Gaining Experience
Careers Advisers and graduate employers are always talking
about gaining experience. But what do we really mean by that? Here
we talk a little bit about the way you can get different kinds of
work experience, and how you might gain from it.
Part-time jobs
Lots of students think about getting some part-time work whilst
they are studying, often with the aim to earn a bit of money. But
this is also an ideal opportunity to gain some great experience
that can make all the difference when applying for graduate jobs.
Even if the work you are doing isn't necessarily linked to what you
think you want to do as a career, you can still pick up those
all-important transferable skills that employers are always looking
for. YSJ Connect Jobs and
Opportunities is the perfect place to start looking for these
jobs, and you can always come and see a Careers Adviser for some
help with your application.
Volunteering
Volunteering is a great way to gain some skills and
experience, as well as an insight into different industries and
jobs, make new friends and contacts, and in some cases
can lead to paid jobs in the future. You can download a brochure which tells
you everything you need to know, or visit YSJ Connect to learn more and find out how
to apply for volunteering opportunities.
Internships
Internships are a brilliant way to experience working in a
certain industry or area of work, often give you the chance to lead
on a project of some sort, and are one of the best ways to gain
relevant work experience whilst also earning some money. York St
John works with local employers to arrange student internships both
during term time and in the holidays. You can find out more about the YSJ Student Internship
scheme or read some more general
information about internships. In recent years, there have also
been a number of graduate internships lasting between 12 weeks and
1 year working at York St John, eligible to students who have just
finished a course here - more information is available by
contacting the Careers & Employability team.
Work placements
Most programmes at York St John include a work placement
element, but leave students with an element of choice about where
you undertake your placement. This is a great opportunity to learn
more about a particular area of work, make contacts, and gain
experience, as well as meeting the assessment criteria for your
module. You can refer to your work placement on your CV and job
applications - for some areas (like teaching, Occupational Therapy
and Sports), it is absolutely critical that you do. The Careers
& Employability team can help you think about what you want to
get out of your placement, and help you make the most of this
experience on your CV.