The Benefits to Young People of Gaining Work Experience

Work experience provides invaluable opportunities for young people to develop essential skills that will benefit them greatly when they enter the world of work. Whether it’s during school, college or university, gaining hands-on experience in a professional environment allows young people to understand what’s expected of employees and set themselves up for future career success.

Developing Transferable Skills

One of the key benefits of work experience for young people is the chance to develop transferable skills that can be applied across many jobs and industries. Through hands-on tasks and observing professionals first-hand, young people gain communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills that make them appealing to employers. This type of experience looks good on a CV for first job.

Work experience also builds confidence and maturity as young people navigate a new environment outside of school. Learning to collaborate with colleagues of all ages, manage their time effectively and represent themselves professionally are soft skills gained from the experience. Even basic admin, customer service or manual labour roles teach young people the importance of reliability, work ethic and productivity.

Gaining Insight into Industries and Careers

Work experience gives young people exposure to what full-time jobs actually involve day-to-day. This allows them to get a feel for different careers and gain insight into industries they may be interested in pursuing. 

Young people can experience first-hand what a job role entails and the types of tasks it involves. This helps them decide if it matches their interests and strengths or whether they should consider other careers. Work experience in an industry like healthcare, engineering or media can inspire passion in a particular field or make a young person realise it’s not the right fit for them.

The experience also teaches them about that industry’s culture, environment and people. Observing professionals provides exposure to the qualifications needed for certain careers, along with the career development routes and progression opportunities within the field.

Building Networks and Making Contacts

Gaining work experience allows young people to build a network of professional contacts which can be invaluable when entering the world of work. Having references from past work experience supervisors or managers can give job seekers an advantage over other candidates when applying for roles.

During their placement, young people also build rapport with colleagues which could lead to being informed of job vacancies or recommended for opportunities in the future. Having connections in an industry provides access to insider career advice and support when transitioning from education to employment.

Work experience also equips young people with the confidence to communicate with professionals at all levels. Building these networking skills early on sets them up for a lifetime of nurturing fruitful relationships with colleagues throughout their career.

Standing Out to Employers

Relevant work experience makes many young person’s CV stand out when applying for jobs. Real-world experience shows employers evidence of skills and knowledge, making candidates appear more capable and committed to entering a career.

Even basic retail, admin, events or hospitality experience communicates to employers that the applicant understands the expectations of the world of work. For graduates applying for roles in their desired industry, relevant placement experience can give them the edge over other candidates with only academic qualifications.

Gaining work experience in a certain sector also shows employers the applicant has existing knowledge of their industry processes, key skills and challenges faced in the role. This can shorten the learning curve of training someone new, giving the candidate an advantage.

Increasing Employability

Ultimately, work experience makes young people far more employable as it provides training in essential skills, shows evidence of their capabilities, and demonstrates commitment to a career path.

Young people who voluntarily undertake work experience outside of school or university requirements show passion and initiative to potential employers. Experience also prevents candidates being rejected from jobs due to lack of industry knowledge or understanding of the role.

With youth unemployment still an issue, work experience gives school and college leavers an advantage in the competitive graduate job market. Investment in gaining experience early pays off when seeking that crucial first step on the career ladder.

From developing transferable skills to building professional contacts, the benefits of gaining work experience for young people are vast. Work placements provide the opportunity to gain first-hand insight into industries and careers to inform their future plans. The experience also boosts employability by communicating valuable skills to potential employers. Ultimately, investing time in work experience placements allows young people to set themselves up for a successful career.