Last week, I spent two days at Bolton College with the marketing department.
I learnt how to use different websites and my social media posts were used by the College in Facebook Advertisements and on their various channels. I learnt how to use InDesign, Hootsuite and Facebook Ads. I had an immensely productive experience and it was a pleasure to meet all staff in the department. If you are interested in a certain career, it is a good idea to gather some experience in the industry, whether that is for one week or six months. If you are reading this thinking, what is work experience, why is it important and how should I go about getting some, then here is some advice!
What is work experience?
Work experience is when you gain practical experience with an employer by learning about a particular role or career path. It is often undertaken by young people from secondary school age to university level. You can do work experience in any industry, from healthcare to banking.
Why is it important?
Having some experience under your belt is not only great for your CV, it is also essential to understand if that career is right for you. For example, I wanted to be a vet until I watched an episode of Junior Vet! Similarly, you may realise that a job is not for you, and that is arguably equally as valuable as discovering that you love a profession. Additionally, work experience improves your self-confidence and independence as you may have to travel and be responsible on site.
How do I get work experience?
Many schools offer pupils the opportunity to complete work experience in Year 10. If not, don’t let that dissuade you! You can use the school holidays to complete some. I have several interesting weeks lined up in the coming months, but for the few replies of ‘yes’ I received, I got almost ten times as many no’s. Thirty organisations may decline, but three might take you on for a week! The worst they can say is no, so don’t let an unsuccessful enquiry get you down. If you don’t yet have a CV to send, then you do a quick google search to find helpful tips. Even a couple of days will be valuable.
You’ve got this!
Want to hear more from our editor, Natasha? You can follow her on Instagram at @tash_talker1 and read some more of her articles below!
