Another 'sheppartoncareerinfo' Blog
UNDERSTAND what happens IF…?
Things you really need to know
Need To Know… you can’t do work experience at…
Jan 2nd
PROHIBITED INDUSTRIES
Work experience students are not allowed to do work experience in:
- Security Industry
- Sex Industry
- Tattoo parlours
- Any retail or other business where guns or ammunition are sold
- Abattoirs
- Fishing boats (other than boats operating on inland waters).
Full details can be found at: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/sensecyouth/careertrans/worklearn/workexperience.htm
Need 2 Know – Bullying & Harrassment
Dec 12th
You aren’t just a ‘work experience’ student, you have the same rights and responsibilities as everyone else in the workplace. You can’t bully or harrass anyone, and neither can other workers bully or harrass you.
Do you know what your rights are?
Watch the ‘bullying & harrassment’ clip (link below) to find out more. Click on the relevant link when the following site opens.
http://www.education.vic.gov.au/sensecyouth/careertrans/worklearn/workplacetoolbox/introduction.htm
Need to know… Must be 15 years old
Aug 9th
You must be 15 years of age at the time of your placement.
Need to know…. rejection
Aug 9th
What if the employer says ‘No’ to Work Experience?
Employers will say no for many reasons and these reasons have nothing to do with YOU! (Unless perhaps you haven’t followed the 20 second rules!)
Reasons for saying no may include:
- Not enough work to keep you busy (employers feel guilty about that)
- Too much work and not enough time to spend with you to show you things
- Company Policy (which they have no control over)
- Going away on holidays
- Retiring soon
- Privacy issues (example Doctor’s Surgeries, Lawyers offices etc)
How do you handle rejection?
Remember, they are not rejecting YOU, just the arrangement idea.
For every negative there is a positive… positives could include:
- You understand more about this industry
- You have succeeded in asking for work experience
- You have learned it’s not so scarey talking to adults about work experience
and…. From every negative you can CREATE a positive….
- Ask if it is OK to call in the future if you have any questions about the industry (career planning/networking)
- Ask if they have any recommendations about who else to approach for work experience. Write it down.
- Think outside the box, Work Experience doesn’t have to be a full week. Try:
- asking if you come in for one morning for a couple of hours (or two mornings, or 1 day etc) just to observe… explain that you need some exposure to the industry to help make career decisions.
- asking if you can request work experience again in a few months time, find out when to call
- leaving your name and number and ask them to give you a call when (and if) circumstances change.
- If they still say no…?? It is OK…. remember the positives….
- Smile
- Thank them for their time…
NEED TO KNOW…. What Should I Tell My Boss?
Aug 9th
Do you have any special needs that your employer should know about?
Things you might need to tell your boss about before (Work Experience) may include….
- Travel… Your travel arrangments may impact on your start/finish times. Most employers are very flexible and will try their best to fit in with your travel arrangements.
- Asthma – your employer needs to know if you have asthma, make sure you take your pump with you to work.
- Disability – for example you have low level literacy and numeracy skills and that you may need assistance with this in the workplace
- Cultural needs
- Family needs (for example you are the primary carer for your younger siblings and you need to be home at a certain time)
- Sport / School events - as much as possible you should avoid sporting/school events during work experience however sometimes events are unavoidable and will clash with your week, if so, discuss this with your teacher and boss and allow them the chance to negotiate your time release.
Arrangements made for your special needs can be noted or attached to your Work Experience Arrangement Form.
Watch the ‘introduction’ video on the following site: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/sensecyouth/careertrans/worklearn/workplacetoolbox/introduction.htm
NEED TO KNOW… Meeting the boss….
Aug 9th
Going in to work to meet your boss to discuss Work Experience?
This is what should happen when presenting yourself…
- Smile
- Make eye contact
- If you feel comfortable, offer to shake hands (if culturally appropriate*) when introducing yourself….
- “Hello, my name is ____________. I am a student at _______ College I am here for my interview (with _______________) for work experience.”
- Is it a firm handshake*, or a limp one? Practice firm hand shakes before you go.
- Take a list of questions with you. Write down the answers.
- Have your Work Experience Arrangement Form with you (this demonstrates good organisational skills!)
- Do you need to take your resume? (Think ahead).
- On completion of your interview, make sure you say thank you.
* Please be aware that in some cultures it is not appropriate to shake hands. A polite explanation usually occurs if this is the case.
NEED TO KNOW… 20 Second Impression
Aug 9th
Employers will make a judgement (rightly or wrongly) within the first 20 seconds of meeting you. Here’s how to make the 20 seconds work for you….
- Smile (make sure your teeth are clean!)
- Make eye contact
- Wear clean and neat (school uniform or casual) clothes
- At all costs avoid…
- Track suits
- Sunglasses (wearing these indoors is totally disrespectful)
- Short skirts
- Skimpy (low cut) singlet tops (or tops which show a bare midriff)
- Hoodies
- Unlaced footwear (not suitable for the workplace)
- Thongs
- At all costs avoid…
- Have clean hair and finger nails.
- Body odour? What do you smell like? (Don’t overdo perfume or deodorant however!)
- Watch your feet – do you shuffle along? This gives an impression of laziness.
- Chewing Gum… is disrespectful.
- iPods or mobile phones? Turn them off before you enter the workplace.
NEED TO KNOW… Checklist & Questions about your week
Aug 9th
Questions to ask about your week…. write these down!
- What is the dress code? What do I wear?
- Do I need protective clothing or footwear? If so, is it supplied?
- What time do I start?
- What time do I finish?
- What times are breaks? (Lunch etc)
- Do I need to bring my own lunch/snacks? (Is there a canteen?)
- What will my duties be?
- Are there any special rules or regulations I need to know about?
Need to Know…. who organises my experience?
Aug 9th
It is not your Mum or Dad or teacher going on work experience… it is YOU….
Work Experience organisation is very similar to job applications. So organising your own work experience is an excellent way of experiencing what it is like to look for and apply for positions.
However, there are certain times when your Work Experience Coordinator will step in to help you. If you have any doubts or uncertainties about the process please seek their assistance.
NEED TO KNOW… What Employers Want….
Aug 8th
Your work placement employer will expect you to:
- Be PUNCTUAL – someone who always arrives at work on time
- Be careful about your PERSONAL APPEARANCE
- Be KEEN about the work; INTERESTED in the job and in the business.
- VOLUNTEER to perform duties which you know you can do well.
- Do NOT expect to use your IPOD or MOBILE PHONE at work (except during breaks). Your employer will get annoyed if you are not focussing on the job at hand.
- Expect NO FAVOURS from your employer in terms of hours you have to spend on the job. Find out when the tea breaks are, the length of the break and ALWAYS be back ON TIME.
- MAKE NOTES about what you have to do if you are given a number of tasks all at once.
- ASK QUESTIONS about the job, the business and the industry.
- Be CAREFUL using machinery, DON’T USE ANY MACHINERY WHICH REQUIRES A SPECIAL LICENCE IF YOU DON’T HAVE THAT LICENCE. Make sure you understand exactly how to use a machine before you begin.
- Be DISCREET. If you overhear or see anything PRIVATE or CONFIDENTIAL, even by accident, keep it to yourself. Never pass on unfavourble comments about other workers. This will give a bad impression BUT if you feel uncomfortble about something, talk to your teacher or your employer.
- BE PREPARED TO DO SMALL TASKS BEFORE EXPECTING ANYTHING MAJOR. Don’t expect too much – most people will expect you to show your abilities in fairly small tasks before giving you a more complicated job.
- WORK WITHOUT DISCTRACTING other employees.
- Be prepared sometimes, to ACT AS AN OBSERVER and watch what is going on BUT don’t use this as a way to get out of something else you should be doing.
- BE POSITIVE. Your positive attitude is the best thing you can take with you on work placement. Your employer, who will incur costs in time and money to help you, will appreciate it if you make a positive contribution.
- DON’T use social networking sites (eg Facebook) to bag out or speak negatively about your work experience week.
NEED TO KNOW… When AT work…
Aug 8th
Here are some really important things to know…. this is what you should do if:
You are going to be late for work…
- This shouldn’t happen, however, if something happens to make you late you should:
- Phone your employer/supervisor at the workplace to make him/her aware that you will be on your way very shortly.
You are sick and cannot go to work….
- Phone your employer/supervisor before normal starting time and explain why you will be absent. Give your employer an indication of the length of time you think you will be absent. Ask if he/she requires you to get a doctor’s certificate. If so, make a doctor’s appointment.
- Either you or your parent/guardian should contact the school to explain that you are unwell and unable to attend work. This will be treated as an “explained absence” from school.
You are injured at work…
- There are specific procedures for your employer to follow if you are injured. However, no matter how trivial you think the injury is, you should REPORT IT TO YOUR EMPLOYER IMMEDIATELY. Depending on the extent of the injury, the employer will contact either your parent/guardian or the school, or possibly both. You are coverd for personal injury by the State Government WorkCover Act. WorkCover forms will have to be completed. However, if your Work Experience/Placement Form is not completed, you will not be covered.
You are involved in a sports team during your work placement…
- If a sporting event (school based) occurs during the time you are at work placement and it is essential that you attend, see your teacher to dicuss this. Do this BEFORE you start your placement.
- If you are involved in a sports team that trains during the week and training will clash with your work placement, see your teacher in advance to work out a solution.
You have a part-time job which clashes with work experience….
- Discuss this in advance with your regular employer. Try to arrange your regular roster to fit in with your work experience. If there is a problem, see your teacher who can help you to arrange something else.
You feel you are being harassed at work…
- Harassment at work may fall into a number of categories. It is essential that, if you are not comfortable with your workmates or supervisor, you discuss this with someone immediately. This may be someone from your family or from the school. If necessary, the school may need to act on your behalf. Low level jokes, which are not offensive, may be played on students, so take them in the manner in which are they are intended. However, if they make you feel uncomfortable, tell someone about it.
Make sure you…
- Phone the school if you have any problems you can’t deal with during your week. Your teacher will be available to help you.
Thank you Geraldine Gill – McGuire College for this information.
Need to Know… How to turn my work experience into a School Based Apprenticeship
Aug 4th
Yes, this can and does happen, to understand how this works visit our Shepparton Jobs for School Leavers Blog
