Work Experience
It's a common problem - you want a job but can't get one because they want someone with experience. How do you get experience when they won't give you a job?
There are lots of ways to get work experience:
- Through your placement, if your course has one.
- Some large employers offer planned periods of work experience during the summer vacation.
- Check our Online Vacancy Bulletin and go to Work Experience/Voluntary section.
- Search the database at the National Council for Work Experience. This also has a good useful links section.
- Also try Interactive Placement & Vacation Work Search to search by occupation area to find placements, internships & jobs in the UK.
- Through other vacation, part-time and temporary work. Employers love students who've worked, as all employment teaches you something.Go to Part Time Work for tips on finding work.
- Approaching organisations that interest you and asking for work experience or work shadowing. Go to Speculative Application.
- Working as a volunteer. In some sectors it's essential to gain volunteer experience first.
Try:
- The Students' Union. Work within the Union eg. on the student newspaper or for a local organisation, anything from a Wildlife Centre to work with homeless people. Commitment can be as little as a couple of hours. Look at USSU Volunteering or pop into the Outreach Office, in the Activities Centre, downstairs in the Union.
- Check the Do It site, and search for volunteering in your local area or by type.
- Longer term volunteering, the National Centre for Volunteering. Another good database.