TAKE THE INIATIVE
IN a competitive jobs market gaining as much experience as possible is crucial to put you ahead of the competition. Work experience is also an invaluable insight into whether or not a particular job is right for you and is an excellent opportunity to make contacts.
WHEN TO APPLY:
Work experience placements in popular industries often book up months in advance. It’s particularly important to get in early ahead of your peers.
BRUSH UP ON YOUR CV:
If you’ve already worked before then you’re halfway there, and you just need to spruce up your CV a bit. If you’ve not worked before, you’ll need to make a CV out of what feels like nothing. But be creative with your experiences and as long as they aren’t totally irrelevant, and they can be used to prove you’ve gained or improved skills, then you can put them on your CV.
APPLY ONLINE:
Some companies will have an online application form. If this is the case, make sure you read the questions carefully as sometimes these are designed to make you slip up. Be honest about why you want to work there, and do your research on the firm and what they do.
…OR APPLY DIRECTLY ON YOUR OWN:
Employers love it when people show initiative. A great way of applying for work experience is to find out who organises work experience from their website, and ring them up to ask if they have any spaces left. If you call them rather than just sending off a cold-email, they’ll get a better idea of your personality (and phone manner) and they are more likely to remember you.