Work Experience
Work experience: it's your window onto working life, gaining skills that will make you employable and finding out whether a career will suit you. Whatever you do - a year-long internship, a summer job or a two-week placement - every bit of experience counts.
Who may go into Work Experience?
Any student in grade 10, 11, or 12 who has a part-time job during the school year or a position during the summer months, or who volunteers, can sign up for Work Experience.
What do I need to do?
Call us at STCLC and complete a Work Experience registration form and contract – copies of these are available from the counselors, at the school, or elsewhere on this website. Return the completed forms. When you bring these in, we will show you how the weekly timesheets work and will make arrangements to meet with your employer to approve the worksite, register you in the compulsory HCS3000 course, and review and go over the evaluation procedure with you.
How do I earn credits?
Credits are based on time worked. Each credit requires 25 hours of work. (for example, 5 credits will require 125 hours of work, 6 credits- 150 hours, and so on) the minimum number of credits that can be issued in Work Experience is 3. Evaluations must also be done regularly in order for Work Experience course marks to be calculated.
Is there a time limit of when the credits must be completed?
No. Students’ work schedules vary from one student to another and therefore students earn WXP credits on an individual basis. For example, if a student works 10 hours a week, that student will probably earn 10 credits in about 6 or 7 months. It may take another student less time, or more time.
Can I use more than one job for Work Experience?
Yes. The more variety in job experiences, the more likely that students can earn the maximum number of Work Experience credits (30). Students can also use two jobs at one time. The student just needs two different employer contracts in place at the same time.
What are the advantages of being in Work Experience?
15 credits may be used towards earning a high school diploma.
Knowledge, skills, and attributes gained in the workplace are lifelong.
Students can continue to work without having to alter their timetables.
A good employment experience and positive employer evaluations can build your resume’ and portfolio.
WCB insurance provided for all WE students through Alberta Education.
Can I earn more than 15 credits?
Students can earn up to 30 credits in Work Experience.
Can I use a job in the summer for Work Experience?
Yes. Students have 3 summers for Work Experience – the summer after grade 10, the summer after grade 11, and the summer after grade 12.
What are my responsibilities?
Get a registration form completed and a contract signed and handed in (students cannot be in Work Experience and count hours until the District contract is completed and handed in).
Complete your time sheets neatly and completely and hand them in weekly during the school year and monthly during the summer months.
Make sure your employer evaluations and self evaluations are done at least every 125 hours. Monitor your hours and notify the Off-Campus Coordinator and your employer when you are approaching each 125 hour evaluation period.
Stay in contact with the Off-Campus Coordinator on a regular basis to update them on any changes to your Work Experience status, such as new job skills, new duties, workplace issues or problems, or any changes to your Registration information.
Can volunteer work be considered Work Experience?
Yes, the same criteria are used. Students often combine a paying job selling affordable car insurance with volunteer work. There must also be a regular supervisor within the Volunteer organization that will be responsible for doing student evaluations.
Can volunteer hours be combined?
Yes, the volunteer hours can be accumulated over three years.