The benefits Work experience
Gaining work experience in a new role can be useful at any stage of your career. The term ‘work experience’ might be confusing to you as it can refer to:
- your work history
- skills and experience built through work
- temporary work done to gain the above two.
On these pages, we’re talking about that last point. Temporary work done to build skills and experience, and therefore develop your career.
Develop your career with work experience
Work experience is a way to:
- Gain practical experience in a role.
- Develop skills and knowledge.
- Learn about an industry or sector.
- Network.
- Build confidence.
- Become a more competitive candidate.
This will help you think about future career paths and strengthen your CV and job applications.
The benefits of [work experience] have been immense. I've learned so much, not just about the specific tasks and responsibilities of the role, but also about the industry as a whole. This experience has significantly boosted my confidence and provided me with a comprehensive understanding of my field.
OU student intern
Employers value work experience
When employers see work experience on your CV, it shows them you have the skills they require. To an employer, this means you can perform better and ‘hit the ground running’ if they offer you a job. They also value the skills, resilience, personal maturity, positive work attitude, and business understanding that work experience offers (Prospects, 2024).
Employers may even offer those who complete work experience with them further employment. The number of employers who have recruited former interns and placement students into graduate jobs is around 40-50% (AdvanceHE, 2023).
[Internships are] a great way to find motivated and exceptional and potential future members of staff.
Employer
Build valuable skills
Work experience can help you develop several transferrable employability skills, including:
- time management
- organisation
- communication
- problem-solving
- leadership
- teamworking.
Work experience can help you understand what it’s like to work in a professional environment and what is expected of you. This can be especially useful if you haven’t been employed before or are returning to the workforce after a long gap.
Your Career Planning Guide
Deciding what you want to do with your career can feel like the start of an exciting journey, but it can also feel daunting if you're not sure where to start. Your career planning guide (PDF 3.98MB) is available to current students and those who have studied with the OU in the last three years.
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