Most workplaces require their employees to have a certain level of work experience. Though these levels may vary depending on the industry (it goes without saying that if you want to be a paramedic you'd need to have more experience than if you were applying to work in Waterstones), every time you apply for a new job your past work experience is taken into account.
But what counts as work experience? And how do we go about gaining this experience while we're at University?
Work experience accounts for any work outside of your degree, whether that be a part-time job in a bar or cafe, a placement year working in the industry, contributing to any campus societies, or taking part in an NCL internship.
"Good news: the possibilities for gaining work experience and employability skills while studying are endless!"
However, if you're struggling to find work experience or feel as though you haven't done enough during your time at University, don't worry, as it's never too late to start adding to your CV...
One of the best places to start looking for work experience is 'MyCareer', a useful website where you can filter your searches to find the best type of work for you. MyCareer regularly updates with work vacancies for a range of different industries, timescales and locations. I also recommend signing up to receive email updates from MyCareer so you can be notified directly about any availabilities within your industries of interest.
Before Christmas I applied for several NCL internships through MyCareer and was offered a 50-hour internship, which was super flexible around my studies, gave me some more work experience and contacts within the industry and funded me for a month or so. I found it rewarding to gain experience and earn money within an industry I'm potentially interested in going into!
It's not hard to feel a little stressed or anxious about finding work experience while studying, especially as the end of our time at University creeps nearer and nearer. However, it's important to remember that not every graduate job requires you to have a tonne of experience in the industry. Even if you only have time to do short internships around your degree, every little bit of work you do outside your studies gradually builds up your CV and employability.