Your Ultimate Guide to the world of Work Experience.

What different types of work experience are there?

There are four main types of work experience:

• School work experience
• Placements
• Internships
• Volunteering 

Let’s take a closer look at each of these… 

School Work Experience 

Undertaking one or two weeks of work experience is a common feature of UK secondary schools. Generally taking place in years 10, 11 or 12, this practice typically involves students arranging their own work experience with a local business. 

This time away from the classroom can be beneficial in what can be a stressful time for students. Work experience allows you to experience a new environment and see first-hand what goes into the day-to-day running of a business. 

School work experience also looks good on a CV or personal statement for a university or apprenticeship application. It can also provide students with their first professional reference for future employment.

Placements

Although work experience is sometimes referred to as a placement, placements are a particular category of work experience. 

Unlike school work experience, placements are generally part of a degree or BTEC and are assigned. They are supervised and usually concentrate on a specific role. Construction, nursing, science, social care and engineering are all fields where placements are encouraged in tandem with college or university study.

Internships

Internships are usually paid placements that last around 1-3 months. Sometimes offered in holidays, such as summer and Christmas, internships tend to be open to university students or recent graduates, although it’s important to note there is no official age or qualification limit.

The advantage of internships is that the company gets a (hopefully) competent, inexpensive member of staff for a short time, and the intern gets a foot in the door and some practical experience in their chosen career.

Internships can be paid or unpaid, with the latter being viewed as problematic. This is because unpaid internships are only viable for those who have some other means of financial support during their work, meaning those from lower income backgrounds often miss out on these opportunities.

Volunteering

The good thing about volunteering is that you can gain practical experience and fit it around your schedule. Volunteering for a local charity or community group not only looks great on a CV, but you can help make a real difference. Volunteering is unpaid, but you can learn transferable skills and meet a variety of interesting people.