Work experience is a good chance to find out if you’ll enjoy a certain career, to gain some valuable skills and experience, and to give you practice applying for jobs.
Use the provided work experience diary to learn about the industry you’re working in.
Here are some questions you could ask at work experience to get the most out of your placement.
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The company you’re working for
what kind of company are they and what is their core business? -
What qualifications do you need to work in this industry?
Do you need to pass Year 10, Year 12, or have a TAFE certificate or university degree? -
What kind of training is required on the job?
Does the company provide training for staff when they start, or do they allow staff to get an education and work at the same time? -
What are the rates of pay?
What is the full time rate for an entry level position, and how many hours per week do they work? -
What leave are you entitled to?
How much holiday, personal, family and sick leave do employees receive? How much superannuation do they receive? -
What health and safety measures are in place?
Are there any noticeable health and safety procedures? Does the company have a workplace safety committee or representative on staff? -
Is there union membership at the workplace?
What union do they belong to, and is there a union representative within the company? -
How could you apply for an entry level job?
What is required to be employed by the company in an entry level job? Who in the company should you address your resume to?
Work experience is a chance for you to find out as much as you can about a job or industry, so you can make a decision about whether you’d like to work there in the future.
Asking questions is the best way to find out what you need to know.
Australian Curriculum Links:
Work Studies/Year 10/Career and life design: career development and management
ACWSCL032
Apply knowledge of self to career decision-making processes.
Published: July 09, 2013; Updated: March 19, 2015; Categories: Work experience
