Work Experience Ideas by Georgina Rowe
When you’ve just left University or are trying to use your holidays productively, work experience can be key. Building your CV will eventually help you get the job that you’ve always wanted, so now’s the time to get working!
- Volunteer at a music festival
What can you do during the summer months that combines something to put on a CV with something you love? Volunteer at a music festival! You get to hear all the music from your favourite bands and get the experience of being at a festival, but with the added benefit of work experience. You could find yourself building on your people skills working with the general public, doing things like handing out wristbands or a bit of bar work, which will come in handy if you don’t know how to pour a pint! You might even strike it lucky and get to work in a VIP area and get to meet the stars! #Selfie
- Freelance writing articles
A very easy way to get experience in your chosen field is to be a freelance writer for a magazine or website. You get to send in content and potentially have it published, without the unnecessary stress of going to the office every day! By writing articles for a website you could also learn new processes like how to use WordPress (it’s trickier than you might think!) or SEO (Search Engine Optimisation). Learning these new skills might introduce you to a new passion which you never knew you had.
- Local shop or cafe
Any experience is good experience for your CV! Even if you’re not particularly interested in this field, you would learn a lot from the job which could better you for the future. For example you may have to work as part of a team, or deal with irritating coworkers daily, improving your tolerance of others. So even if you don’t feel inspired at the end of the process, you always have something to gain no matter what the circumstance.
- Charity work
As I’ve said, there is always something to gain from any experience but this is particularly true with working for a charity. There are also some really exciting projects that you could get involved with, and you could get to travel abroad (if you’re lucky!). You could learn team work or new skills you don’t even know of yet, and many find charity work to be very rewarding.
When it comes down to it, the most useful work experience you can get involved with is something within the industry that you want to end up working in. For instance, if you want to be a journalist, get involved with your local paper. With every job you do, your CV improves so that you can move onto bigger and better things until you land your dream job. Good luck x.
- Subscribe to The Student Pocket Guide for exclusive competitions, deals, discounts, tips and advice!
- Read The Student Pocket Guide.
