Have you ever wondered why so much premium is placed on experience when a job advertisement is made? Getting work experience is an important part of starting your career as a young person. Some people have started acquiring work experience as soon they leave school or while at school; the earlier you start, the better it will be for your CV. Though, it might sound like a difficult thing to do because you need work to be able to acquire the experience. Experience is not limited to the time spent as an employee working at an organization, you can acquire some level of experience from working as an intern, apprentice, or freelancing.
I know that the idea of starting work early seems abhorrent, but here are 10 reasons why it should be your priority:
1. Understand Your Strengths And Weakness
Every person has a set of strengths and weaknesses. It helps to play to your strengths and work a way around your weaknesses. Work experience allows you to take stock of the situations and discover where you need to hone your skills. It allows you to understand what you need to learn and then ask the relevant questions from experts to help you concentrate on those sides.
2. Increase Your Network
Networking is often the door opener for many job opportunities. Work experience enables you to develop professional relationships in your chosen field. Your colleagues may give you a heads-up about a job opportunity, helping you find a good role. Your work experience makes you stand out and more valuable in the pool of other applicants whenever a job advertisement is made.
3. Get A Job
Working as an intern to get work experience places you in a more advantageous position when there’s job placement. Gaining work experience within an organization you are interested in working in – allows an employer to see you in action and what you have to offer for their organization.
4. Demonstration Of Passion And Interest
Getting work experience makes your passion and interest evident to a potential employer and reduces their risk of hiring you – as they know you understand the role. It shows you were motivated enough to get into your chosen field and discover first-hand what it is all about.
5. Personal Development
You’ll have the chance to build your confidence within a professional working environment and interact with adults outside your network. You’ll develop and grow as an individual, reflecting on everything you achieved during your placement. This is an essential part of your professional development and will set you apart from your less-experienced peers.
6. Get Ahead Of The Competition
With so much competition for entry-level jobs and apprenticeships, it’s important to stand out from the crowd. Not many school leavers will have previous experience in the roles they’re applying for, but if you’ve undertaken a period of work experience - ideally in an industry you’d like to work in - you’re bound to be one step ahead of the game. Employers value candidates who can show that they’re proactive and motivated enough to get their foot in the door.
7. Get A Taste Of The Industry
Work experience will help you to decide if the role or industry is somewhere you see yourself in the future. By shadowing and observing colleagues – and asking those questions about what they do - you’ll have the opportunity to find out first-hand if the job is for you. This will help you make more informed choices about your career – and could help you decide on the type of job, internship, or course you want to apply for.
8. Gain Soft Skills Employers Are Looking For
Communication skills, teamwork, problem-solving, motivation, and time management; are all soft skills that are essential to have in the workplace and are highly valued by employers. You’ll get a chance to develop these skills and more during your work experience placement.
9. Build Relationships For The Future
With online social media platforms, you can network and build relationships with professionals you’ve worked with from your past. If you make a lasting impression, contact those people and ask them for a reference for future applications. You might even be put forward for a position at the same company if a vacancy arises. Build bridges wherever you go.
10. Clear Direction Of Work-Life
If you do know what you think you want to do, work experience it’s the best way to get a real sense of your chosen industry. You’ll get to speak to employees and ask them questions that give a direction where your experience is much appreciated.
CONCLUSION
Work experience is a great addition to your CV. It can help you demonstrate your capabilities and commitment to an employer, and can support your cover letter or apprenticeship application by highlighting skills that are both relevant and transferable to the role you’re applying for. But that’s not all. A period of work experience can add value in many other ways to your life.
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