In the current economic climate many people are struggling to find graduate jobs. The more time that people are unemployed, the harder it is for them to find work, so any kind of experience is beneficial. Unpaid work experience is a useful starting point and some people have even paid companies to gain experience, which is innovative to say the least.
Work experience is a two way process. It gives you a chance to see whether you will enjoy doing the work full-time and from the company's perspective, they can see if you have the right skills and work ethic to succeed in the career. However, in recent times, getting internships has become more difficult, with much greater competition for places.
Recently, someone paid for work experience with a TV production company (£260 for four days) since she had not managed to get a job after graduating in 2010. In a way this shows the length that some people will go to secure a career. Although finding internships through personal contacts has come under some scrutiny in the press, it is worthwhile finding people through your family and friends who can offer some sort of work experience.
Also, the key is determination when applying for internships. Even if you have been unsuccessful for a few placements, keep trying and maybe apply to smaller companies. For some, this may not be where you want to be, but it can be a platform for future success. It can be better to work somewhere and gain industry knowledge and then you will be able to move to a larger company a few years down the line, if that is your aim.
Any gaps on your CV are not looked upon favourably by employers, so even doing unpaid work is valuable. It is all about building your overall skill set and showing employers that you will be able to work efficiently, multi-task and work well in a team. It takes time to gain these skills, so the only way to develop is to have exposure to a real work environment.
Overall, working for free is not the ideal situation for anyone, but you should think about what the work experience could lead to in the future and take any opportunities, keeping an open mind. The more experience you gain, the easier you will find it, when you manage to get the job that you have been searching for!
Arnab, GRB Journalist
