Getting experience
How can you get the experience you need to meet the entry requirements for a career, course or job? How can you test your career ideas and employability skills while boosting your self-confidence and learning new things? Find out here.
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Do some work experience
This is a great way to find out more about working life and to test your career ideas and employability skills. It also adds to what you can offer learning providers and employers. You may do work experience as part of a post-16 course. If not, speak to a careers or personal adviser and find out how to negotiate your own work placement. Make the most of any work experience that you do. Think about how it's improved your skills and changed your career ideas and attitudes to learning and work.
Be a volunteer
There's no pay but volunteering gives you the chance to help your community, experience different workplaces and learn new skills. It builds your confidence and self-esteem. It also adds to what you can offer learning providers and employers. Make the most of any volunteering that you do. Think about your achievements and the skills you've gained. How have they affected your attitude to life, learning and work? Check out these websites if you want to see what you could do.
Get a part-time or holiday job
This is a great way to earn money and find out about working life. It also adds to your knowledge and skills and builds your confidence. Make the most of it. Think about what your performance tells other people about your employability and your ability to learn. If this option interests you, look at the Finding work and Applications and interviews sections of this website.
What next?
Are you employable?
Tool kit
Hot tip
Make the most of your experiences. Keep a record of what you've done and what it tells other people about you. If you don't have a personal portfolio, start one now.
