Work Experience

johncmcloy

How can I get some work experience? I'm studying (BA) Accounting and Financial Management with Business at the University of Sheffield. I'm expected to get at least a 2:1. All I want is just a week or two weeks working somewhere to get some office experience but it just seems impossible. I've telephoned, wrote to loads of companies but to no avail. Half of them don't even write back or they say they will ring me and never do. If I ring them again they just so oh no sorry. I can get any sort of manual job really easily but thats not what I want. I've even told them that I dont want paying and that doesnt help!
I even know people who work in some places and they just cant get me anything!
I'm willing to do something within a 20 mile radius of Sheffield. Any suggestions or tips for getting something from anyone.

tinkerbel

My boyfriend is in his 2nd year of a similar degree and he is desperate for a placement too!!! I'm surprised that they are willing to turn down free labour!

ali1972

Contact a local charity and ask if you can get some unpaid work experience in their office. I did this in between school and university (ok, it was nearly 20 years ago but it should still work in principle!). I learnt all the basic office skills and they got a free office junior. Back then, computer skills weren't widespread and it was great to learn them.

vickylee

You could try registering with a temping agency. The advantages of agencies are that you get paid an hourly rate, you can choose what days/hours and you can get a wide range of experience from different types of companies!

Debt_Free_Dreamer

I'd contact your local council. We are always having work experience people in my office from schools and uni's. I work in the Accountancy Section and the students tend to come for a week and spend a day or half a day with all the different people learning about what they all do.

The 'real' accountants, auditors, systems people (me) as well as the people on the coal face putting in the invoices etc., They usually get a good experience and they are moved around quite a bit.

missbungle

Hi there, I graduated in with a degree in Media Production in 2005 and have been having a similar problem with trying to gain work experience. I too have contacted many production companies in the north east and not many have replied or offered work experience. I've managed to get two days work experience at a company in Newcastle but that's through my friend's dad which I am very grateful for. It just goes to show it is 'who you know' and not 'what you know'. I've applied for jobs but told I do not have enough experience in the industry. How can I gain industry experience if no one will give me a break? Also, I wished my university had pushed the idea of work experience in the summer months. I'm in the position now where I need to earn money to live and can't really do much unpaid work experience. It's a catch 22! So if anyone out there can help me, please send me a message. I'm living in Sunderland at the moment.

o_c99

It's a tough problem which I had myself. How do you get work experience when nobody will give it to you and how do you get a job if you don't have the relevant work experience? The truth is it's difficult but you must never give up trying.

It's difficult to give specific advice, but good ways of trying are:
- writing to specific firms about work experience opportunities.
- E-mailing/ringing larger companies (eventhough it hasn't completely worked here it's still worth a try).
- Use graduate websites.
- Agencies even.

Here are a few undergraduate/graduate websites which I used not so long ago in my student days. If you are looking for a summer placement or internship (normally for penultimate year students only) these are useful.
www.doctorjob.com (now targetjobs.co.uk)
www.hobsons.co.uk
www.insidecareers.co.uk
www.milkround.com (Excellent for list of companies)

There are many many more!

Careers Service:

Always check your careers service at University, you'll be surprised at how useful they are. Speak to your advisor. Attend any relevant careers fairs and speak to representatives. It all helps!!

Part of a uni society?

Believe it or not many employers are interested in what you have done at University and I don't mean studying or partying!! They are interested in the contribution you have made to your University. Anything is good, from being a treasurer for your society to taking part in open evenings. Almost all employers ask about this from big ones to small ones!

When looking for a graduate job:

My other advice is when you start looking for a graduate job, ideally look in the August/September before you graduate. Why? Most firms put grad jobs up from then until December in many cases. It gives you time to read up on the firm and complete their application forms (they can be long!). This is the most critical period for most firms as applications to job offers can take months!

I think I've gone on a bit but I hope the stuff above helps!

Best of Luck Anyway!!

cazi

The court service have work experience people all the time, contact your local court manager and they will point you in the right direction, all courts are crying out for people to work there.

missbungle

Thank you Omar.

o_c99

If anybody is considering a career in the world of finance this site is also useful:

www.insidecareers.co.uk

More specifically related to accounting, if you are interested in applying to local firms as well as large ones, you can get a listing of vacancies and deadlines at the respective sites. Remember small firms will provide just as much useful experience as large ones. They may pay less but the experience is important at such an early stage in your career.

www.icaew.co.uk (ACA)
www.cimaglobal.com (CIMA)
www.accaglobal.com (ACCA)

I hope the above helps.

nikzGfx

omar.chalabi99 wrote: »

It's a tough problem which I had myself. How do you get work experience when nobody will give it to you and how do you get a job if you don't have the relevant work experience? The truth is it's difficult but you must never give up trying.

It's difficult to give specific advice, but good ways of trying are:
- writing to specific firms about work experience opportunities.
- E-mailing/ringing larger companies (eventhough it hasn't completely worked here it's still worth a try).
- Use graduate websites.
- Agencies even.

Here are a few undergraduate/graduate websites which I used not so long ago in my student days. If you are looking for a summer placement or internship (normally for penultimate year students only) these are useful.
www.doctorjob.com (now targetjobs.co.uk)
www.hobsons.co.uk
www.insidecareers.co.uk
www.milkround.com (Excellent for list of companies)

There are many many more!

Careers Service:

Always check your careers service at University, you'll be surprised at how useful they are. Speak to your advisor. Attend any relevant careers fairs and speak to representatives. It all helps!!

Part of a uni society?

Believe it or not many employers are interested in what you have done at University and I don't mean studying or partying!! They are interested in the contribution you have made to your University. Anything is good, from being a treasurer for your society to taking part in open evenings. Almost all employers ask about this from big ones to small ones!

When looking for a graduate job:

My other advice is when you start looking for a graduate job, ideally look in the August/September before you graduate. Why? Most firms put grad jobs up from then until December in many cases. It gives you time to read up on the firm and complete their application forms (they can be long!). This is the most critical period for most firms as applications to job offers can take months!

I think I've gone on a bit but I hope the stuff above helps!

Best of Luck Anyway!!

I worked for Milkround last year, the tactics we used to sign up students was illegal! As we where going to Uni's around the UK when we didn't have permission, and lets say there are hundreds of names on the database which are made up lol! However, they do push hard in Sales to find companies and it has helped a good few to get jobs. This was my 1st job after leaving Uni, gained admin experience aswell marketing working in events and promotions!

Now I'm temping about with agencies, currently at a Law firm been there nearly 8 weeks now, adding to experience. As a graduate I am finding it hard to get a permanent job in the area's I want to go in and just takes the !!!!!!! Same old not enough experience etc etc... How are any of us going to get any experience if they won't give us an opportunity...