The Top Skills you’ll get during Work Experience

The top skills you’ll get during work experience

No matter which route you decide to take, these are the top eight skills that students across the board said they picked up.

Communication

You’ll get comfortable speaking in meetings, writing emails and presenting ideas. The more you do it, the better you’ll become.

Teamwork

You'll work alongside people from different backgrounds, learning how to collaborate, share ideas and work towards common goals.

Time management

You’ll balance real tasks and deadlines, learn how to prioritise your workload and manage your time without help.

Organisation

You’ll learn how to sort out your workload, keep track of your tasks and find ways to stay on top of everything.

Problem solving

You’ll face real challenges, learn how to break them down and find solutions.

Presentation skills

Whether it’s pitching an idea, presenting to a room or sharing updates with the company, you’ll build skills that’ll help you get the point across clearly.

Networking

You’ll meet industry experts, colleagues and other students who could help shape your career.

Relationship management

You'll build working relationships with people at all levels and learn how to change the way you communicate depending on who you're speaking to.

How some skills change

The skills above will show up in every type of work experience, but how you develop them might look different on the path you take.

During an insight day, you might practice your communication skills by introducing yourself and asking questions in a fast-paced setting. As an apprentice, you’ll join meetings and write professional emails. If you’re on a placement or internship, you’ll refine those skills. And on a graduate scheme or degree apprenticeship, you could be leading discussions, managing important clients and presenting to senior leaders.

The same goes for other skills too. The longer your work experience, the more your skills develop.

No matter which route you choose, every type of work experience gives you a real head start.

How to show these skills in your job applications

When you’re writing your applications, be specific. Instead of listing the skills you’ve picked up, think about a time you actually used them.

For example, if you want to list communication skills on your CV, mention that you’ve worked in a team reporting to senior members of staff. 

Always match your skills to the job description (and tailor them for each job you apply for). Keep it real.