Work experience

Employers look favourably on work experience as it is a means of showing your work ethic and how you approach employment. It allows them to observe how you take initiative and make decisions within a job, by you explaining your past work experiences. There are many ways to gain experience. Often, the closer these experiences match with your desired career path the better.

Casual employment and vacation work

This can include any form of job which is used to pay the bills as you go through uni. Casual employment can be found in many areas, including hospitality, retail, tutoring or secretarial services.

What it can offer

While this type of employment may not have a lot to do with your desired career path, the experiences gained from any form of work can be valuable. Most jobs require the use of communication skills, decision-making skills and taking initiative. By completing casual work you will have gained experience in these areas and be able to tell an employer about the competencies you acquired.

Shadow work experience

This will often be in the particular industry in which you wish to work upon completion of your degree. It involves observing people completing the type of job you are aiming to get.

What it can offer

It is beneficial to get as much of this type of work experience as possible. It provides you with knowledge of what you will be expected to do in your career. The company you complete shadow work experience with may also give you some practical exercises. These can be used in your port folio as examples of your work.

Volunteer work

Benefits of volunteering

You can offer to work for non-profit organisations or even complete non-paid work at organisations for which you would like to work. This offers all the benefits of the above two sources of gaining experience and can also be used in your port folio. This offers the ability to acquire referees and make contacts. Volunteer work shows potential employers you have initiative, motivation and are community oriented.

How to get a volunteering position

Some organisations may be unwilling to take on volunteers as they have to spend time training them and allocating appropriate tasks. Therefore, you should emphasise the benefits from the employer's point of view through the skills you can contribute, your willingness to be trained and to learn, your energy and your flexibility. You should also emphasise the fact that you will be undertaking the work for a limited duration.  To look for volunteer work for non-profit organisations you can visit Go Volunteer.