Can I Still Get Work Experience During a Pandemic?

Spoiler alert: you can, and it’s super rewarding!

This post is presented in partnership with RMIT University.

You'd be forgiven for feeling a little worried about how you're meant to get hands-on work experience in the midst of COVID-19.  

But the truth is, when things change, the world adapts. So, even though internships look a little different these days, you can still get the experience you need for the job you want! 

Rhys McKenzie did it for his Youth Work diploma at RMIT, taking on a virtual placement smack bang in the middle of lockdowns. We caught up with him to find out all about it. 

“My story’s a bit of a dramatic one”

Before studying Youth Work at RMIT, Rhys got his degree in Film, which he says didn’t lead to any opportunities at the time. 

After struggling to get work, settling on a job in a factory for three years and feeling lost, Rhys needed a change.  

A family friend suggested youth work, and, after completing his Cert IV, Rhys went on to do the diploma because “he loved it that much.” 

But, after just two weeks of face-to-face learning, COVID hit Melbourne hard. 

When it came to doing an internship, he had to get creative. Literally.

During his studies, Rhys scored a number of roles across community services, including in hotels helping the homeless during lockdown, when support work was much needed. 

But, when it came to embarking on his placement unit, things got a little complicated. He’d originally planned an internship in the education space, but when lockdown happened, the gears had to be changed and Rhys found himself on a virtual placement with Deer Park Library. 

In a full circle moment, Rhys was flexing his film muscles again, creating an educational video series for young people for the library’s YouTube channel.  

He said he had a lot of fun with the process. 

“I inserted my dumb humor and my love of eighties yacht rock as well,” he says. 

His virtual placement ended up giving him a huge confidence boom.

Rhys says the experience helped him progress in his studies, beyond just topping up placement hours. 

“That was probably the most important thing for me. I'm not a very confident person, but after doing it, it just weirdly boomed out of me,” he says.   

Rhys is now working as an employment coach with Uniting, helping young people living with disabilities transition from high school to working life.  

He says this experience, and all the other opportunities he collected through his studies at RMIT, were to thank for where he is now. 

Worried about studying/getting work experience during a pandemic? Here’s some wisdom from Rhys.

Four words: Just Go For It.  

“I think regardless of whether there was a pandemic or there wasn't, you're always gonna get thrown in the deep end,” Rhys says.  

He also says a virtual placement isn’t a bad option if face-to-face ones aren’t available. 

“It won't negatively define you, it's experience, and working in employment now, that glows on a resume.” 

Rhys was lucky to have the support of RMIT, where tonnes of opportunities were offered regardless of the “unprecedented times.” 

“It’s okay to be afraid to start off with. Acknowledge how you feel, but know that, whatever you are gonna do, if it leads to something, then it's worth it,” he says. 

Want more to a degree than just studying and assignments? RMIT offers a stack of different study options that open the doors to a range of internship and Work Integrated Learning options, too. Check them out here!

Header Image: Ivan Samkov via Pexels