The Graduate Market in 2020, a recent survey by Highfliers, clearly illustrates the importance employers place on work experience. From one hundred of the UKs best known and most successful employers, around 40% warned that graduates who have had no previous work experience at all, have little chance of receiving a job offer for their graduate programmes. Employers increasingly expect job applicants to have relevant experience as well as good qualifications.

From around Year 11 onwards young people should take any opportunity they can to start to build up a portfolio of work experience. 

Spending as little as one day with an employer, doing simple tasks or merely work shadowing (watching an experienced employee at work) can be hugely beneficial for students.

 Reasons for doing work experience include:

• developing transferable skills, such as communication and teamworking

• understanding how organisations work or bringing a job they have read about to life

• building confidence in interacting with adults

• confirming an interest in a career or (equally useful!) deciding it is not for them

• a foot in the door - if they impress the employer they may be asked back on a more formal arrangement such as a part time job, an internship, or encouraged to apply when vacancies arise.

• providing valuable content for a UCAS personal statement, to give evidence of an interest in a particular subject/occupation

For some sectors, such as media production, the most usual route in is through work experience before landing a junior position.

Founded in 2010 by ITV’s Political Editor, Robert Peston, their aim is to end educational inequality by giving all young people access to the same prestigious networks available to the top fee-paying schools in the UK. Through talks from today’s influential figures via their Inspiration programme, their Experience work experience programme linking state school students to industry-leading companies and networked support partners they are helping level the playing field for young people of all backgrounds. And, they keep their services for their schools and students entirely free of charge.

Virtual work experience, also referred to as online, remote or digital experience, provides the opportunity to gain experience from home. Virtual work experience can help you to develop your skills, boost your employability and explore new industries and job roles.

Most virtual work experiences range from a few hours to a few days, but some may last longer depending on the nature of the work experience.