Work Experience

Not only can work experience earn you money but it can help bridge the gap between university and the world of work.  It improves self-knowledge, can help build confidence and may help to get a job after graduation.

Work experience can include:

• Part-time casual and vacation work: Working while you study or during the vacation can include working in retail, hospitality, administration or be more specifically related to your degree or your chosen career path.  To find vacancies go to JobsOnline.
• Voluntary work: Unpaid work for more information on how you can benefit from this go to Volunteering. To find volunteering opportunities go to JobsOnline
• Industrial placements: this forms part of a degree and is a fixed period of work that is assessed and paid.  It often runs for a year. Many schools at Northumbria have placement officers who provide specific school support.  We work closely with placement officers and can also help you find employers to contact.  We hold a range of opportunities in the centre, ask a member of the information team at the Information Point for more information.
• Internships: A term often used by large corporations to refer to a placement that lasts for a shorter time than the industrial placement above.  They usually last between 6-12 weeks and often taking place during the summer vacation.
• Work-based projects: These can be short-term, long-term degree related or for a specific employer.
• Work shadowing: observing an employee while they work to gain an understanding of what a job entails.
• GAP year: working or travelling for a year, during or after your degree.  Call into the Careers Centre for more information on how to plan your time out.

Why is work experience important?

In the current graduate labour market employers look for more than just your degree.  If you can demonstrate that you have developed your skills and improved your knowledge of work employers will be more interested in what you have done.  Students who leave university without any kind of work experience may be at a disadvantage.