How to Prepare for SIWES Before Your Placement Starts

The quality of your experience depends partly on where you are placed, but preparation also matters. Arriving without knowing what you want to learn can turn months of industrial training into a collection of routine tasks.

This guide explains what you can do before your SIWES placement begins so that you arrive organised and ready to learn.

Understand what your department expects

Your first step should be to understand the requirements set by your institution and department.

Find out:

• Required duration
• Required documents
• Reporting process
• Logbook requirements
• Supervisor expectations
• Assessment procedure
• Any rules about acceptable placement organisations

Requirements can differ between institutions and programmes, so follow your department's current instructions rather than relying on another student's experience.

Research the organisation

Once you have a placement, learn about the organisation before your first day.

Look for:

• What the organisation does
• Its main products or services
• The department where you will work
• The type of customers it serves
• Basic information about its industry

You do not need to memorise the company's history.

The goal is to arrive with enough context to understand conversations and ask sensible questions.

Prepare your documents

Create a folder containing the documents you legitimately need.

Depending on your institution and placement, these may include:

• SIWES documentation
• Introduction or placement letter
• Student identification
• Required forms
• CV
• Copies of relevant certificates
• Notebook or logbook

Keep digital copies where appropriate and protect sensitive documents.

Review the basics of your course

If your placement is related to your course, revise the fundamentals before you start.

For example, a computing student may review:

• Programming basics
• Databases
• Version control
• Web fundamentals
• Computer networking

A business student may review:

• Spreadsheet skills
• Business communication
• Basic accounting
• Data organisation
• Report writing

You are not expected to know everything. Reviewing the basics simply makes it easier to learn from the people around you.

Set three learning goals

Before your placement starts, write down three things you genuinely want to learn.

For example:

1. Learn how a professional team manages a real project.
2. Improve my spreadsheet skills.
3. Understand how customer requests are handled.

Keep the goals realistic.

At the end of the placement, compare your progress with the list.

Prepare questions

Good questions show that you are paying attention.

Instead of interrupting every few minutes, keep a notebook and write down questions as they arise.

Examples:

• Why is this process done this way?
• What happens after this step?
• Which tool is normally used for this task?
• What would happen if this information were incorrect?
• What skill should I improve to handle this responsibility better?

Ask at an appropriate time.

Understand workplace behaviour

Professionalism is not complicated.

Start with the basics:

• Arrive on time.
• Dress appropriately for the workplace.
• Listen carefully.
• Follow reasonable instructions.
• Communicate respectfully.
• Keep confidential information private.
• Ask when you do not understand something.
• Complete assigned work.
• Tell your supervisor when you encounter a problem.

You are there to learn, but you are also part of a working environment.

Do not pretend to understand

One of the most useful habits during SIWES is admitting when you do not understand a task.

Instead of silently making assumptions, ask for clarification.

You can say:

“I understand the first part, but could you please explain what you want me to do after this step?”

That is usually better than spending hours doing the wrong thing.

Keep your logbook accurately

Do not wait until the end of the week to reconstruct everything from memory.

Record your activities consistently according to your institution's requirements.

Write what you actually did and what you learned.

Avoid vague entries such as:

“Did office work.”

A more useful description might explain the type of task, the tool involved and what you learned—without revealing confidential information.

Keep a private learning record too

Your official logbook may not capture everything useful.

Keep personal notes about:

• Tools you learned
• New terminology
• Problems you solved
• Questions you want to research
• Projects you contributed to
• Skills you improved

This material can later help you update your CV and prepare for interviews.

Build relationships without forcing them

You do not need to ask every employee for their phone number.

Start by being reliable.

People are more likely to remember a student who:

• listens
• asks thoughtful questions
• completes tasks
• respects deadlines
• accepts corrections
• shows genuine interest

If networking opportunities arise naturally, introduce yourself and learn about the person's role.

Ask for feedback

Do not wait until the last week to discover that you have been making the same mistake for two months.

Ask your supervisor or appropriate colleague for feedback at reasonable intervals.

Questions can include:

• What am I doing well?
• What should I improve?
• Is there a skill you recommend I learn before the placement ends?

Take criticism as information rather than an attack.

Protect confidential information

A workplace may expose you to customer details, internal documents, passwords, business processes or other private information.

Do not publish confidential material on social media or use it in a public portfolio without permission.

When you want to describe a project publicly, remove sensitive information and ask whether the organisation permits the disclosure.

What to do when you are given little work

Sometimes interns experience quiet periods.

Instead of spending the entire day on your phone, ask whether there is something useful you can learn or assist with.

You might:

• Review approved documentation
• Practise a relevant tool
• Organise your notes
• Ask whether you can observe another task
• Work on an approved learning activity

Do not interfere with work you are not authorised to touch.

Final SIWES checklist

Before your first day, confirm:

• Placement details
• Reporting time
• Location
• Dress expectations
• Required documents
• Contact person
• Transport route
• Institution requirements
• Notebook/logbook
• Three learning goals

A small amount of preparation can make the first week much less stressful.

Final thoughts

The best SIWES experience is not necessarily the one with the biggest company name. It is the one where you actually learn, take responsibility and understand how your academic knowledge connects with real work.

Arrive prepared, stay curious, keep accurate records, protect confidential information and ask for feedback.

When the placement ends, you should be able to explain not only where you worked, but also what you learned, what you contributed and what you can now do that you could not do before.