A strong academic background and CV no longer guarantee you a job
in today’s competitive market. You also need important key skills that can only be gained from work experience. Finding work experience is crucial if you want to present yourself as an attractive prospect to possible future employers.

What does work experience help you do?

• Develop valuable transferable skills such as administration, communication and organisation, which is are useful to many employers.
• Make important decisions about the kind of career you are considering for the future.
• Gain specialist knowledge in certain areas.
• Earn money.
• Boost your CV and gain reliable references.

How do you get a work placement with a local council?

• Consider which areas of work are of most interest to you and find out more about them - you can use the career descriptions to give you an insight into many roles within local government.
• Write to the council describing your skills and what you are interested in doing and asking whether they have work experience opportunities available.
• Find out from the council’s HR department whether they run any work placement/shadowing schemes and how you can apply.
• Check the temporary and part-time work currently being advertised to see if there is anything suitable.