What Is Work Experience? A Guide for Students

Thinking about work experience? Feeling a bit nervous? Don’t worry - you’re not alone.

This guide is for any student getting ready for their first work experience, thinking about finding one, or just curious about how it all works.

By the end of this article, you'll know exactly what work experience is, why it's brilliant for your future, and how to smash it when you get there.

Key Takeaways

• Work experience is a short-term placement that helps you explore careers, gain skills, and boost your confidence.

• It makes your applications for jobs, apprenticeships, and uni stand out.

• There are lots of types of work experience, from traditional placements to volunteering, virtual programmes, and summer opportunities

• Preparing well and reflecting afterwards helps you get the most out of it.

What Is Work Experience?

Work experience is a short-term placement, usually arranged through your school, where you spend time in a real workplace to learn about different jobs and industries. 

It’s not a part-time job – you won’t be paid (opens in a new tab). But you will gain insight into different roles and develop useful skills. Unlike volunteering, which focuses on helping people, work experience is about understanding careers. That said, some volunteering can count as work experience if you learn relevant skills. 

Work experience placements typically last a week or two. You might shadow employees, help with basic tasks, and see what day-to-day life in that job is really like.

Why Work Experience Is Important

Work experience isn’t just “a week out of school”. It’s one of the best ways to explore careers and see what work is really like.

It helps you make career choices. You might find a job you love, or realise something isn’t for you. Both are valuable; they save you time and help you focus on what you really want to do.

It builds your confidence. You’ll meet new people, try new things, and see what you can do in a real workplace. Completing real tasks in a workplace gives you a buzz, and you’ll see what you’re capable of.

It makes you more employable. Employers, apprenticeship providers, and universities love to see work experience on applications. It shows you're proactive and have some understanding of the working world.

Work experience also gives you brilliant material for future applications. Use what you learned in interviews, on your CV, and in personal statements. Our guide on how to get an apprenticeship without GCSEs includes tips on how to highlight what you’ve learned.

Key benefits include:

• Developing communication and teamwork skills

• Learning about workplace culture and expectations

• Building a network of professional contacts

• Gaining insight into different career paths

• Improving your CV and personal statement

What You Might Do on Placement

Worried you'll just be making tea all day? That's one of the biggest myths about work experience.

You might help with some basic tasks (and yes, occasionally make drinks), but most placements give you a real taste of work.

In an office, you might help with filing, data entry, or sitting in on meetings. 

In healthcare, you may shadow nurses or doctors and watch patient consultations or help with admin tasks. You'll learn about the variety of roles that keep hospitals and clinics running. 

In retail or hospitality, you might serve customers, organise stock, or rotate through different departments.

Remember, nobody expects you to know everything. Your job is to observe, ask questions, and learn. Most professionals love sharing their knowledge if you show interest.

Types of Work Experience

Not all work experience looks the same. Here are some of the most common types:

• Traditional school placements are the most common type. Your school arranges a one or two-week placement, usually in Year 10 or 11. 

• Volunteering as work experience is becoming popular. You can gain similar skills while helping your community, like teamwork and communication. Many charities, hospitals, and community organisations welcome young volunteers.

• Virtual work experience has grown hugely since 2020. Companies like Barclays (opens in a new tab), Rolls-Royce (opens in a new tab), and the NHS (opens in a new tab) offer online programmes where you complete real work tasks from home.

• Industry insight days are shorter experiences, usually lasting just one day. They're perfect if you want to explore multiple career options.

• Summer placements are longer programmes, often lasting several weeks during the summer holidays. These are more competitive but offer deeper insight into specific industries.

How to Find or Choose a Work Experience Placement

Many schools work with local employers and will help you find a placement. If your school doesn’t organise one, start by considering your interests and career goals.

Ask family, friends, and neighbours if they know anyone who could take you for a week. Personal connections often lead to the best placements.

You can also contact local businesses directly with a polite email and a cover letter explaining your interest, or check company websites for online work experience programmes. The National Careers Service (opens in a new tab) offers guidance on getting work experience. 

When choosing a placement, think about what you genuinely want to learn about, not just what sounds impressive. A placement that matches your interests will be much more valuable than one that looks good on paper.

How to Prepare for Work Experience

Good preparation makes all the difference in your work experience success.

1. Research the company: Look at their website, understand what they do, and learn about their values. This shows professionalism and genuine interest.

2. Plan your journey: Do a practice run if possible, especially if you're using public transport. Being late on your first day can create a bad impression.

3. Prepare questions: Think about what you genuinely want to know about the job, the industry, and the company. Good questions show engagement and curiosity.

4. Sort out what to wear: Ask your placement supervisor about the dress code. When in doubt, err on the side of being slightly more formal than necessary.

5. Pack essentials: Notebook, pen, packed lunch (if needed).

6. Get in touch with your placement contact a few days before you start. Confirm the start time, where to go, and who to ask for when you arrive.

How to Make the Most of Your Work Experience

Your attitude makes the biggest difference to what you'll gain from work experience.

• Be punctual: Turn up on time every day, ready to learn. If you're genuinely ill, phone in as early as possible to let them know.

• Show enthusiasm and curiosity: Ask questions, volunteer for tasks, and show genuine interest in what's happening around you.

• Be professional and respectful: Treat everyone with courtesy, from the CEO to the receptionist. You never know who might help your career in the future.

• Keep a daily diary: Write down what you learn each day. This reflection time helps you process the experience and gives you material for future applications.

• Ask for feedback: Most supervisors are happy to give you honest, helpful advice about your performance and potential career growth.

• Ask for a reference: If your placement goes well, a work experience reference can help with future job applications or university admissions.

How to Use Work Experience in Your Future Plans

Work experience is only as valuable as what you do with it afterwards.

Update your CV immediately, whilst the experience is fresh in your mind. Don’t just list what you did. Write down the skills you developed, like teamwork or problem-solving. 

Reflect on what you learned about yourself and the industry. What did you enjoy? What challenged you? What surprised you?

Use specific examples in personal statements and interview situations. Instead of saying "I'm interested in marketing," you can say "During my work experience at ABC Company, I helped create social media content and saw firsthand how marketing campaigns develop from initial ideas to final execution."

Here's an example of a strong reflection: "My week at the local veterinary practice taught me that being a vet involves much more than just treating animals. I was surprised by how much time the vets spent talking to worried pet owners and explaining treatment options. This experience showed me that good communication skills are just as important as scientific knowledge in this career."

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you get paid for work experience?

No, work experience placements arranged through schools are unpaid. Some longer summer programmes or apprenticeship taster courses may offer payment or cover expenses. The real value comes from the skills, knowledge, and contacts you gain.

What if I don't enjoy my placement?

It's completely normal if work experience doesn't go exactly as expected. Even a negative experience teaches you something valuable about what you don't want to do. Stick with it, stay professional, and focus on what you can learn. You might be surprised how your feelings change as the week progresses.

Can I do more than one work experience placement?

Absolutely! Many students arrange additional placements during holidays or weekends. Having various experiences lets you explore different career paths. It also shows employers that you're taking charge of your future.

What happens if I miss a day of my placement?

If you're genuinely ill, contact your placement supervisor as early as possible to let them know. Most employers are understanding about illness. However, try your best not to miss days for non-essential reasons – reliability is crucial in the working world.

Can I do virtual work experience instead of in-person?

Many companies now offer virtual work experience programmes, especially since 2020. These can be just as valuable as in-person placements. They are especially useful if you want to explore companies that aren't local. Check websites of major employers in industries that interest you.

Final Thoughts

Feeling nervous about work experience is completely normal. Remember, it's designed to be a learning opportunity, not a test.

Everyone you meet was once in your position, starting and learning about the working world.

Give it your best effort, stay curious, and be open to surprises. You might discover talents you didn't know you had, or find passion for careers you'd never considered.

If you’re not sure what comes next after your GCSEs, have a look at our guide to your options after GCSEs for a clear breakdown of the different paths you can take.

References

Work experience - Pay and hours for young workers - Acas (opens in a new tab) 

How to get work experience | National Careers Service (opens in a new tab)