How to gain work experience

HOW TO GAIN WORK EXPERIENCE

This course aims at presenting different ways for you to get work experience

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Introduction

To start with, you must be aware that gaining work experience is crucial before embarking on the career path that will be right for you. Work experience is a major asset on a CV. Yet, as everyone knows, it is not always easy to get work experience. In this unit, we will discover three young people 's testimonies about the ways they got work experience. But before that, there are three basic but fundamental questions that YOU should ask yourself before choosing your own career. Click on the interactive button to read these 3 questions and think about how you would personally answer them.

Embracing the Future : Welcoming work experience placements at Accountancy Learning.

Meet Eleanor, an Administration apprentice at Accountancy Learning in Exeter ( England, UK)

01 - ELEANOR, THE TRAINEE ACCOUNTANT APPRENTICE

INTRODUCING MYSELF

Hi! My name is Eleanor. I am originally from Hertfordshire, but a few years ago I moved down to Exeter to further my learning. In December 2023 I joined the Accountancy Learning team as an Administration Apprentice, and I couldn’t have chosen a more welcoming place to start my career. My job includes helping out both the Operations Team and the Tutor Team, I am already learning a lot and am looking forward to continuing my training as part of the Accountancy Learning family. In my spare time outside of work I love to read fiction novels and science magazines. I also enjoy the company of my two sweet pet bunnies and my grumpy cat at home. My Motto: “Smile and be kind to people, always” Accountancy Learning Ltd Southernhay Lodge, Barnfield Crescent, Exeter, EX1 1QT B © 2024 Accountancy Learning Ltd. All rights reserved

Here are a few questions that we asked Eleanor.Read them but most of all, concentrate on her answers!

'On the first day I was slightly nervous and didn’t fully know what to expect as I hadn’t been in a proper working environment before. However, everyone on the team was so friendly and welcoming that my nerves quickly melted away as I was introduced into the world of accountancy!'

QUESTION 1: Hi, Eleanor! When you started your work placement in December last year, were you nervous coming into a business environment?

QUESTION 2: What new skills have you gained?

' I believe that I have learned many skills that will be useful to me in my future working life. For example, how to organise client files in the most efficient and cost-effective way, and how the archiving and recording processes work. I also learnt how to use the company software , which acts as central database for the company. Accounts are produced and filed from within it, as well as Tax Returns'.

QUESTION 3 : Have you found work experience valuable?

Extremely valuable, I knew I wanted to go into accountancy, and so this experience has acted as an introduction to the field for me. It’s provided me with knowledge that I wouldn’t be able to gain at school, as none of my A-level subjects covered accountancy, or the processes I have been introduced to. It has also made me certain that this field is a good suit for my skills and interests.'

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us, Eleanor, and good luck for your future career!

TO TEMP OR NOT TO TEMP? THAT IS THE QUESTION!

Meet Sarah who has been working as a temp(orary) employee for a while. Sarah is American and lives in Boston (Massachusetts, USA)

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SARAH'S TESTIMONY

Read about Sarah's testimony in the next pages

02- Sarah, the temp worker

TALKING ABOUT MYSELF

In my opinion, temping is a great way to get a feel for a particular industry you're thinking about entering. It is also a way to gain practical, on the job experience. To get my first temp job, I went to a temp agency in Boston. They found me a temporary job in the Disability Resource Center of a secondary school. This job proved to be rewarding for several reasons. First, my responsibilities were extremely varied; I worked as a note taker for a deaf student, taking notes while he read the teacher's lips. I also administered tests to learning disabled students who needed extra testing time or simply neeeded to be away from the distraction of a classroom while they took their exams. I loved interacting with the pupils who were all friendly and hardworking.

In addition to assisting disabled pupils, my other assignment at the school was running a non-stop switchboard and reception area. I was so busy all day that I can assure you that I never got bored during my first 3-month temp job. Every temp job I've had has been its own unique experience, exposing me to new responsibilites and all sorts of different people I wouldn't otherwise meet. The big advantage with temping is that if you don't like the place or the people, you know it's only temporary. On the other hand, you can feel very sad when you have to leave a job and co-workers that you liked very much.

3- THE BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERING

The benefits of volunteering are many :

• Learning new skills and gaining valuable work experience
• Making new friends
• Better physical and mental health and wellbeing
• Giving something back
• Improving your confidence and self-esteem
• Giving a sense of connection to others
• Showing your commitment

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03 - Bhavik's journey as a volunteer

Bhavik's volunteering story

Click on the interactive button and follow the link to listen to Bhavik talking about his experience as a RLSS volunteer in Windsor (England). The RLSS is the Royal Life Saving Society in the UK. Listen carefully as you will have a few questions to answer afterwards.

Assessment

In this section, you will have the opportunity to test some of the new vocabulary you came across in this unit and check that you have understood the key-ideas. You may want to redo the test more than once since there are only 4 questions. Make sure you understand everything well !

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Course completed!

Course completed!