How Do You Write a Report on Work Experience?

By Staff Writer | Last Updated August 4, 2015

The University of Sydney recommends that all companies request students write reports on their work experience during placement with companies. This practice allows both students and the companies to benefit from such arrangements. The work experience reports should include clearly identifiable sections on the workplace and work undertaken, technical knowledge gained, people skills gained and a critical assessment section. The report should be no longer than four pages.

According to Penn State University, the work experience report gives students an opportunity to reflect on the work performed in both a professional and personal manner. It is also an opportunity to improve personal communication skills.

The key to writing a successful work experience report is to view the given guidelines as starting points and not ending points. The student should provide thoughtful expansive answers to any questions asked, and should treat the guidelines as a substantive framework that is to be elaborated on and interpreted. A crucial point in writing this report is that the employer should be given an opportunity to review the final report before the student hands in the report to his supervisor. The content of all reports varies, even within the same institution, which makes it vital that the student checks the most current guidelines before writing his report.