Work experience
Work experience is an opportunity to experience working in a specific industry or profession. It is often associated with high school students getting a feel for working life, but it can be useful at all stages of life—university students, people looking for work and people wanting to change careers.
Most work experience is unpaid, although some programs (like graduate programs, internships or cadetships) may pay wages.
Work experience might include:
- observing or helping out in the workplace
- work shadowing
- a work placement
- a formal cadetship or internship
- participating in government programs—for example, the Australian Government's Work for the Dole program
- taking part in volunteer work.
Benefits of work experience may include:
- developing your skills with on-the-job training
- gaining experience in a variety of work areas, and building on your existing job skills
- getting references
- enhancing your employability
- networking and becoming involved with people in the industry
- demonstrating your work capabilities (sometimes to potential employers).
Find work experience
Find work experience information and opportunities:
- Workforce Australia
- myfuture
- do your own online searches to find opportunities offered in your local area
- pre-apprenticeships which give you a 'taste' of a trade or vocation without committing to a full-time or part-time apprenticeship or traineeship.
Current university students and graduates can also look for opportunities to work within the Queensland Government. Some of these programs are also available to current and recently graduated secondary school students.