What documentation should students obtain at the end of their work experience?

Obtaining a confirmation letter that verifies hours worked and describes the nature of the work completed is essential for several reasons. This document serves as an official record that the student has participated in the work experience, which is critical for validating the experience on their résumé or academic records. The confirmation letter provides details about the student’s role, the tasks they performed, and the skills they developed during the experience, giving future employers or educational institutions insights into the student's practical skills and work ethic.

In addition, having a formal document helps the student ensure that the hours they reported align with what the employer acknowledges. This can be particularly important for fulfilling any program requirements or for internships that may require a certain number of hours to be completed.

Other options may provide some benefits, such as a report summarizing tasks, which might help with self-reflection, or an informal email that could maintain personal communication. However, these are generally not as formal or comprehensive as the confirmation letter, which is typically recognized as an important piece of documentation in professional settings. A performance appraisal from peers, while potentially helpful, does not serve the same verification purpose and may not be accepted as a formal record of the work experience.