Why Ellie rates work experience

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With National Careers Week in full swing, looking to the future can be daunting, but there are many ways you can be on top of those worries, and be more confident in yourself and where you’re heading.

Work experience. An opportunity or a hindrance? Does work experience actually help for my future, or is it just a waste of time? These are the questions I had when I was told I needed to get work experience, and questions I’m sure you have too.

I didn’t want to participate in work experience because I thought, ‘What’s the point?’. Well, there is a point, and honestly work experience can be much more beneficial than you might think.

Improve your life skills

I did work experience in a primary school and I have done some fundraising for charities – both things that don’t relate to what I study, but both things that have helped me out with ‘life skills’. Skills such as having tough conversations, speaking to younger people, older people and people my age, speaking to customers, money management etc.

These are skills that school doesn’t teach you and skills that have greatly helped me with my confidence. They’ve even reassured me about living independently in the future – putting to rest the nagging worries about how I am going to cope away from home!

Choose what’s right for you

Most businesses are looking for people to employ on work experience, but not necessarily people to hire for a job. This means you can get work experience much more easily, as even the top businesses sometimes need a helping hand.

You can choose work experience to boost your studies, or to jump out of your comfort zone and try things you’ve never done before. Plus, doing work experience gives you that satisfying feeling that you’ve done something beneficial, and makes you feel awesome! 

Gain valuable experience

Finally, work experience can help you find out what you want to do in the future, as not everything is like it is in school/college. Also, it is a great addition to your CV, as the extra experience makes you look more appealing to future employers, and when applying for apprenticeships or universities.

Getting work experience could be the make or break for you getting that dream job. Also, work experience is just a great way to meet new people, and even make new friends for life.

Thank you for reading my tips about work experience. I think it’s a great thing that everyone should take advantage of! Even if you’ve never had work experience before, it’s never too late to try. Or if you have had work experience before that you didn’t enjoy, don’t give up. There is a work experience placement out there for you!

Work experience has helped me to get a grasp on my future, and it can for you too.