The benefits of work experience

The benefits of work experience

Work experience placements bring benefits to candidates and employers alike, says Just Recruitment’s founder Jenny Wrightson.

For most of my generation, work experience was gained almost by default: we worked our way up from the bottom in our chosen industry, learning on the ropes and hoping our big opportunity would be just around the corner.

Employers have the pick of the crop, and hands-on experience counts for a great deal.  

With the proliferation of graduates in the 21st century labour market, expectations have changed. Many Millennials expect to land a dream job, with a decent salary and perfect working conditions. They’ve lost a sense that they need to prove themselves professionally before enjoying the fruits of success.

But as the employment rate continues to improve, competition for jobs will get ever harder. It is more important than ever for candidates to show their credentials and impress at interview. Employers have the pick of the crop, and hands-on experience counts for a great deal.

For candidates

Work experience has never been more useful for people at the start of their career, or those looking for a change in direction. It needn’t involve working as an unpaid tea boy – although some very successful careers, including that of DJ Chris Evans, started on that basis. There are plenty of internships available nowadays with high-profile employers: programmes for which you will not only get paid, but also receive valuable training that enhances employability.

The benefits of work experienceApply for a job with this sort of experience on your CV, and you’ll instantly have an advantage over the competition. A willingness to take on work experience shows not only that you’re serious about your chosen career path. It also demonstrates that you see the value in gaining relevant experience, that you’ve tested your enthusiasm for a given role, and have a sense of how the professional world operates.

If you’re lucky, work experience can yield an offer of ongoing employment. At the very least, if you make a good impression on your host they’ll recommend you to other employers and maybe even give you a reference. At best, your talent will be identified, and you’ll land the job of your dreams.

For employers

From an employer’s perspective, work experience placements can also be beneficial – something that is often overlooked. In a competitive jobs market, it can be hard to spot the talent you need, still less attract it via conventional selection procedures. By taking on work experience students, you’ll have a way of expanding your talent pool, identifying potential, and building for your future.

Just Recruitment Group Ltd is always pleased to welcome people on work experience placements, whether they’re candidates at the start of their working lives or those who want a change in career. For us, it’s a way of giving something back, but also increasing our network of employable candidates.

Advice for employers and candidates

To make a placement worthwhile, it’s imperative to offer meaningful experiences that give a flavour of the role under consideration. Here are five tips to help candidates and employers make the most out of work experience placements:

1) Establish clear expectations: meet prior to the start of the placement if possible, or right at the outset if not, and identify what the candidate hopes to achieve from it, and what the host expects. That way, you’ll have a clear sense of priorities for the period ahead.

2) Develop a programme: it can be tempting to let candidates turn up and see what happens. But if employers want the time to be worthwhile, giving candidates a genuine chance to develop their skills, it pays to design a programme. You don’t need to stick to it slavishly. But it is a way of minimising wasted time.

3) Appoint a mentor: this can be the same person for every work experience candidate, or a member of staff whose knowledge and experience is especially relevant to the candidate. Either way, this person should reflect with the candidate on a regular basis throughout their placement, finding out what they’re enjoying, how they’re growing, and what more they’d like to do. They can also provide ongoing support as the candidate develops their professional profile after the placement.

4) Don’t forget the fun stuff: every job has its good bits and bad bits. Work experience candidates should have a chance to see the world of work in all its diversity, warts and all. But don’t forget the good stuff. Few things are less inspiring than a week spent in front of the photocopier, or being asked to sit in endless dull meetings. Try to give candidates a chance to do something. It’ll be better for everyone.  

5) Ask for, and give feedback: just as employers have an exit interview with a manager when they leave, so you should sit down together at the end of a work experience placement. It’s a chance to refine the programme for future candidates, and to reflect on performance. And if you really like each other, be sure to nurture the relationship after the placement is over – you never know where it might lead.

 

Just Recruitment has over 40 years of experience placing people in the right roles for them. If you would like a chat with one of our consultants, follow the link below:
Register your interest with Just Recruitment

 

Published: 3 October 2023
© Copyright Just Recruitment Group Ltd 2023

Jobs currently available

New job
Sales Applications Engineer
Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing
Salary: Discussed on application
Location: Tiverton, Devon
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913597
About the role

Just Recruitment seeks a Sales Applications Engineer for a company based in Tiverton, Devon.

This role is an opportunity to develop your career within a technical engineering environment.

You will be focusing on the promotion and sales of the company’s products to prospective, new and existing customers.

Scope:

  • Providing a Technical Sales Service to the Customers
  • Dealing first-hand with customer enquiries, by telephone and digital meetings where required
  • Solving Design Problems and providing new design solutions
  • Checking and validating applications, preparing costings and quotations
  • Preparation of drawings
  • Assisting the manufacturing team with design builds

Qualifications/Experience required:

  • You will have served a recognised Engineering Apprenticeship ideally to include HNC.
  • Good telephone manner along with written communication skills
  • Confidence with using video conferencing/digital meetings
  • Organised with an understanding of time management
  • An aptitude for the workings of machine mechanisms would be useful
  • Good Maths and English skills
  • Working knowledge of 3D design tools such as SolidWorks or AutoCAD

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
New job
Electrical Maintenance Engineer
Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing
Salary: Competitive
Location: Sudbury
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913595
About the role

Just Recruitment is working with a well-established and long-standing business within the Sudbury area, seeking an Electrical Maintenance Engineer, to join their long-serving team.

The key purpose of this role is to provide a knowledgeable, safe, cost-effective, efficient multi-skilled maintenance service, with an electrical bias, to the Sudbury site that adheres to all engineering and electrical standards and procedures for compliance with statutory and business requirements.

Key duties include:

  • Maintaining all buildings, equipment, and services in a safe and cost-effective manner, through effective maintenance programmes ensuring traceable and auditable records are maintained.
  • Ensuring the changes to equipment and infrastructure are adequately managed via the appropriate site procedures.
  • Ensuring that all engineering/maintenance work carried out on-site complies with relevant regulations, ensuring all inspection and testing regimes are completed as required.
  • Identifying orders or supporting the business in ordering the parts or services required to satisfy the day-to-day maintenance and engineering requirements of the business and to catalogue and control stocks of necessary spares.
  • Undertaking and supporting the coordination and implementation of any capital projects or site improvement works required, including installation and commissioning of new equipment.
  • Working with the Production Manager to ensure that a flexible schedule is in place to provide appropriate cover for maintenance and engineering works outside of standard working hours including call-outs where required.
  • Working with Site Management, Production and Technical teams in looking at improving plant efficiency and minimising processing times, ensuring data is recorded to enable analysis to take place.
  • Completing and maintaining all records in a timely manner ensuring they are available and auditable as required.
  • Completing process confirmations and risk assessments as required.
  • Proactively participate in resolving process, equipment, or quality and EHS problems as quickly as possible and assist in the maintenance of production continuity in a planned and safe manner.
  • Ensuring all engineering contractors meet the agreed standards and competencies required to carry out maintenance and engineering tasks on-site.
  • Supervising and coordinating maintenance or engineering work that is required to be contracted out ensuring appropriate permits are completed and procedures followed.

To be considered for this role, you will need the following qualifications and skills:

  • Recognised apprenticeship to ONC/Level 3 NVQ in Electrical Engineering.
  • LV electrically competent with strong electrical knowledge/fault-finding skills.
  • 5 years’ experience in electrical engineering.
  • 5 years experience working in manufacturing environments.
  • Experience in repairing and maintaining motors, instruments, control panels and filling lines etc.
  • Experience and understanding of PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers), including designing, implementing, testing, documenting, and fault finding.
  • Ability to read, interpret and understand technical documents and drawings.
  • Good understanding of risk assessment and method statements.
  • Sound analysis and decision-making skills.
  • An open-minded, flexible attitude to meet the requirements of the business.
  • Ability to communicate effectively at all levels.
  • Proactive and have a willingness to develop people whilst increasing their skills and ability on the plant.
  • Able to deal with people from other teams within the organisation and with people from external organisations.
  • Self-Management e.g., time management and personal development.

The working hours for this role are:
Monday 8.00am to 4.30pm, Tuesday to Thursday 7.45am to 4.30pm and Friday 7.45am to 2.30pm.

Holidays: 26 days plus B/H .

There is free parking available on-site and other company benefits.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Warehouse Team Leader
Sector: Transport, Logistics and Shipping
Salary: Competitive
Location: Halstead
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913534
About the role

Just Recruitment seeks a Warehouse Team Leader to join a well-regarded growing business in the Halstead area.

Key duties for this role include but are not limited to:

  • Supervising a small team of employees and directing work as they undertake activities related to returns, re-works, order fulfilment and order management
  • Ensuring orders are fulfilled in a timely and effective manner, and that the company’s compliance is adhered to
  • Ensuring employees adhere to Health & Safety regulations and relevant laws
  • Monitoring employee performance to ensure they are meeting company standards
  • Monitoring warehouse housekeeping, ensuring a clean and safe work area is maintained
  • Picking accurately from locations and notifying the fulfilment manager of any shortages
  • Packing customer orders

To be considered for this role, you must be able to demonstrate the following skills and experience:

  • Previous warehouse experience or proven experience with a leadership position in a similar role
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Proven leadership and employee management skills
  • Knowledge of warehouse management systems (WMS)

The working hours for this role are:
Monday 8.00am to 5.30pm and Tuesday to Friday 8.30am to 5.00pm.

Free parking is available on-site and due to the company’s location you must have access to your own transport.

The company offer an excellent working environment and further progression and development are available.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Customer Account Administrator
Sector: Public Service and Administration
Salary: Competitive
Location: Colchester
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913593
About the role

Just Recruitment is delighted to be supporting a growing organisation based on the outskirts of Colchester, they actively seeking an experienced and motivated Customer Account Administrator to join their dynamic team.

Main responsibilities include:

  • Assisting with the onboarding of new clients, working closely with the Management team
  • Assisting the Senior Customer Account Manager with client account health on the internal systems
  • Supporting the Management team with customer service issues, aiming for successful resolution through liaison with all department Managers and clients
  • Supporting the Management team to manage client expectations of the company’s capabilities, including actual and potential service achievement
  • Supporting the Managers to build and maintain client relationship
  • Answering and directing telephone calls
  • Answering emails
  • Meeting and greeting site visitors

Person specification:

  • Previous experience working in an office or customer-service-based role is a must
  • Excellent customer service
  • Excellent verbal and written communication
  • Excellent organisational skills
  • Ability to use Microsoft Word and Outlook

Free parking is available on-site.

Working hours for this role are from Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm.

Please note that this role is office-based.

Due to the company's location, you will need to have access to your own transport.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Operational Trainer
Sector: Production and Stock Control
Salary: Competitive
Location: Halstead
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913592
About the role

Just Recruitment is working with a growing manufacturing business, based on the outskirts of Halstead, looking to add an Operational Trainer to their progressive team.

The key purpose of this role is to support and coordinate the training delivery for industrial and manufacturing operations within the business. Working closely with the wider L&D team, and working with the senior production management team and all manufacturing staff.

For this role, you will be responsible for implementing and coordinating training developments and managing training records and training materials — ensuring all new and existing staff are working to all business procedures and guidelines.

Supporting the onboarding process, organising and managing the administration aspects of all inductions and signing of competency levels — updating the senior team on learning requirements and gaps within the business.

You will also assist in creating training documentation and assisting with all auditable processes.

To be considered for this role, you will have experience in using all Microsoft Office applications, especially Excel.

You will have a solid background in training and have substantial experience in advancing training initiatives in manufacturing settings.

The ability to deliver and critically evaluate training effectiveness is crucial.

You will need to be a stellar communicator, capable of forging trust-based relationships and adept at both receiving and conveying information effectively. You will be analytical, tech-savvy, and proficient in utilising digital tools to enhance training outcomes. Proficiency in English, both written and spoken, is mandatory, complemented by strong active listening skills.

You will be a proactive and dynamic professional, committed to developing and empowering the team, ensuring they possess the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in their roles.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a fantastic business, offering further advancement.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more