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Work Experience FAQs

Here are some common questions we get asked from students enquiring about work experience:

Q.When is the best time of year to look for work experience vacancies?
A. It depends what type of work experience you are looking for. Part-time jobs and voluntary work are generally available all year round. Summer positions start being advertised as early as November - a lot of the internship positions will have closing dates in February - so apply early. However there will be other summer work opportunities available around Easter and sometimes later. Year long placements are advertised throughout the Autumn term and many applications close before Easter, but some companies may still have positions nearer summer.

Q. How much will I be paid?
A. It depends what type of work experience you are looking for. As a general guide, part-time jobs usually pay around £5-£6 per hour or more if the company are seeking specific skills (such as IT skills). Many placements and projects are unpaid work, although year-long placements often include a salary.

Q. How much work experience should I do?
A. Companies are interested in the skills you've gained through work experience, not how much of it you have. Experience of different working environments will be useful, as will experience related to the profession you want to enter. Bear in mind that the majority of students graduating have had some form of work experience at some point during their lives, so if you do not have any work experience you will be at a severe disadvantage in the labour market.

Q. How many hours can I work each week?
A. It is important that work experience does not affect your academic study. Your careers service is likely to advise you to work for no more than 15 hours a week during term-time. The weekend usually provides a good time to undertake work experience that does not affect your coursework.

Q. How do I apply for work experience vacancies?
A. It depends on the type of opportunity. Many casual, part-time jobs just ask for you to phone them, however company placement schemes often have application procedures similar to those of their graduate recruitment schemes (application forms, interviews/selection centres). All vacancies/schemes should give you information about how to apply - make sure you do as they ask.

Q. What type of work experience should I look for?
A. Whilst work experience that is related to your course or future career is most useful in terms of enhancing your CV, these opportunities may be difficult to find. It is worth considering all options. The real value of work experience is what you learn from it and you can learn many relevant skills from part-time, casual work.

Q. Can I apply for industrial placements and internships if I am a final year student?
A. Unfortunately most placements and internships are only open to pre-final year students. The large companies may consider you for their graduate training schemes and smaller companies may be more flexible about who they take on. Alternatively, part-time work and voluntary work are usually open to students in any year.

Q. How does the minimum wage work?
A. The national minimum wage came into force in 1st April 1999, and set a statutory minimum level of pay for most workers. The Act was followed with a number of amendments and increases.

£5.80 per hour for workers aged 22 years and older
A development rate of £4.83 per hour for workers aged 18-21 inclusive
£3.57 per hour for all workers under the age of 18, who are no longer of compulsory school age.

The Act does not cover voluntary work for a registered charity, and does not apply in all circumstances. However, unless undertaking work experience specifically as part of their course, students should be paid the minimum wage. Should you wish to find out further information about the minimum wage, visit: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/nmw/

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