During training courses in many different industries, students are offered the opportunity to spend some of their course on work experience. This is when they get to work in the workplace alongside employees and experience for themselves exactly what the job entails and is the best way to really find out if that role is right for them.
Usually work experience is organised by the college or university where the student is based but placements can be found independently by the student if they have contacts within the chosen industry. These placements can last for weeks, months or even a year and may be in the UK or abroad. If the work experience placement is abroad this will involve living abroad too which is a fantastic chance to learn a new language and practise speaking it to native speakers.
When starting a work experience placement, it is important to be open to learning new things and to be willing to work hard alongside colleagues. Students may be allocated a mentor in the company who will spend time with the student discussing progress and any difficulties. They may also need to carry out regular assessments on the student celebrating achievements, giving constructive feedback and suggesting clear targets for improvement. All of these things should make the work experience process both positive and helpful.