Career Ed » Work Experience

Work Experience

Students can choose to do Work Experience as an elective. Work Experience 12A and 12B is offered and may be taken by students in Grades 10 to 12. At Similkameen Elementary-Secondary, the Board Authorized Course, Work Experience 10, is also offered.

High School Credits

Ministry Work Experience 12A and Work Experience 12B are each 100-120 hours long and worth 4 credits. Together, the student can earn up to 8 credits towards graduation.

What does the course consist of?
The courses require preparation of a resume and cover letter and 100 hours of experience in a work setting. Students also get to experience a real interview. Work Experience courses give students the chance to try different types of work.

Why should I take Work Experience Courses?

Work experience courses are intended to help prepare students for the transition from secondary school to the world of work or further education and training. In work experience, the community is the classroom where students gain knowledge and experience about the workplace and are provided with a frame of reference to review or revise their career goals. Work experience provides students with an opportunity to apply classroom learning in a context outside of school and to bring back to the classroom new perspectives about their learning. Work experience also provides students with the chance to gain new skills that can be used in future work opportunities.

Goals for Work Experience Courses

The primary goal of work experience is to help students prepare for the transition from secondary school to the world of work. Through work experience, students have the opportunity to observe and practise generic employability skills required in the workplace, as well as technical and applied skills relating to specific occupations or industries. Other goals include helping students to:
  • connect what they learn in the classroom with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed in the workplace
  • gain the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to be successful in the world of work
  • develop job readiness skills for specific occupations and careers
  • understand the similarities and differences in behaviour standards between the workplace and school