Explore. Experience. Grow.
Internships, placements and work experience
Gaining experience alongside your studies can help you explore career options, develop skills and understand what different types of work are like.
Employers may consider a range of factors when recruiting, including your qualifications, skills, experience and how these relate to the role. Work experience can give you opportunities to put your learning into practice and develop examples you can use in future applications.
Work experience can take many forms, including internships, placements, part-time or holiday work, volunteering and work shadowing.
What are the benefits?
Experience can help you understand what you enjoy, explore different career areas and make more informed decisions about your next steps.
Apply your learning
Placements and other work-based opportunities can give you the chance to apply knowledge and skills from your studies in a practical setting.
Develop your skills
You may develop skills such as communication, teamwork, organisation, problem-solving and time management, depending on the experience.
Build your network
Work experience can introduce you to people working in your area of interest and help you learn more about different roles and organisations.
Strengthen your applications
The experience you gain can provide examples to draw on when applying for jobs, placements or further opportunities. Some employers may also recruit from their placement or internship programmes, although this varies by organisation.
What counts as work experience?
There are many ways to gain experience, including:
- Internships
- Placements
- Part-time or holiday work
- Volunteering
- Work shadowing
- Freelance or project work
- University or student-led projects
You don’t need to have one particular type of experience. Think about the opportunities that fit your interests, circumstances and career goals.
Need More Help?
Want to explore your options? Visit StudentHub and click on ‘placements’ for work placement resources and opportunities
