Many young people have it engraved on their brains that the only way to gain work experience is through internship, sorry to burst your bubble.
In 2017, when I first published this article, I was hardly a graduate. However, I was working a number of jobs with some prominent companies at that time (many have fizzled with time). However, I believe that even with the changing times, these tips could still be of help.
Here are some other ways to gain work experience.
Volunteering
Many young people see volunteering as a punishment but trust me it’s not. There are many non-profit organizations that have volunteer positions where you can gain work experience. Whether you have a degree or not, there are ways that organizations can put your skills to good use anytime for the greater good of society. Volunteering is one of the fun and best ways of gaining work experience.
Get a part-time job
Gaining work experience while in college is perhaps the most easy thing to do. Working a part-time job in the community could be tiring but also rewarding. Find a part time job that doubles as something you would love or something in your line of work and work around it.
Join a student organization
These are very much despised but one thing for sure is that every college and university has a multitude of student organizations. Your aim should be to find one or more that interest you or are in line with what you are studying. You can often gain experience performing organizational projects. “Even better, student organizations are a great place to test and hone your managing and leading skills — so, don’t just join an organization, but strive to be part of its management team.”
Freelance
Everyone has something they are really good at, therefore, if you have a gift and/or have mastered a skill, you can supplement your income and gain valuable experience by freelancing your services to organizations and companies that need them. Free lancing is even a better way to gain job experience as it enables you to also become better at what you do, remember the old adage, ‘practice makes perfect.’
Network
Making friends is by far the most enriching form of gaining work experience. Networking is a great way to make professional connections that could lead to a first job. Join student and professional organizations based on your career objectives. Most organizations and companies sponsor networking events, conferences, and workshops. Each interaction you have with people in your career field could foster a new relationship, or contact that can get you an interview for a job you really want.
Offer Free Support
I perfectly know that for most people, securing the bag is the goal. However, offering free support with the end goal of selling your self and your skills will not totally end in vain, so try it.
Take Free Courses
The saying that ‘learning never ends’ is as true as the fact that the ‘Sun rises in the East’. There are a number of sites offering a multitude of soft courses that can help you boost your CV. My best site for short free courses is Acumen Academy, you should check it out.
That said, what are you waiting for to gain that work experience that will make you stand out from your peers?