Work Based Learning Experiences
Work based learning experiences (WBLE) help you explore your interests and your skills. Armed with this information, you will be able to select a career that is well-suited to you.
Get valuable work experience through paid or unpaid work, volunteer, complete an internship or begin the steps of an apprenticeship.
Common WBLE activities include:
Informational Interviews: An informational interview is an informal conversation with someone working in a career area/job that interests you, who will give you information and advice. It is an effective research tool in addition to reading books, exploring the Internet and examining job descriptions. It is not a job interview, and the objective is not to find job openings.
Job Shadowing: Job shadowing is a popular on-the-job learning, career development, and leadership development intervention. Job Shadowing involves observing an employee on the job to help him/her learn the aspects of that job.
Volunteering: Volunteering is when a person donates his/her time or efforts for a cause or organization without being paid. It may be a one-time only or an on-going commitment. It should directly or indirectly benefit people outside the family or household or else benefit a cause, even though the person volunteering normally benefits as well. Most volunteer sites are non-profit organizations.
Workplace Tours/ Field Trips: Work place tours and field trips are group excursions for the purpose of first-hand observations to specific work sites.
Internships (Paid Or Unpaid): An internship is a temporary position with an emphasis on on-the-job training rather than merely employment, and it can be paid or unpaid. An internship is an opportunity to develop specific job-related skills before you are qualified for an actual job.