Work experience is a great chance to find out about careers that you might enjoy. And putting more into the process will help you get more out of it, writes John Holden

We all have a mate who was planning a career when everybody else was still dressing Bratz. Not everyone is that focused, though. Some people take years to pick a job. You could be well into your 20s before you have any idea what you want to do. So don't be alarmed if you're more concerned about Britney Spears's future than your own.

But if you reach 25 and you're still stumped, you will be pretty annoyed with yourself if you didn't use opportunities at school to investigate a few areas. If nothing else, transition year is the best chance you will get to try new things without having to worry about making mistakes.Your TY work exper-ience is not just about the hours spent on the job. You should spend plenty of time before- hand looking at all the career areas you have any interest in. In the process of doing your homework on work experience, you might hit on your dream job.

"Don't worry about where your career will be in four years' time," says guidance counsellor Brian Mooney. "Ask yourself: What jobs interest me right now? What sorts of work-related activities do I enjoy? What subjects do I like studying in school? What possible career directions might the answers to the above questions point to? If you select a work-experience situation or role that clarifies your thinking regarding any or all of the above questions, you'll be doing fine.

"Rather than regard it as a one-off decision that defines you for the rest of your working life, career professionals now look at careers as gradually evolving over a lifetime. It's like mixing paint: a fluid blend that changes throughout your life. Even people in their 70s are deciding what career decisions to take next."

All TY co-ordinators will tell you the same thing: people who put more in will get more out. "There are fantastic opportunities out there for students who do a bit of research," says Monica Doherty of St Andrew's College in Co Dublin. "Some previous TY students here have had the chance to see live medical operations, work on TV and take part in fashion shows. One even went to Celtic Football Club.

"We find that students who work in organisations that are used to taking placements have the most positive experiences. They usually have a programme in place, with various activities and an assigned staff member there to look after students.

"If you organise a placement with a company unaccustomed to having students, you may end up making tea and photocopying for a week."

Still, there is a lot to be learned from being in any working environment. "Work experience is more than just the work part," says Michael O'Leary of the Second Level Support Service. "There is a big social-learning element to it, where students are out of the security of the classroom setting and having to deal with adults in a mature way. This is very important."

In fact you'll learn a wide range of useful skills without even realising. Most of them are unrelated to any particular career, and they are not necessarily acquired in the home or at school: respecting customers, teamwork, financial calculations, and communication and people skills.

The work-experience time frame varies from school to school. Some offer a single week; others offer as much as four. "I think the more work experience you do the better," says O'Leary. "Time is always a big issue in TY, though. School authorities and parents can be worried that, between the various projects and field trips, TY students don't spend enough time in class. I don't agree. They may be out of the classroom, but they are still learning."

So work experience operates on two levels: you learn important life skills and get a chance to develop ideas you might have for your future. If you can do more than one placement, consider choosing completely different areas.

"Fifty per cent of students will come back and say they loved what they did, but as many come back and say their choice was completely wrong and they'd hate to be in that line of work," says O'Leary. "But at least they found that out while they were in school."

A word of warning: if you leave the planning to the last minute you'll end up grabbing any placement you can find. Some students take easy options in low-skilled jobs and end up working there throughout fifth and sixth year, taking their eye off the ball.

The lure of a quick buck is hard to resist, but do you want a low-paid, low-skilled job instead of a career that rewards your head as well as your pocket? You may learn something from a week packing shelves or washing dishes, but if you have no interest in retail or catering what have you gained?

You'll see enough cans of beans and dirty plates to last you a lifetime when you start trying to earn money for college. That's if you haven't already made your first million in a TY mini- company.

How three students found work experience

Lyndsey Snedker of Loreto College in Crumlin, Dublin, got a placement with a law firm

"I always liked history and English in school, so law made sense to me. I did some research and made a list of firms to apply to, then started sending out loads of application letters and CVs. I sent out a lot of applications but got very few responses. Then a friend of my mum's told me to get in contact with the Law Society, and they agreed to take me in.

"I have to admit the first day was horrible. I was so nervous. I worked in the regulation department and helped out wherever I was needed. Later on in the week I was taken to the Four Courts to sit in on some cases.

It was really different from school. I had to get up earlier and go home later, but after the first week I got into it, and then it started to fly by. I'm now looking at law as a possible career."

Nathan Mullins of Gort Community School, in Co Galway, tried out quantity surveying

"We had some speakers come in and talk about a few different areas, like journalism, but to be honest I didn't have a clue what I wanted to do. For my first work-experience placement I organised a week with an architecture firm. I thought I might like it, but I didn't. Now I'm glad I tried it, because I definitely wouldn't have liked to do it for a living.

"For my second placement I decided to try quantity surveying. I'm good at maths and adding things up, so I thought it might interest me. I got a job with a guy who has his own company. It was great. I helped him with practically everything. It involves a lot of measuring and pricing. I really enjoyed it - so much so that I spent last summer working for the same company. The only difference was that during the summer I was left to do things on my own.

"I'm now sure it is what I want to do when I finish school. I've decided to do technical drawing for the Leaving Cert, and I'm looking at various college options for quantity surveying."

Paul Burke, also of Gort Community School Galway, tried a variety of areas

I did three different placements for my work experience. I spent the first week working with a quantity-surveying company, which I didn't really like. I thought it was really boring.

"The next time I worked with a fire-and-safety engineering company. That was more interesting. You have to decide where fire-safety implements - smoke alarms, fire exits, fire screens - should be located in large buildings like hotels, hospitals and venues. I had to look at a lot of plans for buildings, and I was also out at the opening of Adamstown train station, in Co Dublin, to inspect its fire safety.

"The last week I worked with my dad, who is a builder. I still don't know what it is I'd like to do when I finish school, but, of the three work experiences, I definitely liked the fire-and-safety engineering the best."

Not sure if you know enough for a job? Just let your hidden talents emerge

Different jobs almost always require different skills. If you don't know the first thing about astrophysics, for example, you shouldn't apply to become an astrophysicist. But all employers look for staff with certain basic qualities, according to Seamus McEvoy, author of Get Your Ideal Job.

Motivation and enthusiasm Most employers will tell you that, so long as applicants are enthusiastic, they can be taught any other aspects of the job. Demonstrate your enthusiasm by showing your background knowledge of the company and your awareness of the main tasks of the job. Also, be sure to write a good CV and application letter.

Teamwork Almost all organisations require daily teamwork. They are unlikely to warm to applicants who want to be left alone in their offices. You have to be willing to work well as part of a group, which means being creative but also adaptable and willing to listen to others.

Flexibility and adaptability These days relatively few jobs operate from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Employers will be looking for people who are willing to do different tasks at different times.

Problem-solving and initiative Employers look for people with the courage to make decisions and solve problems as they arise. If you go to your supervisor every time you have a problem, you will be seen as high-maintenance, which is not what most companies want. Don't be afraid to ask questions, but try to use your initiative and common sense before you look for help.

Transferable skills Most people think of skills as training in a specific area, such as computer programming or carpentry. But the most useful skills are those that can be adapted to different situations. These are known as transferable skills, and they are highly valued by employers. You are probably unaware of just how many transferable skills you have. Some of the most common are communication skills; telling stories; explaining ideas to others; speaking in public; listening to others; finding words to describe things; writing essays, stories or letters; filling in forms; people skills; leading people; persuading, influencing or selling to people; working in a team; sorting out disputes; teaching or training others; accepting criticism; solving problems; fixing things; understanding and interpreting information; working out travel routes; information-technology skills; computers skills; using mobile phones; using the internet; fixing computers.

Taken from the book Get Your Ideal Job by Seamus McEvoy

Dos and dont's

Natacha Pomorski of Brightwater recruitment agency, has some tips on CVs, applications and interviews.

When applying for a placement or job

Do research the company you are applying to, using its website or newspapers.

Do try to choose the company wisely, in accordance to your career plan.

Do personalise your application letter; address it to someone specific, ideally the relevant person; and explain why you are interested in the company.

Do start your CV with a short profile highlighting your main technical skills and personal attributes.

Do start with your most recent experience and work your way back (this applies to both education and professional experience).

Do leave your hobbies to last.

Do make sure all dates are accurate.

Do emphasise your computer skills.

Do highlight your achievements.

Don't write your CV as if it were an essay; use bullet points to get points over concisely.

Don't go over two pages.

Don't use fancy formatting. Keep it to 12-point Times New Roman.

Don't exaggerate, and never lie.

Don't include a photograph.

Don't use colour.

At a job interview

Do ask questions at the end - although not just about salary and hours.

Do arrive early.

Do give a firm handshake.

Do wear a suit.

Don't give yes or no answers.

Don't fidget.

Don't wear bright colours.