Work Experience

How to Turn Your Work Experience Position into a Job

If you’re part of the way through a work experience placement and find yourself loving it, you might be wondering how you can turn that work experience position into a job. Even if you need to do some study first, there are still things you can do on your placement that will put you in the good books when it comes to getting a job down the line.

Show you’re keen

If the employer can see you have a genuine interest in the work, this can definitely give you an edge for future job opportunities. So show up on time and ask lots of questions, be respectful to other workers and learn about what they do. If you’re given an opportunity to participate in some way, say yes! Employers are always on the lookout for people with a genuine interest in their work.

Hone your skills

Any work experience placement is a great way to develop valuable soft skills that can be taken into nearly any job. Think things like communication, teamwork, adaptability, etc. So use this opportunity to hone these skills now, so that when you come back in the future applying for a job, you can confidently put them on your resume.

Say thank you

Once your placement is done, make sure you finish up strong by thanking the employer for the opportunity. Showing some sincere gratitude will usually always get you into someone’s good books, and can also be an opportunity to ask for a reference or recommendation that you can use when applying for jobs (whether it’s one at this company or somewhere else).

5 Work Experience Ideas for Creative Students

Want a career in the creative arts? Structured work experience placements can be hard to come by in this industry, but there are heaps of other opportunities out there to help build your skills and knowledge. Whether your passion lies in visual arts, design, photography and videography, writing, or theatre, there are plenty of work experience ideas out there for creative students. We’ve found some you might like to consider.

Volunteer at an art gallery

If there’s a local gallery in your area, get in contact with them and ask if they offer work experience or need volunteers. Particularly when a new exhibit or show is about to open, they’ll often need a helping hand to get everything ready. You could find yourself helping with setting up exhibitions, promoting events, and interacting with visitors. This can provide exposure to a wide range of art forms and artists, as well as insights into the inner workings of the art world.

Write for a student newspaper

Does your school publish its own newsletter or magazine? Ask your teachers if there’s an opportunity for you to help write any articles, or if there’s a section for student contributions, put some of your own work forward. Lots of university or community magazines and papers also accept submissions from high school students, such as QUT’s ScratchThat magazine. Whether you’re interested in creative writing or journalism, this can be a great way to put your name out there and get some experience.

Volunteer at the theatre

It takes more than just actors to run a play. There are always heaps of people working behind the scenes to make it happen, and many community theatres run off the hard work of volunteers. You can always offer to volunteer and get some experience with lighting, sound, set design, or costume design. If you’re lucky enough to live in or around Sydney, the Sydney Opera House has a work experience program you might like to check out.

Offer your camera skills

If you’re handy with a camera, there are opportunities all around for you to build up your portfolio. Ask if you can take photos or video for your school at events like sports days or graduations. Find magazines, websites, and competitions where you can submit your work to show off (and maybe even win some cool prizes). If you know a professional photographer, you could even ask to spend a day with them in the studio or out in the field and see what a day at work is like for them.

Get design practice

Know someone about to start up their own business, or have a friend with a side-gig? You could offer your design skills to them and create a logo and branding, help them build a website, or create mock-ups of print material and merchandise. If you don’t know anyone, make up a brief or find examples online and see how far you can stretch your skills – or even start by creating your own brand! Either way, it’s great for helping you find your niche and get experience with industry software and tools.

With all of the above examples, don’t forget to add any work you’ve done (paid or unpaid) to your portfolio or résumé that you can show off to future clients or employers. And if you want more work experience ideas and opportunities, you can check out our website here.