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2. This Work Experience Module 1 Learner’s Record © third edition was written by
Brian Comerford of Classroom Guidance 2015.
It is based on the Work Experience Module 1 written by the NCCA (National Council
for Curriculum & Assessment).
Editor: Jennifer Rope

3. Table of Contents
UNIT 1: PRE PLACEMENT PLANNING UNIT PAGE
1.1 Have You Ever Worked? 1
1.2 Self Assessment 2
1.3 Achievements – KA1 3
1.4 Coping Strategies 4
1.5 What Employers Want 6
1.6 Basic Information – KA2 7
1.7 Before Your Placement – KA2 8
UNIT 2: PLACEMENT UNIT
2.1 The Diary – KA3 9
UNIT 3: OPERATIONAL UNIT
3.1 Important Aspects Of Work 19
UNIT 4: REVIEW OF EXPERIENCE
4.1 Review Questions – KA3 20
4.2 Thank You Letters 22
4.3 Key Assignment Checklist 23

4. 1
UNIT 1: PRE PLACEMENT PLANNING UNIT
1.1 Have You Ever Worked?
Have you ever worked? Circle Yes No
Job Title: _______________________________________________________
What were you expected to do?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
What skills did these jobs require?
1.
2.
3.

5. 2
1.2 Self-Assessment
Skills Profile
Before you undertake your work experience placement, rate yourself on
the two skills lists below using the following scale:
5: Excellent 4: Good 3: Average 2: Fair 1: Poor
1. Personal / Interpersonal Skills
Honest Enthusiastic
Confident Persistent
Co-operative Creative
Assertive Tactful
Methodical Adaptable
Sensitive to others Conscientious
Independent Willing to learn
Understanding Can accept criticism
Reliable Can work on your own
Punctual Can work as part of a
team
Helpful

6. 3
2. Practical Skills
Report writing Working with numbers
Making things Keyboard skills
Working with computers Managing money
Problem solving Driving
Reading Repairing things
Foreign languages Assembling
KA 1. I Listed What I Personally Wanted To Learn From My
Work Experience Placement.
1.3 Achievements
Write down three things you want to learn from your work
experience:
1.
2.
3.
________________ Student Signature Teacher Signature ________________

7. 4
1.4 Coping Strategies
Work Situation 1
You are sick and can’t make it to work.
What do you do?
_______________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Work Situation 2
You absolutely hate the work experience and don’t feel
you are learning anything. What do you do?
_______________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Work Situation 3
You are late on your first day and your boss gets annoyed
and shouts at you. What do you do?
_______________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

8. 5
Work Situation 4
You are asked to go and get a sky hook from the store
room. When you return without it everyone is laughing at
you. What do you do?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Work Situation 5
You are being bullied or you are made to feel
uncomfortable by somebody you work with.
What do you do?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Work Situation 6
Your contact person is not available.
What do you do?
______________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

9. 6
1.5 What Employers Want
Rank the qualities in the table below in the order you believe employers
find important.
Number one is the most important; number ten is the least important.
QUALITY RANK
Flexibility
Communication Skills
Self Confidence
Strong Work Ethic
Motivation & Initiative
Computer Skills
Teamwork Skills
Analytical Skills
Interpersonal Skills
Honesty & Integrity

10. 7
KA 2. I Made Specific Arrangements For My First Day On
Work Experience.
DO 1.6 & 1.7 TO COMPLETE
1.6 Basic Information
Name & address of the workplace:
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Contact person’s details:
Name
Position
Tel. No.
Nature of the work:
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Your working hours: ______________________________________
Departure time from home: ________________________________
Appropriate dress: _________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Lunch & travel arrangements: _______________________________
__________________________________________________________

11. 8
What you hope to learn: __________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Health & Safety issues: __________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
1.7 Before Your Placement
Fill in the following table with your:
Expectations
Hopes
Worries
Question I need to ask on the first day:
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
________________ Student Signature Teacher Signature ____________________

12. 9
UNIT 2: PLACEMENT UNIT
Day 1
Who did I meet on arrival?____________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Were you given a supervisor? ________________________________
Describe the product / service produced in your workplace:
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
What jobs did you do on the first day?
1.
2.
3.
What was the best thing about the day?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
What was the worst?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
KA 3. I Completed A Report On My Work Placement &
Recorded My Reflections On A Daily Basis.
DO 2.1 & 4.1 TO COMPLETE
2.1 The Diary

13. 10
Day 2
List the jobs you did:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What equipment did you use?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
What were the break times?
_________________________________________________________
What did you do at lunchtime?
_________________________________________________________
What was the best thing about the day?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
What was the worst? ________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

14. 11
Day 3
List the jobs you did:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Describe the working hours & shift arrangements (if applicable).
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Were there any Health & Safety rules?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
How can you improve your work experience placement?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

15. 12
Day 4
List the jobs you did:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What hours do people work in the company?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
What happens if you miss a day?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
What was the best thing about the day?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
What was the worst?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

16. 13
Day 5
List the jobs you did:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
How are you getting on with the people you work with?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
What was the best thing about the first five days?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
What was the worst part of the first five days?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
What skills have you learned so far?
1.
2.
3.
4.

17. 14
Day 6
List the jobs you did:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
How did you feel going in to work?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Have you had any problems so far?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
How many people work in your company? _______________________
List the departments within the company:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
List some typical jobs in those departments:
1. _______________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________
4. _______________________________________________________
5. _______________________________________________________

18. 15
Day 7
List the jobs you did:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What are the main differences between school and work?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Did you take steps to improve your work experience? Circle
Yes No Why?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
What else can you do to improve your time there?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

19. 16
Day 8 - The Interview
Pick a person you work with & ask them the
following questions:
What job do they do in the company?
_________________________________________________________
How did they get the job?_____________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Detail any training or qualifications they needed to get their job?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
What skills do they use in their job? ____________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
What do they like most about the job?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
What do they hate about their job?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Would they like to do something different?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Do they have any advice for you?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

20. 17
Day 9
What personal qualities are needed for this job?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Describe the job opportunities for an L.C.A. graduate in this area of
work:
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
How would you apply for a job in this company?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

21. 18
Day 10
How do you think you did?
Excellent Good Fair
Attendance
Time Keeping
Getting on with your
supervisor
Getting on with other
workers
Ability to do the job
Your level of interest in
the job
What have you learned about yourself during the ten days?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
What was the best thing about the ten days?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
What was the worst?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

22. 19
UNIT 3: OPERATIONAL UNIT
3.1 Important Aspects Of Work
Why is attendance and punctuality important?
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
Why do most work places have a dress code?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Why is the ability to follow instructions and to learn new skills important?
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
Why do employers like you to complete tasks willingly
and carefully?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Why is the ability to adapt to the workplace environment
important?
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
Why is communicating well with colleagues, supervisors and the public
important?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Why is it a good idea to observe Health & Safety regulations in the
workplace?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
What is the advantage in displaying a positive attitude to
the job?
____________________________________________
____________________________________________

23. 20
UNIT 4: REVIEW OF EXPERIENCE
KA 3. I Completed A Report On My Work Placement &
Recorded My Reflections On A Daily Basis.
DO WE 2.1 & 4.1 TO COMPLETE
4.1 Review Questions
1. Working Life.
What have you learned? ________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
2.Skills & Qualities.
Skills Qualities
3.Your Performance.
Did you find it easy or difficult? ___________________________
____________________________________________________
Was it boring? ________________________________________
Did you find the work interesting?
____________________________________________________
What do the answers to the above questions tell you about how you
are suited to the job?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

24. 21
4. Expectations.
Was the work how you expected it to be?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Review the self-assessment checklist in WE 2. Have you improved
in any of these areas?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Did anything unexpected happen?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
5. Vocational Interests.
Would you want to work in this area in the future?
Yes No
Can you study a course in this area?
Yes No
What are your plans for the next placement?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
6. Development.
What qualities and skills would you need to develop to get a
promotion in your placement?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
________________ Student Signature Teacher Signature __________________

25. 22
4.2 Thank You Letters
Using the template below, make sure you send a thank you letter to your
employer.
Your Address
_______________
_______________
_______________
Today’s Date
_______________
Dear ……………,
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to gain valuable
work experience in the ………………..area.
I learned a lot about ……………….. and what is needed
to become a successful ………….. .
I really enjoyed working with all the staff and would like to
thank them for making me feel so welcome.
Yours sincerely,
…………………….
Your Name