Students considering their options for post-education have so many possible routes they could take, that it can seem daunting.

Some students may already have an idea of what they want to do based on their interests or what they’re good at. Others may have no clue about what job they’d like to do when they finish education.

Work experience is a good opportunity to explore some of the roles that are out there.

If you are a student in Year 10, work experience is often organised by your school. This might entail spending a week with a local employer doing simple tasks and learning about their values, approaches and attitudes.

Identify your strengths and weaknesses

Doing tasks that would be required in that company can help you to identify your existing strengths and weaknesses – i.e. what skills you already possess for a working environment, and which attributes you will need to gain or improve.

Chat to the people already employed there and see what their backgrounds are in terms of qualifications and what it is they enjoy about their job.

Whether it is a company you might one day consider, or an employer you wouldn’t dream of working for, any form of work experience gives you an idea of the world of work and how it operates. At the end of your week, you may then be in a position to decide whether to stay on for further education, or if you wish to finish school at 18 years of age and find a paid job.

Similarly, if you’re a student who is leaving college in a few months, contact local employers to gain information about what they do and what sort of people they’re looking for.

Find a few possible companies and write to them to ask if you can work shadow one of their employees. Ensure you use a polite and professional tone, and show some enthusiasm when getting in touch so that the employer knows you’re keen to get some first-hand experience.

Sometimes it can be hard to find opportunities but persevere and ask your college or university careers advisors for help if you need it.

Demonstrate a positive work ethic

When you get an opportunity, get to know the people there and build your contacts by networking with them. Ask lots of questions to find out about the employer and the positions available within the company.

Some people go on to get a paid job with the company they work-shadowed, so it is an advantage to demonstrate your keenness and positive work ethic.

Above all, explore all your options and have fun.