Work Experience? Why Not?

Considering work experience? Charlotte Trefusis tells you why it’s a VERY good idea…

University flies by, and the job search looms. It is therefore so important to make the most of the free time that you currently have, especially in your amazingly long summer holidays. Three months can easily be wasted, or put to good use through work experience and internships. These allow you to enhance your CV, gain transferable skills, impress a potential future employer, and have an opportunity to explore different job options.

Image Credit: Niklas Rahmel

It is widely accepted that having a degree is no longer enough to impress when applying for jobs. You cannot rely on Exeter’s reputation as a highly ranked university to propel you into a ‘dream job’, so additional ways to stand out compared to the other applicants are certainly needed.

A CV is effectively putting your life onto one page, and presenting yourself to a potential employer. If they like what they see, you may progress to the next stage, but a recruiter looks at a CV on average for eight seconds. These eight seconds need to count! An impressive internship or work placement may make all the difference, and allow your CV to be picked out from amongst your competition.

However it is not just about adding an impressive line to your CV. Transferrable skills, such as time-management, leadership, teamwork, attention to detail, and so on, can be applied to every aspect of life. They will help you in interviews and in the wider world of work. You can also learn a lot about yourself and what you do and do not like. This summer, I was an intern for a newspaper in London, and I loved the fast-paced and thriving environment. I was able to compare this internship with previous work experience in a smaller and more personable company. I enjoyed both environments, but found that I was better suited to the smaller team and office.

I have found that internships can be intimidating at the start, as you are propelled into an established and often pressured working environment. I have also learnt that what you wear can often form people’s opinion of you. My boss at the newspaper company told me that, for a girl, the moment that your skirt goes from above the knee to being knee length is when you go from student to professional. I was treated well by the company, but it is worth being aware that some businesses can take advantage of interns, especially those who are not being paid. By law, if an intern is counted as a worker, they must be paid minimum wage. So be aware of your rights!

Some summer internships enable you to come back to university with a firm job offer, taking off a massive load of pressure for your final year. But, even if this is not the case, you may have impressed a future employer and you never know who may remember you. It is such a great way to build contacts, and to network. Anyone who is interested in business should look at getting a LinkedIn profile, which is effectively the professional version of Facebook!

Image Credit: EG Focus

However, one of the best things about work experience is that you can get a sense of what you might eventually like to do, without the commitment and pressure of a job contract. You can sample different career options, and ask all the questions that a fixed employee would look stupid asking! Work experience allows you to learn how to behave and thrive in your chosen place of work, and this can make a massive difference to what you ultimately decide to do. Through different placements, I have gained an awareness of what I do not enjoy, as well as the aspects of a job that I do.

So definitely consider getting work experience in the holidays. If you can juggle a job, volunteering or work experience in term-time around your degree, then go for it! But do not compromise your studies, as they ultimately form the foundation of your experience to an employer. It is about creating the balance, and managing your time wisely. Many schemes and placements for next summer require you to apply before Christmas, so get planning!

Charlotte Trefusis

Does a year abroad offer a lifetime of success?

Finding a job after university has always been a challenge and the number of applications to the UK’s leading employers is increasing year on year. This begs the question, how can you make sure your application sticks out from the rest? Dan Cash looks at how a year or semester abroad can boost your employability prospects.

Where to? A semester or year abroad is increasingly available to thousands of students across various disciplines. Picture credits: StarkLM

Studying or working abroad as part of a degree programme is growing both in accessibility and popularity. A compulsory part of any language student’s four years of study is to wave goodbye to Exeter and touch down in countries all over Europe, and indeed Africa and Latin America. Whether they spend their Saturdays sipping cocktails on the seaside in sunny Spain or drinking vodka with breakfast in Russia, they give most of their time to improving their language skills. However, with more courses than ever offering their students the opportunity to board a plane and experience life in a foreign country, the year abroad is by no means restricted to people wishing to learn a new language. In fact, a semester or year abroad is available to thousands of students across various disciplines. From studying at another university, to gaining work experience at a business, to teaching through the British Council, a year abroad provides you with a  chance to learn and improve a whole range of skills that you may not find from three years at university.

 

A guaranteed boost to the CV?

For one thing, the year abroad shows that you are an independent and self-motivated person. A huge part of anybody’s experience of living abroad is learning how to take care of number one. There is no relying on a parent, a sibling or a life-long friend when you are hundreds or thousands of miles apart. Everything that you do, from food shopping to seeing a doctor when you fall ill, is solely down to you. From this independence spawns maturity and the ability to make decisions; skills that any employer will value.

Standing out from the crowd: the year abroad might just be that golden ticket. Picture credits: Susanne13

The problems and situations that students abroad are faced with are diverse. They range from going to a friend’s house for dinner and being served a local delicacy that turns your stomach, to a rail strike that results in all train services being cancelled and preventing you from getting to and from your place of work or study. Overcoming these problems, no matter how big or small, shows employers how you cope when faced with difficult situations. There are often questions on application forms and in interviews requiring applicants to give an example of when they displayed good problem-solving. A year abroad will ensure that this question never goes unanswered.

Finally, one of the most valuable and unique skills that is acquired during a semester or year abroad is cultural awareness. In today’s world, many businesses thrive on globalisation while others battle to gain ground internationally. Having lived in a foreign country, a graduate who has studied or worked abroad will stand out to these international businesses. Living abroad demonstrates a global awareness and an ease with comprehending cultural differences. Not only this, but already having experience and an understanding of what it means to study, or indeed work abroad gives employers more reason to send you overseas again.

A year or semester in a foreign country is far from an easy experience. It is a challenge. There are ups and downs; highs and lows. However, it is in many ways a rewarding experience. You learn about another country, another culture, and another people. You learn about yourself and what you are able to achieve.

In a time where it is imperative to present yourself as best as possible to potential employers, a year abroad is priceless. When your CV or job application is sitting amidst a hundred others, you need to ensure it is one in a million. Perhaps a year abroad will make you stand out from the crowd.