Leave on good terms
Finishing your WIL experience on good terms is important and is easy to do:
- Continue to work hard, be enthusiastic and interested until your last day
- Be respectful – thank those people who have helped you. Take the time to tell your Host Contact what you have got out of the experience and thank them for their support
- Wrap things up – do you need to hand anything over? Have you finished everything you were able to?
- Ask for feedback- this will help you to understand how others perceive you. Be open to constructive feedback and see this as an opportunity for further personal growth
- Maintain the relationships you have developed – you never know when you may bump into them again. New Zealand is small, and your industry even smaller
References
Have a chat with your Host Contact and ask if they would be happy to provide a reference for you or act as a referee. This may have been your first time being involved in your profession or the industry which you are interested in, and having a reference from within the profession or industry can help with the next step.
Update your CV
One of the many benefits of completing a WIL experience, is that it is gives you exactly that – experience. Be sure to update your CV outlining what you achieved during that time. Organisations have told graduates that their WIL experience made them stand out when they were recruiting – it’s worth it!
Te Rōpū Rapuara | UC Careers have some great resources to help with preparing or updating your CV.
This includes an automated CV checker, called CV360, which provides instant feedback!
LinkedIn is a fantastic networking tool. Consider how you can use it to build and develop your professional identity, as well building your professional network. Who did you meet during your WIL experience? Could you connect with them? Remember to send them a personalised note with your request.
UC Careers website has lots of useful tips and tricks.
Depending on the relationships you have developed, keep in touch with your organisation – organisations are often interested to hear about what you have been up to.
