Preparing for work experience

• Take the initiative, ask questions, volunteer for tasks, and show enthusiasm.
• Seek opportunities to learn beyond your assigned duties or tasks.
• Understand how and when you will be paid (for paid opportunities).

• Arrive on time, dress appropriately, and communicate respectfully. If you can’t attend due to sickness, know the process for letting your supervisor know.
• Show reliability, integrity, and a positive attitude in all interactions. They make offer other opportunities afterwards!

• Network with colleagues and supervisors to build relationships. These connections can support future career opportunities.
• Before you begin your work placement - be prepared. Savvy networkers know who they are going to meet. Check out the company website, is there a ‘meet the team’ section? If so, have a look! These people will be your work colleagues. Social media is a great networking tool - set up a professional LinkedIn account and use this to introduce yourself.

How do you network in the workplace?

• Introduce yourself to everyone and offer your assistance. This may sound daunting, but it’s a good way for people to know who you are and what you can do to help them.
• Look out for any social/sports events and sign up. It’s a great way to meet other people in the company. 
• Be open, make eye contact with others, smile at people when you can in the hallway, lift or in the kitchen and say hello. 
• Arrange to go for a coffee with a person whose career you are interested in. Call/email them and ask to meet; people will be flattered that you are interested in them. 
• Be interested! Ask open-ended questions, and then listen attentively to their reply. An open-ended question needs more than a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. If you listen to their responses, people will warm to you. 
• When you finish your placement, send an email/card or bring in cake to say thank you, and connect with them on LinkedIn, asking your manager/supervisor for a recommendation.
• And don’t forget, the best way to network and get yourself known is to do a good job!

• Be open to feedback and use it constructively to improve.
• Keep a journal or log of your experiences, challenges, and achievements, to assist making applications in the near future
• Reflect on what you’ve learned and how it connects to your academic studies and career goals. Think through how your learning and development can be transferred across other industries and roles, such as communication; problem solving and digital skills.

• Identify what you want to achieve before and during your experience.
• Think about your current skills, along with your strengths and weaknesses. How might the work experience enhance your existing skills and help you develop new capabilities? 
• Review your progress regularly and adjust your goals as needed.

• Don’t hesitate to ask for help, let staff know when you have finished something and what you can do next or highlight any mistakes when they happen. It’s all good learning.

• An induction will help you to get started with confidence. An induction is a structured process designed to welcome and integrate new members by providing them with the knowledge, tools, and support needed to settle into their new role and organisation. It includes familiarising staff or volunteers with company policies, procedures, culture, and their specific job responsibilities or tasks, while also introducing them to colleagues and the workplace environment. It’s a great opportunity to ask lots of questions.
• Use available resources to help you navigate any challenges and make the most of your experience. You could even use LinkedIn Learning to brush up on skills, or learn new skills.
• You can reach out to Careers Network if you need help too: workexperience@contacts.bham.ac.uk

Whether you’re undertaking volunteering on an unpaid basis for an organisation, or you’re in a paid contractual position, there are commitments and expectations. An induction and regular communication with your supervisor or manager will be very helpful here.

Please be aware that different countries will have different legal requirements too regarding responsibilities, and if you are planning to undertake work experience overseas, you may wish to undertake additional research. 

If you’re a current student planning to do a placement or short-term work experience abroad, you might need to complete a Convention de Stage or a similar agreement like a Convenio de Colaboracion. This is a common requirement in European countries.

The agreement involves the student, the University, and the host employer. Your experience needs to be approved by the Head of your department before any signing by all parties.

Please enquire about a Convention de Stage by emailing: workexperience@contacts.bham.ac.uk, where a template can be obtained. Once approval is granted, the template will be provided to the Head of the Department for signing. You will then need to sign it. You will then send it to your employer for signing. 

• Employment contracts – If you’re working in a paid capacity, you may have a written contract, which will provide you with information detailing the terms and conditions of your work. 
• Your pay, tax and the National Minimum Wage – in the UK, most workers who are performing duties commensurate with those of paid staff should receive at least the National Minimum Wage.
• Holidays, time off, sick leave, maternity and paternity leave – You cannot work more than 48 hours per week on average, although you can opt out. There are also regulations regarding issues such as working at night.

• Health & Safety Executive - Employers have responsibilities for the health and safety of their employees. They are also responsible for any visitors to their premises such as customers, suppliers and the general public. Similarly, whilst on-site, you have a responsibility to others to ensure that health and safety guidance is followed at all times.
• Data protection – you and the organisation has a responsibility to ensure that personal information is used in line with defined guidance and data protection law.
• Discrimination: your rights – All employees have the right to equal treatment in the workplace. Whilst employers have an obligation to ensure that an Equal Opportunities policy is in-place, it is the staff who help to ensure that the policy is followed and acted on.