Diary of Work Experience (Leaving Cert LCVP): Revision Notes
Diary of Work Experience
The diary of work experience is one of the optional items you can choose for your LCVP portfolio. This document serves as a detailed, day-by-day written record of your time in a workplace setting. Understanding how to create an effective diary is crucial for demonstrating your learning and professional development during work experience.
The diary of work experience is a powerful portfolio option that showcases your professional development and workplace learning in a structured, reflective format.
Purpose and importance
The diary serves several essential functions in your portfolio. Its primary purpose is to show how you spent your time during the placement, providing concrete evidence of your daily activities and responsibilities. You'll use it to record all tasks completed throughout your experience, no matter how small they might seem.
The diary also functions as a reflexion tool for documenting skills you've developed and knowledge you've gained. This reflective element is particularly valuable as it demonstrates your ability to learn from experience and identify areas for improvement. Finally, it provides evidence of your punctuality, participation, and learning, showing examiners that you took the placement seriously and engaged meaningfully with the work environment.
While the diary is a personal document, it must be written in a clear, structured, and professional manner suitable for portfolio assessment.
Recommended structure
Title page
Your diary should begin with a comprehensive title page containing all essential placement information. Include your full name, school details, and the exact dates of your work experience. You must also provide the complete name and address of the organisation where you worked, along with the specific department or section you were assigned to.
Introduction to the placement
This section provides context for your experience by describing the business or organisation where you worked. Explain what type of work the company does and outline your specific role and expected duties. This introduction helps examiners understand the environment you worked in and the nature of your responsibilities.
Daily entries
The heart of your diary consists of detailed daily entries. For each day of your placement, you should record the date and hours worked, followed by specific information about your experience.
Tasks completed should be described in detail rather than using vague phrases. Instead of writing "did office work," specify exactly what you did, such as answered phone calls, booked client appointments, filed case documents alphabetically.
Document the skills you used or developed each day, such as communication abilities, IT skills, or problem-solving techniques. This demonstrates your growing competence and awareness of professional skills.
Record new things you learned about the industry, company procedures, or workplace culture. This shows your curiosity and ability to absorb information about the working world.
Include honest reflections on what went well and any challenges you faced. This demonstrates self-awareness and the ability to learn from both positive and difficult experiences.
Daily Entry Example:
Monday, 15th January 2024 - 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Tasks completed: I assisted with inventory management by scanning barcodes and updating stock levels in the computer system. I also helped customers find products on the shop floor and processed returns at the customer service desk.
Skills developed: Improved my attention to detail while checking product codes, and enhanced my customer service skills when dealing with a difficult return situation.
New learning: Learned about the company's return policy and discovered how the inventory management system connects to their online store.
Reflection: I found the inventory work quite repetitive, but I began to understand how important accuracy is for the business. The customer service experience was challenging but rewarding when I successfully resolved the return issue.
Midweek reflexion
Although optional, a midweek reflexion is highly recommended. This brief note on how the week is progressing shows your ability to step back and assess your experience as it unfolds.
Final day entry
Your last entry should include a comprehensive summary of the week covering your most valuable experiences, the skills you improved most significantly, and key challenges you encountered along with how you addressed them. This summary demonstrates your ability to synthesise learning from the entire experience.
Overall reflexion
Conclude your diary with a separate overall reflexion section addressing broader questions about your experience. Consider whether the placement matched your expectations, what skills or knowledge will be useful in future work or study, and how the experience affected your career plans. This reflexion shows maturity and forward-thinking about your professional development.
Content requirements
Your diary must include exact dates and hours worked to demonstrate your commitment and reliability. Record a variety of tasks, ensuring that even small jobs are documented, as these often provide valuable learning opportunities.
Provide specific examples of skills you used rather than making general statements. Show evidence of learning and improvement throughout your placement period. Most importantly, include honest reflections that demonstrate authenticity, as examiners value genuine insights over overly positive accounts.
What to avoid
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
- Writing generic phrases without detail, such as "I did office work" or "helped customers"
- Skipping days or forgetting to log activities, as completeness is essential for assessment
- Using casual slang or overly informal language instead of maintaining a professional tone
- Making your diary entirely positive without mentioning any challenges - balanced reflexion that acknowledges difficulties and how you overcame them is much more valuable and authentic
Assessment criteria
Examiners look for several key elements when assessing your diary. Completeness is crucial - every day should be covered in appropriate detail. They expect accuracy in spelling of names, job titles, and industry terminology.
Your diary should demonstrate personal insight rather than simply listing tasks. Examiners want to see connections to LCVP skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and organisation. Finally, presentation matters - use clear headings, consistent formatting, and ensure your work is legible.
What Examiners Look For:
- Complete coverage of all placement days with appropriate detail
- Accurate spelling of names, job titles, and industry terminology
- Personal insight and reflexion rather than just task listing
- Clear connections to LCVP skills like teamwork and problem-solving
- Professional presentation with clear formatting and legible writing
Practical tips
Daily Diary Success Tips:
Fill in your diary daily rather than trying to remember everything at the end of the week. Keep a small notebook during each day for quick notes that you can expand on later. Ask your supervisor for feedback during your placement - you can include their insights in your reflections.
Try to link your daily tasks to future career skills such as time management or customer service. If your tasks were repetitive, focus on how you improved at them or what you learned from the experience of repetition.
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- The diary of work experience is a day-by-day written record that demonstrates your professional development
- Include all six sections: title page, introduction, daily entries, midweek reflexion, final day summary, and overall reflexion
- Focus on specific details rather than generic descriptions of tasks
- Maintain a professional tone while including honest reflections about challenges
- Complete daily entries during your placement rather than trying to remember everything later