INTRODUCTION 2
1.0 GUIDE TO FINDING WORK-RELATED LEARNING PLACEMENT 3
1.1 INTRODUCTION 3
1.2 IDENTIFYING YOUR AREAS OF INTEREST 5
1.3 STUDENT PREPARATION 5
1.3.1 Creating your Curriculum Vitae 5
1.3.2 Composition letter of enquiry/application 7
1.3.3 Important points to remember when you are asked to come for an interview. 7
1.3.4 Opportunities for coming up with a research project 7
2.0 STUDENT GUIDE TO THE WORK RELATED LEARNING EXPERIENCE MODULE 8
2.1 MODULES AND REGISTRATION 8
2.1.1 Work related learning academic supervisor’s report 9
2.1.2 Work Related Learning Student’s report 9
2.3.1 Report structure 9
3.0 THE RESEARCH PROJECT 19
3.1 INTRODUCTION 19
3.1.1 What is research? 19
3.1.2 Steps to start the research 19
3.2 HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROPOSAL AND THE PROJECT 20
3.2.1 Research topic 20
3.2.2 Introduction 20
3.2.3 Justification of the study 20
3.2.4 Objectives of the study 20
3.2.5 Literature review 20
3.2.6 Research materials and methods 21
3.2.7 Results 21
3.3.1 Methods of presenting data 21
3.3.2 Presentation 22
3.3.3 When to use a graph or a table? 22
3.3.4 Use of Figures 22
3.3.5 Using the figures and tables in text 22
3.4 DISCUSSION 22
3.5 CONLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 22
3.6 REFERENCES 23
INTRODUCTION
Programmes at the Midlands State University shall normally include at least ten months of supervised work related learning during the third level (Section 10 of the general regulations). It is therefore important for students to know how to go through work related learning; from finding work-placement to what they are supposed to do at the work-place. This booklet is, therefore, meant to assist you in three ways: viz.
· finding work-related learning placements
· to conscientise students on what is expected of them when they go to work related learning
· and finally assist them prepare the research project.
1.0 GUIDE TO FINDING WORK-RELATED LEARNING PLACEMENT
1.1 INTRODUCTION
Students are encouraged to find their own work related learning placements because it gives them the opportunity to choose whom they want to work for and where they want to go unlike where they are assisted by lecturers in their departments or by the Director of work related learning. Finding appropriate placement for work related learning can be difficult at times because there are a number of factors to consider. These include:
· Closeness to home area – especially where there is no remuneration
· Relevance to degree programme
· Of a level suitable for an undergraduate student
· Availability of time to do the research project
· Availability of resources to do the research project
This handbook is intended to give you some tips as to how you can find placement for work related learning amidst the above cited challenges. The work related learning should take you at least 10 months therefore it is important that you find a workplace where you will benefit and enjoy your stay with the company.
It is important to ask yourself the following questions before you start engaging on trying to find a work related learning placement.
· Who do I want to work for on my placement?
· What do I want to do?
· Where do I want to do my placement?
· What can I offer to a prospective employer?
· Which organisations have taken MSU students for work related learning before?
· What do I need to do to apply for a placement?
· What are my responsibilities as a placement student?
· Why should this company take me for work related learning?
· When should I apply for work related learning?
Who do I want to work for on my work related learning placement?
It is important to ask yourself whether you aspire to work for a particular organisation when you finish your degree programme and therefore doing your work related learning with such an organisation will enhance your opportunities for getting a job with them when you finish. It is also important to think of the organisations you do not want to work for.
Who offers work related learning placements to students?
You need to research the organisations within the field you are interested in. You should talk to more people (especially the fourth levels) about organisations that offer placement, their advantages and disadvantages. You can gather information about work related learning placement from your lecturers, the forth levels (have just come out of work related learning) or the Director of work related learning. Do not underestimate the power of talking to your friends and family about the idea of work related learning placement.
Who should I send my application to?
It is important that your application letter reaches the appropriate person. It is obvious with advertised placements to whom you sent your application, but in the case of speculative applications it is important to target the correct person. This involve some research and even phoning to establish the correct address and whom to address the application letter to. Letters addressed to dear sir/madam or the Director normally do not reach the person in a position to give work related learning placement.
What can I offer a prospective employer?
You should be able to sell yourself, your skills, and abilities to any potential employers. Therefore you need to be aware of your abilities and have the confidence to articulate them very well.
What do I want to do?
You have to think carefully about what you want to do because it has a bearing on your future. Remember your degree offers a wide range of subjects so you have to choose which one is of particular interest to you. Doing ‘anything in the subject field’ is not an acceptable answer however, since prospective employers will expect you to be focused, and to have a purpose to your search. It is your responsibility to investigate what careers might be open to you, and what you might have a passion for. Think about answering this question in terms of short term and long term goals, and about how a placement could act as a stepping stone towards an eventual career.
What are my responsibilities as a placement student?
The Midlands State University students have a very good record during their work related learning. You will be an ambassador of the Midlands State University and your behaviour should be always professional. Your behaviour during your stay will impress that organisation and they might want more of MSU students. Some of you will be placed at positions of responsibility and therefore you must remember to respect any boundaries of confidentiality that your placement organisation may set.
When should I contact people?
You should start researching your field of interest a year ahead of your work related learning. This will give you ample time to gather all the information you need. It will also allow you to consult as many people as you want about work related learning placement opportunities that may be open to you.
Why do I want to work for this company?
Research the organisation and see how you can fit in, in terms of the skills that you have to offer and the activities you are likely to be doing on your work related placement. Think about what you will get from the experience and what that company can offer you. You should always be able to answer why you want to do work related learning with an organisation since you are likely to be asked such questions at an interview.
1.2 IDENTIFYING YOUR AREAS OF INTEREST
There are two types of students in the University, those who chose their course with a very clear career path in mind and those who were maybe confused and do not know why they chose a given course or they had ‘A’ level subject combination limitations/low entry points and had to do a course they did not want at all.
For the latter the Work Related Learning placement gives you the opportunity to explore a career area. The Work Related Learning gives you the opportunity to make contacts and gain experience in potential career areas – it can also be valuable in identifying those careers you do not want to enter after graduation. It should give you a greater understanding of what it means to work in that sector, which in turn should significantly focus you more when you are searching for a job after graduation.
1.3 STUDENT PREPARATION
You need to draw up a plan of action before you do any search for a work related learning placement and this is in four steps:
· Research – potential careers, potential organisations, yourself
· Compose – CV, letters
· Review – seek opinion on the written documents you compose
· Check – proof reading is very important.
You need to communicate to any potential employer that you have a wide range of skills that will equip you in order to be a productive employee for their organisation. You therefore should ask yourself what skills you have. The following are some of the skills;
· Organisation skills – time management, work patterns, punctuality, working to deadlines, adaptability, flexible working and project management
· Management skills – finances, people, workloads, difficult situations or resources
· Subject specific skills- Most academic subjects incorporate a set of certain skills relevant to the discipline. Think about what skills are particular to your subject field.
· Research skills – These include interviewing, questionnaires, surveys, data interpretation and analysis.
· IT skills – include word processing, spreadsheets, database, email, programming, modelling.
· Communication skills-include visual, aural, oral and written communication.
The above skills can be demonstrated through a CV or an application letter or at an interview.
1.3.1 Creating your Curriculum Vitae
It is important to have a well written CV with all the necessary information – that will impress the organisation. Your CV should represent you and what you are looking for. If you are using it to get work experience in the agricultural field, you do not want to make the main focus to be your retail employment history. Your CV should contain your organisational skills, management skills, subject specific skills, research skills, IT skills and communication skills. Each potential organisation may have different perspectives on the skill it is looking for in students – it is therefore worth researching any promotional or recruitment literature the organisation produces to see what kinds of abilities they highlight as being important. You stand a better chance if you can demonstrate that the skills you have can be mapped into the skills required by a potential employer. It is at the same time not advisable to aggravate your abilities – always justify any statements you make as this will make them far more credible to the employer.
There are different styles of CV that are possible- so think of a style that might be best suited to you and your experience
· Think of a CV that will best convey your purpose
· Make sure that there is no bad spelling, grammar or poorly expressed content
· Get your CV checked by someone
Your CV should include the following
· Name
· Address (both term and vacation time)
· Telephone (home/mobile)
· Email address
· Education and qualifications
· Work experience / employment
· References
You may also include a career objective statement that gives you the opportunity to make an impact with your CV. This section should be kept short but it should show focus and direction in a realistic yet ambitious manner.
At least two references should be included of which one should be your lecturer, the other from your previous work or personal life – but not a member of your family. You should ask their permission to include them because it is embarrassing for anyone to be asked questions about a person that he does not know much of or have forgotten.
Presentation of a CV
· Your CV should look neat and tidy, with all the information easy to find
· Use capitals and bold to separate out sections
· Use bold and italics to highlight important points and words
· Use good quality paper and a printer that produces a clean output.
· Spelling and good grammar are paramount, and spelling and grammar checkers can be misleading
· Employers expect perfect CVs.
1.3.2 Composition letter of enquiry/application
Your lecturers will give you letters of introduction. However, you should be able to write a good letter when you are applying for work related placement. The following can guide you on how to write a letter:
· You will need to think about the types of letters you will need to write; be it enquiries, initial application or follow ups
· Standard business style should be used
· Do not repeat information on your CV if you are enclosing one
· The letter should be kept brief and to the point
· Always get another person to proof read your letter
1.3.3 Important points to remember when you are asked to come for an interview.
Remember the following if you are called for an interview:
· Be early. Public transport is often a problem so you should make allowances for this and leave plenty of time to get there.
· Be smart. Suits are always not necessary if you do not have one, but do not go in your jeans and a T-shirt, smart casual is usually acceptable.