Joanne Carrigof Collinstown Park Community College, in Dublin , describes an exciting week's work experience.

Imagine this as work experience: interrogating suspects, taking fingerprints, collecting crime-scene evidence, analysing blood splatters and testing evidence to find clues to catch a criminal. And that was just for starters.

The second day took me from the Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, at University College Dublin, to St Vincent's University Hospital. The highlight was a tour of the hospital and an in-depth discussion with a PhD student about her study of arthritis. On the social side, our privileged transition-year group of 11 students got over the first-day nerves and we began to gel.

Lectures might seem mind-numbing to some, but the one I went to on neuroscience, at the Conway, really zinged. Relaxing on campus for lunch with my friends was something I could get used to.

A life-and-death decision about a dog at UCD's veterinary college has stuck with me. The eight-year-old dog was in a real state. He was suffering from cancer.

Getting an insight into the life of a scientist was the main event for Thursday. I shadowed a laboratory wing manager and a practical lecturer. Both of them were very interesting and helpful.

It was hard to top this, but Friday did with a visit to UCD's centre for synthesis and chemical biology. Some of the experiments I completed were making molecular models of aspirin, carbon dioxide and water, using paper chromatography to identify what colours are in a red marker, a chemical snake and a crystal garden.

I have a huge interest in science. I came second in the intermediate biological and ecological sciences section of this year's BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition.

But perhaps science doesn't interest you. There are a lot of options out there for whatever career path you are interested in.

All you have to do is get off your behind and get work experience that really appeals to you by getting there first. I obtained my week of experience by searching the internet and sending in an application form.

The more time you give yourself to find a placement, the more opportunities you open up to yourself. The best places to find work experience are on the internet, in the phone book and through universities, colleges, family and friends and their connections.

Don't keep putting off finding work experience. Otherwise, all the jobs you were interested in could be unavailable.

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