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Programmes can be divided into definite sub-sectors, depending on whether a student expects payment or not, for example.
The Global Work Experience Association (Gwea) has recently developed International Standards for Programmes available across the sector, in which work experience programmes have been categorised into four types: internships, volunteer programmes, work & study programmes and working holiday programmes.
These distinctions make it much easier for students to decide which placement is best suited to their individual needs.
INTERNSHIPS
Classic internships have traditionally been the main focus of the work experience sector. Gwea's manual defines the internship as "a temporary, supervised, practical experience programme in which a young person, usually a college or university student, carries out a training experience in a temporary position at a host company".
These placements are unpaid but usually directly related to a student's field of studies or future career aspirations, so students can gain relevant hands-on experience. Another advantage of these programmes is that it is usually easier for students to secure visa entrance for unpaid work placements in another country, making them accessible to a wider range of nationalities.
Many internship providers offer a wide range of placements. Jill Arcaro-Gordon at Best Programs in Spain, says, "The fields that we have a lot of interest in are business related, such as marketing, import/export, finance, consulting, information technology, public relations, etc".
However, placements are not limited to this area; Jean-Paul Barsoum at the Alpha College of English in Ireland, has organised placements "for a number of more specialist areas: chemical engineering, shoe design, cosmetics, manufacturing [and] microbiology". With a little bit of research and the help of an agent, students should be able to find an internship to suit their interests and aspirations.
VOLUNTEERING
Gwea's manual describes a volunteer programme as "temporary, supervised, practical training in which a person voluntarily carries out a task which has social, environmental or cultural relevance". Volunteer programmes are popular with both gap year students wanting to broaden their experiences before university and older professionals, who are able to use their skills to benefit those in deprived areas. Of all the placement types, volunteering appears to attract the widest age range of candidates.
Volunteer placement options are also very diverse; students can do anything from conservation work, to teaching a language or caring for children or the elderly, and as there is no payment involved, there is a wide choice of destinations. Ross Wehner at Volunteer Adventures in the USA, which offers volunteer programmes in Africa, Latin America and Asia, says, "We divide our projects into three general categories: community development, conservation and wildlife, and teaching English."
Language tuition and volunteering can be combined, whereby students spend their mornings learning a language and their afternoons in situ. This is a popular sector for schools in Latin America. Wehner notes that choosing such an option "is a very effective way to gain rapid fluency".
WORK AND STUDY
The Gwea classification for Work and Study programmes is very similar to internships – except that there is a period of study either prior to or alongside the business-oriented placement. Thomas Engsig-Karup at Gwea explains, "A work and study programme….combines in-class education with supervised practical training, in which a young person works in a temporary position at a host company."
Jean-Paul Barsoum at the Alpha College of English in Ireland indicates, "Students are required to reach a minimum of upper intermediate level [language proficiency] and to take at least four weeks' full-time language classes prior to their [work] placement."
Work and Study programmes can also encompass paid work placements, sometimes referred to as "work experience" as opposed to "internships". Students wishing to combine formal language study with paid work usually find that the work is within the hospitality sector. "Offering a Spanish course plus [paid] work placement programme allows even [budget] students to gain the Spanish skills necessary to pass the interviews we set up for them and support themselves while they stay on in Spain," says Erin Corcoran at Don Quijote in Spain.
WORKING HOLIDAY
The definition of a Working Holiday programme is, "one which allows young people the opportunity to travel and work in a temporary job during a vacation or holiday period". These programmes are most common in holiday resorts and the work available is usually in the service industry, where demand for employees is seasonal.
Students undertaking this type of placement are not usually looking for work opportunities to enhance their future career. The schemes are more of a practical means of funding travel in another country. A specific Working Holiday visa is available in many countries that allows students to work for up to four months, typically, at a time. Belinda Ward at Overseas Working Holidays in Canada is active in this sector. She explains, "We pre-arrange jobs in ski resorts in Canada. That way applicants can choose which job type suits them, and have the security of arriving in Canada with a job waiting for them."
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