If you are eager to land a job but have little or no work experience in the field you want to work in, it is imperative you get adequate training to add to your CV. Most employers want to recruit employees with relevant training and work experience as it saves them the trouble of training people from scratch. Vocational education can offer both job-ready skills and work experience.
These are the top 10 ways work experience will help you:
1. Increase your chances of getting the job you want
Job seekers without work experience are less likely to be selected by future employers. Even if the job seeker gets to the interview stage, they may be unable to handle the job-related questions confidently due to inexperience.
2. You can sample your options
If you are unsure about exactly what you want from your career, work experience will help you sample various career options available within an industry. You can explore different jobs by doing work experience and see what roles suit you.
3. Discuss career options with experienced professionals
Work experience allows you to discuss any questions or concerns with people who have been in the industry for a long and know it inside out. Where else will you get into the thick of the action and get a clearer idea of your chosen industry?
4. Demonstrate your passion and interest
Doing work experience makes your passion and interest evident to a potential employer and reduces their risk of hiring you – as they know you understand the role. It shows you were motivated enough to get into your chosen field and discover first-hand what it is all about.
5. Get job motivation
Work experience may give you the right motivation to jump-start your career. Many people may undertake studies in a field but don’t understand the job until they are in the workplace. This is why many vocational education courses contain work placement as an element of the course.
6. Learn the do’s and don’ts
Even before formally joining an industry, work experience introduces you to the skills you may need to carve a niche for yourself. You get an idea of what you should do as a worker in the industry.
7. Understand your strengths and weaknesses
Work experience allows you to take stock of your strengths and weaknesses, empowering you to play to your strengths and work on your weaknesses. For instance, if you are gaining work experience as part of vocational training, it will enable you to return to class with insightful questions for your trainer based on what you have learned in the field. This process of self-discovery and improvement is a key benefit of work experience.
8. Get a job
Many students who undertake work experience as a vocational training component are hired by that same organisation and paid for working there. Doing work experience within an organisation you are interested in working in allows an employer to see you in action and what you have to offer their organisation.
9. Increase your network
Networking is often the key to unlocking job opportunities. Work experience enables you to develop professional relationships in your chosen field. Your colleagues may give you a heads-up about a job opportunity, helping you find a good role. The value of these connections cannot be overstated in today’s competitive job market.
10. Make your resume look great
The right work experience adds value to your resume, increasing your chances of being selected for a job. Employers want to know that people are job-ready, and the best way to show this is through successful on-the-job experience. Click here for more tips on how to get your resume looking great.
So, how do you get the work experience you need?
Vocational training
Vocational education, also known as career and technical education, is all about being job-ready and focuses on training people to tackle real job challenges, not just textbook learning. Many vocational courses have hands-on training within the college, and some courses also include a work experience component.
If you get your work experience through vocational training, it gives you the added advantage of having your skills nationally recognised. This means that the skills you acquire are acknowledged and accepted across the country, making it easier for you to find a job wherever you go.
Volunteering
Volunteering can help you gain hands-on job experience and is a great way to give back to the community. You need to find a volunteer opportunity that will enable you to get a feel for the job you are interested in and start to learn some of the required skills. Volunteering for even a few hours a week will allow you to pick some skills and start to build the connections you need to start your career. For example, volunteering at a local aged care facility will be a good first step if you want to make a career in aged care.
Support of industry experts
Finding an industry expert who has worked for many years within the industry you want to work in is a great way to understand the industry. An industry expert can provide a 360-degree perspective of working in the role.
Doing work experience will enable you to meet industry experts, and you may find a mentor who can advise you on the specific skills that will help you get a role and help you throughout your career. Drawing from their experience, industry experts and mentors can guide you about the path that would be the best fit for you. They can share their experiences and their deep industry knowledge.
Summing up
Having on-the-job experience can help you land the job you want, and combining this with vocational education is a winning formula. Employers want to know that you have both job experience and job-ready skills – which you will get from a vocational education course.
Contact a Career and course Advisor to find out more on 1300 046 744.