasks

• taking messages from customers or colleagues

• in team meetings where key facts and decisions are discussed

• listening and observing colleagues to learn new skills or techniques

• dealing with customers or service users

 

Speak clearly and logically:

• think through what you want to say, making sure you get the information in a logical order and do not forget anything
• write down the key points in order
• How clear was the information? Was anything missed out? Was the tone and speed appropriate?

 

Prepare for face-to-face meetings – you may need to do this with your supervisor  to:

• discuss your progress during a placement

• be given specific information about a particular task that you have been asked to do

• report or discuss a problem that may have arisen.

 

Take the opportunity to talk to people about their jobs, what they do and how they got there.