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But
think again, as it could be one of the most valuable things you do
whilst at university and it is far easier and quicker to get than
you think.
Work experience is not 'cheap labour' for businesses neither is it
a 'waste of time'; work experience is becoming a very important part
of an undergraduates life and can only enhance your experience of
being a student.
Work experience encompasses a whole variety of things, it can be short
term or long term, part-time employment, and could be paid or unpaid.
University is the ideal time to gain work experience, as you will
probably have more free time than you will ever have, free mornings
and afternoons in between lectures and seminars, weekends and the
long holidays.
Today as more and more people like you are going to university than
ever before, a graduate needs something other than their degree to
stand out from the crowd to potential employers.
I did my most work experience over the summer before my final year.
I held a two-week placement with the BBC where I was a 'runner' on
various productions. This involved me researching interviewees for
programmes, making cups of tea, shopping for studio props, filing,
typing, helping out in the studios and with outside broadcasts and
lots more. I thoroughly enjoyed my placement and more importantly
learnt a lot, and have been invited back.
Work experience can show your determination to break into your chosen
career, great initiative and gives you the chance to showcase your
skills in the work place, to someone who could be a potential future
employer.
Many students don't have the luxury of unpaid work experience during
their spare time as they work to support themselves and their studies
in a part-time job. However menial some part-time jobs may seem to
you, bar work, shop work, factory work, it is all valuable work experience,
even if it is not in the field you hope to have a career in, this
still shows future employers you are responsible enough to hold down
a part-time job alongside study, that in its self shows great time
management.
I have even worked for Lincoln University meaning I didn't even have
to leave campus to go to work! Plus the work was well paid; I worked
as a member of the University's 'student crew', who are a group of
students who act as guides on open days etc for prospective students,
and other university visitors.
There are many vacancies out there just waiting to be filled by students
such as you. The National Council for Work Experience is just one
of the organisations who are able to offer undergraduates work placement
opportunities with leading businesses, short term and long term depending
on your needs.
These include bank work; charity work, retail, and conservation work
both abroad and in the UK.
The Council says, "Whenever employers are asked what they value
in graduates, they constantly refer to the benefits of any form of
work experience which is placed firmly at the top of their list".
Some areas of work are harder to get placements in than others, but
write a carefully written covering letter explaining who you are and
why you want work experience with them, include a polished CV written
with the company in mind, and you may be surprised.
Don't despair if once you're through the door all you do for the first
hour is make tea, be firm but polite when you ask them what more you
can do to help, demonstrate your skills and act confident in your
new surroundings.
Work and work experience are not the same, but you can turn work into
work experience, this means more than just turning up doing the job
and going home, it means making the most of the opportunities to develop
personal and course related or job specific skills.
Whatever you have been doing at work however ordinary it may seem,
you can and must show it as a desirable skill on your CV.
For more work experience idea's check out: www.work-experience.org
and www.support4learning.com
both hold a varied database of work placement vacancies and don't
forget to visit the career section of Lincoln University's website
at, www.lincoln.ac.uk
which holds lots of ideas and current vacancies many which are course
related.
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