What are the Benefits of Work Experience | How to Get Work Experience

Work experience is a short-term placement designed to introduce university students to their chosen industry. Students get to see what a typical day in the workplace will be like, and get a chance to put the theory they’ve learned into practice. Work experience is an excellent way to prepare for a future career, add to your CV and gain practical skills that can benefit you after graduation.

Here’s what makes work experience such a valuable part of your studies.

The Importance of University Work Experience

Work experience helps kickstart your career as you enter the job market. Two-thirds of potential employers are looking for graduates with relevant work experience because these graduates are typically better prepared for work. Employers are also more likely to re-hire their former interns. So, graduates with work experience have a distinct advantage when job-hunting.

According to an Early Careers Survey, 78% of employers said graduates with work experience were more skilled than those without it. Around 76% of university students and 73% of sixth-form or college students said that work experience helped develop their skills.

But work experience doesn’t just improve your employability. It has many other benefits.

What skills do you get from work experience?

Find out how the workplace differs from school and university
See how your studies can be applied in the “real world”
See if your expectations line up with the reality of the job
Start setting career goals
Discover which work activities you enjoy the most
Relate your studies to the world of work
Build your confidence and learn how to work with new people
Learn soft skills like communication, teamwork, planning, time management and problem-solving

Work experience online vs face-to-face

Most students find face-to-face work experience opportunities more valuable than online ones. Despite the social distancing measures in 2020 and 2021, 44% of students still chose to do an in-person internship, and only 35% decided to work solely online. 21% chose a blended or hybrid experience.

How to Get Work Experience

There are a few different types of work experience available for students.

Job shadowing: This allows you to follow someone in their day-to-day work activities to give you an idea of your future job. It's usually an unpaid position and lasts one to two weeks.
Internship: This allows you to work as a trainee in your field, usually over the summer months or shortly after graduation. Interning helps you to gain hands-on experience. It may be paid or unpaid.
Sandwich placement: This is a year-long job placement with an employer; it is usually paid and makes up part of your coursework as a student. It’s an excellent opportunity to learn on the job.
Work placement: This formal work experience arrangement includes specific tasks and training. It will run for a set period, depending on the training required.
Volunteering: If there’s a cause or a project you’re passionate about, get involved as a volunteer. This will help you to develop your skills and learn more about your passion.

How long should your work experience last?

It depends on the type of work experience you choose, the industry you’re working in, and the employer’s preferences. Most students say that more extended work experience programmes are more helpful in developing their skills.

49% of students said a programme lasting one to four weeks was “very useful”
57% said a programme lasting one to three months was very useful
75% said a programme lasting three to six months or more was very useful

How to Find Work Experience

What’s the best way to approach a company to ask for a work experience placement?

You can find contacts in your city by attending local networking events and connecting with the appropriate people via platforms like LinkedIn to introduce yourself.

How to write a cover letter for work experience

You can apply via a letter or an e-mail, including the following information:

Your area of study and what level
How you heard about the company
Why you chose this company for work experience
What you hope to gain from the experience
Your hobbies and extracurricular activities
Your CV and contact details

Don’t write one generic cover letter to send out to multiple companies; instead, tailor your application to each one. This will help you to make the best possible first impression.

Tips for Your Work Experience Placement

Ask questions and pay attention to the answers
Be prepared to do tasks like filing, coffee runs and office admin
Speak up and ask if there’s a particular task you’d like to try or observe
Keep a daily log of your experiences, and review your learning from each day
Ask for feedback on your performance
Talk to your placement supervisor if you have any problems or concerns

Different cities offer different work experience opportunities. For example, London is a thriving hub of media, finance and tech businesses, while Glasgow has a reputation as the creative capital of the UK. Find work experience opportunities in your city, and take the next step in the career you’ve been dreaming of!