Logo: The National Council for Work Experience

Advert disclaimer

Find out about work experience

The importance of undertaking a period of work experience if you are a student or providing work placement opportunities if you are an employer is growing year-on-year.  Employers want to recruit graduates who have some knowledge of the working world and this is something that students are becoming more aware of. A period of work experience can offer the following:

For Students:

  • Opportunity to put theory learning into practice.
  • Opportunity to consider career options.
  • Opportunity to find out what you like or do not like doing.
  • Opportunity to get some practical experience or start to develop 'employability' skills.

For employers:

  • Opportunity to see what graduates are capable of.
  • Students on placements can be seen as an extended interview, thereby cutting down on recruitment costs.
  • Students can come with a fresh pair of eyes to help solve problems.
  • An extra pair of hands to develop ideas that may be on the back burner.
  • Opportunity to transfer new ideas from universities to business.