Preparing PSEI learners for changing working lives

Interns interview and survey

Thank you for agreeing to participate in this research project. This study aims to identify and evaluate the
means to develop adaptable occupational skills in work-based learning provisions to meet future skills
requirements.

In this interview, you will be asked a series of questions about your experience as a participant in internship
programmes and how your needs as a learner can be met in your future enrolment of CET programmes.
Please answer all questions as openly and with as much detail as possible.
Section A: About you
Full name:
Email address: Contact number:
(Only for administration of token gift)

1) Gender: Male Female

2) Age:

3) What is your highest education qualification and title? (E.g. Diploma of ….)
N levels O levels A levels NITEC Higher NITEC Diploma
Degree Postgraduate
Section B: Your work and job training
4) We want to learn about your current internship job and those you have been employed before your
internship.
Current job title Industry sector
Duration of Year(s) [e.g. 6 months]
employment
Previous job title Industry sector
Duration of Year(s)
employment
Previous job title Industry sector
Duration of Year(s)
employment

5) What is the size of your current organization? (Please tick one)

< 20 staff 20 to 100 101 to 200 >200 staff

6) Are you planning to: change you job function your job commence studying

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7) Problem-solving and learning through work
7a - Problem solving Never < once a < once a At least Everyday
month week weekly

How often does your work involves

confronting simple problems?
(i.e. takes between 0 and 5 minutes to
identify a solution)

How often does your work involves

confronting demanding problems?
(i.e. takes between 5 and 30 minutes to
identify a solution)

7b - Learning at work Never < once a < once a At least Everyday

month week weekly

How often you learn from co-workers and

supervisors

How often your job involves learning-by-

doing from the tasks you perform

8) Please think about when you recently had to adapt to new task or role. Then, in the table below, please
indicate how you learnt it.

Ways I learnt something new at work Tick all that apply

I did it myself individually – e.g. picked it up as I went, read manuals and journals, went
online
I learnt individually from other workers – e.g. asked questions, observed, listened,
discussed
I learnt through a professional network, or through friends and family

An experienced person – e.g. supervisor, on-site trainer – trained or mentored me

individually in the workplace
An experienced person – e.g. supervisor, on-site trainer – trained me in the workplace as
part of a group
An external trainer trained me in the workplace individually

Other (please state): …………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Section C: Your Internship

7) What was your motivation to enrol in this internship? (Please indicate all that apply and also rank up to
three most important reasons) (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
Reasons for enrolling Tick all that apply Top 3 Rankings

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 (1st, 2nd ,3rd)

To get a job

To develop or start my own business

To try for a different career

To get a better job

To get a promotion

To fulfil a job requirement (e.g. work certification)

To acquire extra skills for my job

Other reason (please specify)

8) To what degree did you achieve those 3 purposes? (Tick one)

Partially not
Not achieved at all achieved Neutral Partially achieved Fully achieved

9) Which of the following factors kept you going to successfully complete the internship? (Tick all that
apply)
Achieving my
Personal goals/ Financial
Family Friends Employer Interest motivations penalties Subsidies Others

10) The following questions assesses the overall effectiveness of the internship.
Very Partially Partially Very
ineffective ineffective Neutral effective effective
A. How effective was its mode of delivery?

B. How effective was this mode in preparing you

for your first job?
C. How effective was this mode in providing you
to confront changes in work?

Section D: Adaptive workers

We are interested to learn about what allowed to adapt to you job in this internship and also adapt to
changing requirements of work.
10) Adapting to the work requirements - Please indicate the importance of the personal attributes in
adapting to your first job.
Personal attribute NA Very Low High Very Essential
low high

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Taking initiative to make
meaningful changes
Anticipating and acting in
advance of a future situation
Persistence in adapting to change
Openness to engage with change
Interest in and active in learning
Tolerance to change and
ambiguity
Skills to engage inter-personally

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11) Adapting to the work requirements - Please indicate the importance of the workplace factors that
assisted you adapt to your first job.
Workplace factors NA Very Low High Very Essential
low high

Guidance and training for new

roles and tasks
Planning employees’ career
development
Flexibility in initiating, prioritising
and enacting work tasks
Open work culture encouraging
engagement and initiating
change.
Accessible resources to extend
work roles and tasks

12) Adapting to new work requirements - Please indicate the importance of the personal attributes
assisting you adapt to new work challenges
Personal attribute NA Very Low High Very Essential
low high

Taking initiative to make

meaningful changes
Anticipating and acting in
advance of a future situation
Persistence in adapting to change
Openness to engage with change
Interest in and active in learning
Tolerance to change and
ambiguity
Skills to engage inter-personally

13) Adapting to new work requirements - Please indicate the importance of the personal attributes
assisting you adapt to new work challenges
Workplace factors NA Very Low High Very Essential
low high

Guidance and training for new

roles and tasks
Planning employees’ career
development
Flexibility in initiating, prioritising
and enacting work tasks
Open work culture encouraging
engagement and initiating
change.
Accessible resources to extend
work roles and tasks

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Thanks for your responses. We will now, explore these issues in the interview.