Putting your toe in the water – the benefits of work placements for trade careers

Are you actively considering a trade career but feel you need to try it out before making a decision about an apprenticeship?

If this is the case, have you thought about a work placement with an employer in the trades sector?

What is a work placement?

A work placement is where someone works for an organisation or company for a limited period to gain work experience. The placement is a formal arrangement and is generally unpaid.

What are the benefits of a work placement?

Work placements offer considerable benefits if you are interested in a trade career. These benefits are:

An opportunity to try the trade

The main benefit of a work placement is the opportunity to actually undertake and experience work in a particular trade. During a work placement, you can observe the work undertaken and projects worked on, as well as learn basic skills in the process.

Another plus is the fact they are commitment-free! There is no obligation to undertake further work or study when you complete a work placement. This allows you to try out a trade and determine whether it works for you before deciding your next steps.

Provides a window into the work environment

A work placement can play a key role in helping you understand the work environment of a particular job and whether this appeals to you. The work environment includes all the elements of a particular job, including commuting to work, arriving and finishing at a particular time and interacting with co-workers, as well as any rules at work and routines. All of this information is valuable when determining if a certain trade career is going to be right for you!

Helps develop your soft skills

In addition to gaining useful experience in a trade, a work placement can provide an opportunity to develop your soft skills. These are qualities and abilities that help you to do your job and interact with others in the workplace. They can include skills such as teamwork, planning and organising, problem solving, creativity, collaboration and communication. These skills are highly-prized by employers – in fact, a 2019 study by the Department of Skills, Small and Family Business found that 75% of employers considered soft skills to be as important, if not more important, than technical skills.

Work placements, by their very nature, introduce you to real life work situations and provide experiences with work colleagues, clients, and projects where you will get the chance to apply your soft skills and improve them.

Increases your employability

One of the best aspects of work placements is their capacity to increase your employability. According to a 2021 report by the National Skills Commission, 75% of employers require applicants to have work experience. Work placements provide this experience and can potentially give you the edge over other candidates. Additionally, if you perform well at your work placement, you may be offered a job by the employer you worked at, or be referred to another employer looking for an apprentice. Essentially, a work placement can give you a foot in the door to the world of trades!