Making the Most of a Course that Requires Practical Work

May 17, 2011
Chris Thomas

Hands on Experience is Imperative with Horses - Kathie Thomas

Work experience is a requirement of many courses - especially those that provide hands-on training. Many don't use it to its fullest advantage however.

Some universities and TAFE institutions insist on work experience as a requirement to fulfill all attributes of a particular course. Others provide it as a means to get students out working in the industry they are going to be in, in the future.

Whatever the reason, many students don’t seem to embrace the true value of practical placements. Any work experience is a great opportunity to:

Take advantage of contacts that teachers or lecturers may have in the industry
Focus on an area the student is interested in and wants to work, in the future
Gain experience in a field they have never worked before
Learn about the hours, work required and potential rate of pay for such work
Gain invaluable skills, experience and references that can be added to create an impressive and comprehensive resume

Insurance and Education Facilities

While undertaking a course, the school, TAFE or university is able to cover the student for insurance. Each course may require a particular number of hours be carried out by the student to complete their work experience. This may not however be the total number of hours that can be afforded to the student.

In other words, it may be possible to do more work experience than is required. For students who can afford the time, it is worth checking if this is the case and then making use of any extra hours that the education facility can cover you for. In this way, it is possible to acquire further practical experience that will put the student ahead of any others that haven’t taken the time to do so.

When it comes to being employable in any field, commitment, keen interest and an impressive resume are key factors to increase one’s chances. Work experience is a great way to prove one’s worth in each of these areas, while providing the opportunity to 'work' alongside study.

Different forms of work experience can also provide opportunities to acquire contacts in the industry that may include important people interstate and overseas. Alongside this, it offers the chance to:

See how people do things differently in varying workplaces
Acquire contacts that could later be chased up for potential work
Gain different skills while working with people that have varying strengths

Work experience should be considered by the full time or part time student who may already be employed as an excellent way to increase one’s saleability as a worker. If time affords and opportunities arise to carry out more than is required for competency in a subject or course, jump on it!