Gain Experience

Work experience gives you the opportunity to apply your current skills in the real world of work, develop them further and build confidence in your ability. You may wish to advance within your current workplace or improve your attractiveness to future employers when job and career opportunities arise.

Ways to gain experience and build your career

The term 'career' was traditionally associated with paid employment and referred to a single occupation or job for the majority of your life, with opportunity for promotion and progression. The idea of having one job for life is now a thing of the past for most people, and you may have heard of the term "gig economy" or having a portfolio of careers. It is expected that a young person today may have up to 17 jobs across 5 careers in their lifetime.

With jobs always changing, you now need to keep learning throughout your life and take charge of your own future. You have an active role to play in building your career. You will need to:

take responsibility for creating your own success and growth
know who you are and what your goals are
undertake self-directed learning to gain new skills or seek appropriate training to stay up to date
Seek out and research information about growth areas and trends about future job opportunities

Building your Career

Building your career happens throughout your life as you gain more experience in the world of work and undertake a variety of life experiences.

Being involved in a variety of activities helps broaden your experience and develop skills for work and life to build your career.
This could include:

Volunteer work
Work experience
Apprenticeships and Traineeships
Training and Education
Work Placements
Internships
Cadetships
Cultural activities
Community involvement
Employment
Education
Life roles
Interests and hobbies
Enterprise activities
Sport, music, dance, theatre any many other activities

These are all great opportunities for you to develop skills and networks and can help you to decide what you would like to do. By undertaking work experience you will gain real life, hands on experience at a workplace to learn about an occupation or industry, as you observe others and complete tasks.