Why Do Work Experience ?

· To improve your understanding of the work environment.

· To learn which skills and competencies are required in the workplace.

· To explore possible career options and to assess your suitability to pursue a particular career area in terms of your interests, abilities and qualifications.

· To gain confidence and skills in approaching employers by telephone, personal visit or letter.

· To improve communication and interpersonal skills by working with people whom you do not know and adapting to a new environment.

· To improve written skills in terms of resume, application and thank you letter writing.

· To receive an evaluation which can be used for a reference for casual employment.

· To gain experience, which may be directly relevant to the course you wish to pursue.

Legal Requirements

· Work Experience Form

All Work Experience arrangements must be formalised within the constraints of The Education Act,(Work Experience)Act 1997.

This requires 4 signatures - the Student, Parent, Employer and School on a Work Experience Agreement Form.

· Timing

Work experience must be done during the School Year i.e. from the first day of School to the last December school day. This means Term 1, Term 2, Term 3 holidays are allowable times, but the summer holiday is not permissible. Students making work experience arrangements in summer are not covered for worker's compensation under the Act.

· Payment

The Act requires a minimum payment of $5.00 per day. This can be refundable to certain non-profit organisations.

· Work Cover

Students doing Work Experience in an industry covered by State Awards, are covered by Work Cover. Placements in Industry covered by Commonwealth Awards, are also covered by Work Cover, but payment of wage is not required.

· Absence from Work

If absent for any reason, definitely notify your employer, and the School. Any problems whilst on Work Experience should be referred to Mr Thompson or Mrs Burton.

Organizing your Work Experience - a Five Stage Model

STAGE ONE - CHOOSING THE TYPE OF WORK EXPERIENCE

· Your Interests - the first thing to do is to find out what you would LIKE TO DO. It should be a combination of interest, fun and a challenge, which guides your decision. This will help you identify the INDUSTRY AREA (e.g. transport, building, health, entertainment) or the JOB TYPE (solicitor, architect, physiotherapist) you are keen on.

· Spend some time using the resources in the Careers Office - probably the best ones to start with are the Job Guide, OZJAC (the National Job and Course Explorer) and the Yellow Pages for those who may be struggling for ideas. Mr Thompson and Mrs Burton are available most days during lunchtime if you need some help.

· Research the jobs in the Work Experience Register of previous years.

· Make a list of the jobs you wish to explore - use the table below to record these.

This is the tricky bit. It takes talent, brains, contacts, perseverance, good manners, imagination and a bit - or a lot - of luck. If you know someone…you are lucky.

· Identify some potential employers who can offer you work in the areas in which you are interested.

· Set up the placement as soon as possible - it is very competitive to find work experience, particularly in popular areas.

· Do not despair - you may not find a placement in the first few weeks. Remember the golden rule is: “The harder you try, the harder we try.”

Resources to help you find a placement :

· Register of Work Experience Placements used by students in previous years, eg. Melbourne Grammar families and contacts established over many years, as well as Old Melburnians offering placements or large organisations which have an annual work experience programme e.g. Army, La Trobe University, Leader Newspapers. This information is available in the Careers Centre.

· Telephone Directories. Use the Yellow Pages - it is easier because it is listed in occupational and Interest areas, as well as locality.

· Personal networks through family, friends and relatives.

· Advertisements in newspapers for positions similar to those in which you are interested may help you identify a potential employer.

STAGE THREE - MAKING CONTACT WITH POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS

· Either ring or write to employers asking for a placement

· Keep a record of your contacts

· Keep contacting employers until you receive a YES from one of them

Applying by telephone

· Keep this booklet with you for reference.

· Be polite, sound keen and interested.

· Ask to speak to someone who can advise you about student work experience - make a note of their name.

· If the person is not available, or asks you to ring later - make a note and follow it up.

· If they cannot help you, thank them and ask if they can suggest someone who may be able to offer you a place.

· If you asked to send more details - do so.

Applying by letter

· Make a record of the employers you have written to - it will be important if you have to follow-up with a ‘phone call.

· Send as many letters as you can - this will ensure a better chance of a positive reply. Be sure to include your name, address and telephone number in your letter. Offices frequently dispose of envelopes without checking details on the back.

· If you receive more than one offer - let the others know as soon as you have made a decision.

· Use the following example to help you write your own letter.

When you receive a “YES” Go to STAGE FOUR

Record of Contacts with employers

SAMPLE LETTER

Your name

Address

Suburb State Postcode

Telephone Number

Date

Name (if known)

Title of Person or Work Experience Co-ordinator

Company Name

Business Address

Dear

I am writing to ask if you could offer me a Work Experience Placement during the last week of Term 3, which is Monday 17 September until Friday 21September 2007.

Presently I am a Year 11 student at Melbourne Grammar School. I am interested in finding out more about ( whatever you are interested in ) and would like the opportunity of working with your company.

I am currently studying ( list subjects ) and participate in ( list extra-curricular activities ). I particularly enjoy……………………….and have had experience in ( list any relevant experience ).

I hope that you will give consideration to my application for a work placement and look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully

Sign your name

Your name ( typed )

STAGE FOUR - COMPLETING THE WORK EXPERIENCE ARRANGEMENT FORM

· Complete the Placement Information Form attached to this booklet - use this form as a checklist for gathering the relevant information from your placement provider. The Placement Information Form must be returned to the Careers Centre by Friday 25 May 2007.

· You will then receive an official Work Experience Agreement Form. It is a legal requirement for you, your parents, the employer and the school to sign this form. This form MUST be returned to the Careers Centre with your parents' and your signature no later than Wednesday 13 June 2007.

· The Careers Centre will forward the document to the employers for signing.

· On return of the form to the Careers Centre, it will be passed to the Headmaster for approval and signature.

STAGE FIVE - COMPLETE TWO OH&S TESTS

• The Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) Modules are designed to introduce you to important facts about health and safety laws and common hazards in the work place.
• You are required to do two OH&S tests - a General Module first and then an Industry-specific module.
• Both The OH&S tests must be done on-line in the Careers Centre. The tests are multiple-choice tests.
• The link to the safe@work OH&S tests is on the Portal at http://portal.mgs.vic.edu.au/redir.php?url=http://intranet.mgs.vic.edu.au/content/Intranet/Student_Services/Careers/
• When you have correctly answered sufficient questions, you should print off the Award of Attainment, hand it in to the Careers Centre to be stamped and signed.
  

It is a requirement that all students demonstrate a basic knowledge of occupational health & safety in the workplace, and therefore no student will be permitted to begin his Work Experience placement without having first completed two OH&S tests.

STAGE FIVE - COLLECTION OF COMPLETED DOCUMENTS

· Collect your copy of the official form from the Careers Centre.

. Collect your signed & stamped OH&S Awards of Attainment

· Collect the employer's copy, letter of thanks from the school and an evaluation form to take with you to your placement.

Your Work Experience Placement is only official when ALL PAPERWORK has been signed and approved as
complete by Mrs Burton or Mr Thompson AND you have completed your OH&S tests.

As a matter of courtesy you should make contact with your employer at least a week beforehand to confirm your placement and to check on your starting time, appropriate dress, lunch arrangements, special requirements in preparation of your work experience.

And FINALLY well done, you are now ready to gain a worthwhile insight into the world of work - ENJOY IT .