Step-by-step guide to Gateway

Gateway is a school-run work experience programme for Year 11–13 students involving one day a week in an industry work placement. It is funded by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC).

How Gateway is administered varies from school to school. However, this step-by-step guide will help your child to understand the steps to take for a successful placement.

Read more about Gateway

Step 1: Think about where you'd like to do your Gateway placement

Because school life gets very hectic in term four, it’s preferable to start your Gateway placement before the end of term three.

When considering what type of workplace you’d like to do a placement in, ask yourself these questions:

• What subjects do you like doing at school?
• What are you good at?
• What would you like to be?

If you need help, use these interactive tools:

• Skill Matcher - match your best skills to job ideas
• Subject Matcher - match subjects you enjoy to job ideas
• Jobs by Interest - discover jobs that match your interests

Step 2: Visit your careers adviser to talk over ideas

Step 3: Prepare your CV

If you don’t have a CV, this is a good time to create one.  An employer will be impressed that you have organised yourself and this will make a really good first impression.

How to put your transferable skills into a CV
Use CV 4 Me to create your CV

Step 4: Talk to the Gateway co-ordinator

The Gateway co-ordinator’s role is to match the right student with the right employer, so be honest and tell him/her what you would really like. They will check your CV for you and offer suggestions.

The co-ordinator may also use this time to discuss which unit standards you will be expected to achieve, and how to go about completing them.

Step 5: Gateway co-ordinator makes an appointment for you to meet with an employer

This is often done over the phone and sometimes you may not even get to meet the employer before you start your placement. If you do get a chance to meet them first, make sure you are prepared, just like an interview. Here are some tips:

• Dress smartly.
• Take the conversation seriously and don’t be too relaxed.
• Thank the employer for their time.

Step 6: Survive your first day

The first day of anything can be nerve-racking. Things will be new and you might not know where to start. Remember to take one step at a time, and that it is a learning experience. Here are some tips to help the first day go smoothly.

• Be there on time.
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions, especially as this shows the employer you are interested.
• Have the right attitude – treat it as you would a real job. This could be your next employer.
• If you have any problems or misunderstandings, speak to your Gateway co-ordinator.

Step 7: Complete placement and assessments

Make sure you complete your unit standards assessment workbook. You may need to ask the employer to sign it, so make sure you understand exactly what needs to be done.

Don’t forget to thank the employer. If you enjoyed your experience, think about asking if you can do some more work experience at another time.

Step 8: Update CV

Go back to your CV as soon as you can and update it while the tasks are fresh in your mind.

What next - reflect on your experience

Once you have finished your Gateway placement and have updated your CV it's a good time to reflect on your experience.  Things to think about are:

• What did you learn from your experience?
• What did you particularly enjoy?
• Is this an area that might interest you in the future?