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Succeed in the workplace
Succeed in the workplace

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3.1 Exploit opportunities

Illustration of six multi-coloured hands reaching up.
Figure 4 Opportunities

If you are already working, you may find you can volunteer or do work experience in a different role with your current employer. Many organisations have schemes for their employees and some may pay for employees to undertake work experience elsewhere. If your organisation has a Human Resources department, they might be the best people to tell you if such a scheme exists. If not, your immediate manager may be able to advise you.

Work shadowing

You might want to consider work shadowing other members of staff whose roles appeal to you. You will get a more realistic idea of the responsibilities, skills and challenges of the posts. How you arrange this might depend on the support of your manager, so opening up a conversation with him or her about the possibility is a good first step.

Job swap

Job swapping within your existing organisation might be a good way to get a ‘taste’ of different types of work. For instance, if you normally work on the shop floor of a retail organisation, could you ask to swap with a colleague in the store room for a short period?