Work experience is important for getting into any career and can make you stand out from the crowd when applying for courses, training and jobs. If you do not know what job you want, or you cannot get your perfect placement, any work experience is better than none. Whatever job you try, you’ll learn more about yourself and working life. 

You'll also gain skills in the process. It may even lead to more suitable experience with the same company. It could be good preparation for another opportunity that’s closer to what you want to do.

Try not to worry about where you could go to get work experience. Concentrate on what you could learn or improve on.

You can use your work experience as a time to build your soft skills. Employers look for employees who can show that they are:

• Trustworthy and reliable
• Good communicators
• Great team players
• Able to solve problems
• Willing to learn new things
• Able to adapt and 'bounce back' when things do not go to plan

Further information

• Please click here for more information on how work experience can help you