ELISA BARBIER

So you've done it. You have managed to get a placement in a workplace and are onsite and rearing to go. It can be challenging to feel as if you are getting the most from your experience without getting in the way, so I've included some tips alongside my own, personal experiences, in an attempt to give you a head start, or some ideas if you're in a rough patch. 

 

• Your team or shadow-ee's attitude towards your presence can really change how much you gain from your stay, as well as your overall sense of enjoyment, so I would definitely recommend that you try and get a feel for this when you first make contact. If you don't feel like it's going to be a good fit, try some other options first! 

 

• The first couple of days onsite can be some of the most awkward, as you may not really know where you stand. From my own experience of skirting around the edges and, essentially, getting in the way for the first couple of weeks, I've discovered that simplest way around it is communication. While it might seem scary at first, you're going to be doing a lot of it eventually, and it's one of the skills you're there to improve on, so pick a time that someone in the workplace or your shadow-ee isn't too busy and politely ask if there's anything they would like you to do, no to do, or just where you should stand. If you get a tour around the workplace on the first day, this can be a great time to ask, as their attention is on you anyway, and could cut through some wasted time and uncomfortable standing about later on. A great way to avoid this altogether is to clearly state what you wish to get out of your placement when you first reach out to a business or organisation to book your spot. In my experience, if the employers know what you are looking for (this could be anything from just discovering first-hand what the job actually is to some hands-on experience before applying for a job or apprenticeship) from your work experience, they might be more inclined or able to help you get there. 

 

• Leading on from this, I have found that picking up on the perfect balance between 'lying idle, wasting time and getting in the way' and 'making a mess and wasting everyone else's time and energy' is essential. If you can pull together some initiative and give people around the workplace a hand, then that's great. However, you need to make sure that you know what you're doing, or you may end up doing more harm than good. For example, filling up an empty spray bottle with cleaning fluid is helpful. However, interrupting the people around you in order to find out which is the right cleaning fluid, when you weren't asked to fill it up in the first place, may not always be taken the right way. Furthermore, filling up the spray bottle with the wrong cleaning fluid because you didn't ask, and causing the employers to empty it all out and start again is even worse (trust me, I know from experience). Long story short; mentally check that A. You know what you're doing and B. You're being helpful, before taking any initiative, and if you're ever in doubt, it's better to ask or let it be all together. 

 

• Take photos! While it is important to get the all-clear before you take any photos whatsoever, and imperative that you get consent from each person in the photo before sharing it, using these in your Reflection and presentation really give another dimension to what you have been doing. In my case, I was not allowed to take photos of any of the staff or the animals admitted to the clinic, unless specifically stated by the owner. However, as pointed out by my Impact Project teacher, photos of the people (and puppies!) you worked with may not be the most interesting thing you encountered. I was able to get some shots of the anaesthetic set up, sterilisation process and patients hall of fame, which, at the end of the day, really speak volumes about what I learned during my placement in a way which photos of kittens never could (though you can't go too wrong with some cuteness if you have the permission).

 

 

• While it might seem obvious, your manners are the most important tool in your metaphorical work-experience toolkit. Being polite will not only make your presence more pleasant for the people around you, it will also make them more inclined to help you make the most of your time in the workplace. On my arrival, I was polite but became quite shy and reserved in my attempt to not get in the way. Later on, I realised that, at the end of the day, the veterinary clinic had indeed agreed to welcome me, and that I would only become the burden I had feared I was if I stood, subdued, in the corner, and did nothing except get in everyone's way. While I'm in no way encouraging you to walk into a workplace and make yourself at home, I did find that letting your natural personality shine through could spark conversation, inclusion and really emphasise your enthusiasm and gratitude for your experience through engagement. I don't recommend constantly pestering employers or your shadow-ee with questions, but you can learn a lot by asking as opposed to staying silent. Asking questions also exhibits your engagement with the job(s) that those around you are doing, which, in turn, could encourage them to share some knowledge or give you some hands-on experience.

 

• As well as keeping a consistently high level of etiquette up during your hours, I would advise a big thank-you when you leave. I, personally, brought in a big box of Ferrero Rochers in for the team on my final day. However, something small like a hand-written card or email detailing everything you've learned and how grateful you are, can really make a big impact. While it might take a little while to organise or put together, this is really the least you can do for the workplace, business or shadow-ee who has/have been welcoming you for hours every Friday. What's more, a kind gesture such as this not only improves your reputation; it enhances that of the school's. Simply by being polite, you can open your spot to other students in years to come, and improve Gisborne's perception of Campion College as a whole. [learn more]

 

• Finally, my last piece of advice is to, quite simply, make the most of it! Regardless of where you've chosen to complete some work experience, you're opening yourself up to a world of opportunity. There are many students across the globe who are never given the chance to get some hands-on time before they select a career path, sometimes for life. I discovered that it was in my interest to ask questions and observe the workplaces going-ons as if I were starting the job the following day. For the most part, you're essentially in this placement to find out if it's really what you want to do when you leave school, so question, challenge, discover and do just that!