Choose the wrong career and you could end up in an office you hate. That's where work experience comes in, writes Gráinne Faller

How on earth are you supposed to know what you want to do in life when you're a 17- or 18-year-old secondary-school student? Lots of middle-aged people still have no idea what they'd be best suited to.

When they make their CAO applications, thousands of students applying for subjects such as law and psychology are essentially leaping into the unknown. A Leaving Cert can't possibly prepare them for such subjects, and the truth of the matter is that, although it will work out for some, others won't be so lucky.

Work experience can help minimise this sort of problem. It has always been a part of transition year, as it is seen as a huge advantage to students. There is, after all, little chance of a student's ever again having that kind of time and support to explore career options. "It can be one of the most beneficial aspects of the school experience," says Frank Mulvihill, president of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors.

Only a few people will find what they want to do in life through work experience, but a week spent realising that you don't want to work in an office is just as successful as far as the aims of work experience are concerned.

Naturally, people's experiences vary. Some students gain a true idea of what a working day is like. Others spend a week photocopying, filing or sitting in a corner. Although this may seem like a lottery, there are several steps that you can take to make the most of your work experience.

They are time-consuming, however, and it's always tempting to take the easy way out. "Very often, it is a case of taking the first thing available simply to fulfil the requirement of the transition-year programme," says Mulvihill. He adds that the result is usually "memorable for the wrong reasons".

The essential message is that preparation is the key to successful work experience. It can be a lot of work to track down a willing employer and draw up a good CV, but it pays off in the long term. According to Mulvihill, there are a few rules that you should follow.

1 Choose carefully You won't necessarily know at this stage what you want to do for your work experience. If you are confused or have no idea what to go for, Mulvihill recommends that you look at www.qualifax.ie, a courses and careers website that lets students complete an "interest assessment". The result may give you an idea of the career areas that might suit you.

Once you have identified an area that you might like to work in, ask around and see if your school has any links with relevant companies. How about your family or friends? According to many employers, the best way to get transition-year work experience is still to go through your contacts book.

If, however, you find yourself without any inroad into your desired area, find a company and get in touch.

"In general, I have found employers are very willing to support schools in their areas," says Mulvihill. "Sometimes there can be insurance issues in specific industries, but I would find that, for the most part, employers are very much partners in this."

2 Approach with care Whether or not you have contacts, you'll greatly increase your chances of getting work experience if you approach an employer courteously and professionally. You should begin by writing a letter of application to the place in which you wish to get experience.

"As many details as possible should be provided in the formal letter, including any arrangements for insurance that the school has in place," says Mulvihill. You should also enclose a CV that demonstrates your interest in the area or, perhaps, your talents for the work you have chosen.

Once you have sent your letter and CV, wait a few days; if you hear nothing, a polite follow up phone-call will not go amiss.

Mulvihill recommends trying to meet the potential employer face to face before work experience starts. "It will lessen the need for a formal interview," he says. If you are meeting your potential employer, neat dress and punctuality are, of course, essential.

3 Talk about the ground rules Once you secure a work placement, it is important to make the most of it. Mulvihill says: "Expectations of the employer and the students should be clarified. In this way the employer benefits from the exercise and students do not find themselves brushing the floor or filing papers for the entire duration."

In other words, try to agree what you will be doing before you start your placement. Of course, it is extremely important to stick to your end of whatever you agree.

4 Treat it like a job "Good timekeeping, proper presentation and the ability to get on with the other workers are important," says Mulvihill. As it can be very daunting to have to integrate with professionals in such a short time, he recommends treating it as a challenge. "It is also important to follow instructions given by those in positions of authority and to carry out tasks completely and to the standard expected."

Be enthusiastic, ask questions and offer to help with tasks, but take note of the people around you. If your fellow workers are busy and stressed, it may not be the right time for you to ask lots of questions. Be smart about choosing your moment.

You should always be conscious that if an employer is impressed with you as a work-experience student, he or she will be quicker to facilitate students the following year.

Details matter, and a note of thanks when you finish your experience will be appreciated.

5 Review your experience What did you learn? What did you enjoy or hate about the job? How would you change things? The answers to these questions are important if you are to learn more about what careers might suit you.

Mulvihill recommends filling in a journal at the end of each day, to record your feelings during the placement. It is also useful to record the skills you might need for different jobs. "It may only take five or 10 minutes to complete this daily, but it will make all the difference in terms of the learning outcomes of the activity."

Chat about your experience with your peers and teachers. Even if you didn't enjoy your placement, you may find that elements of it appealed to you. These may provide a clue about what might suit you in the long term.

Writing your CV

Frank Mulvihill, president of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, recommends using the Europass CV, a European standard, as your template. It is a good format to know, as it will be the most recognisable CV for employers if you are going to work elsewhere in Europe in later life. You can download a template for the Europass CV at http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu.

The standard format is:

1 Name, address, contact details and date of birth

2 Work experience If you have worked, start with your most recent employment and work back from there.

3 Education Junior Cert results and any other educational achievements.

4 Personal skills and competences Include things such as languages you are studying. This is the part where you can talk about your experience of skills such as teamwork, leadership and responsibility. Include any knowledge of computers or skills such as first aid.

5 Additional information Anything else that your work-experience boss should know. What are your interests, for example? These can reveal a lot about you.

A couple of tips may help in writing your CV.

Keep it short Don't let your CV cover more than two pages. Stick to one if you can. Do not pad it out with needless waffle.

Sell yourself You may not have work experience to tell employers about, but think about other times when you have had responsibility or shown leadership or initiative. Are you doing any community work this year? Are you involved in sport or music? All of these things will work to your advantage.

Play to your strengths Some employers might worry that you are too young. Turn your youth to your advantage. Indicate your willingness to learn and your enthusiasm to work hard.

Get references Ask an adult to write you a letter of recommendation. The adult should not be related to you. Ask one of your teachers, a sports coach or, perhaps, a family friend who can vouch for you.

Double-check Once you have finished your CV, ask somebody to read through it for spelling and punctuation errors. It is much better to catch bloopers before your potential work-experience mentor does.

For more information about CVs and cover letters, have a look at www.cvtips.com