For some careers, practical work experience (often upaid) is required or advised. This can be with all kinds of employer.

Exploring the links to different types of vacancies and opportunities on this site will provide you with many possibilities. Another useful starting point is the National Council for Work Experience which includes a wide range of resources such as the National Work Experience Bank of opportunities, a student guide to work experience and links to sources of information about work experience of all kinds - from industrial placements to volunteering abroad.

Work experience can be a formal, structured placement, internship or sandwich year in industry, but you gain experience from any kind of work including part-time bar work through our Jobshop, doing voluntary work for a charity or a one-day work taster.

Remember that graduate employers who offer career-oriented vacation placements or courses generally regard these as part of their main recruitment process – it gives them the chance to identify potential future recruits, and it may give you an advantage if you apply for a job with the organisation later.

One group, of particular interest to some students, is colloquially called ‘Charities’ and covers organisations that are formally registered as well as ‘voluntary’ groups. These employers address all kinds of issues, but are mostly in the social, welfare, community and special interest sectors. Our pages on Voluntary/community sector opportunities and volunteering in Wales have links to individual charities and large information gateways offering information about opportunities in the UK, Wales and the Swansea area and overseas.

Prospects Work Experience Community contains features on everything from 'how to get work experience' to 'how to make it look good on your CV', as well as case studies from a diverse range of students and organisations.  It also includes profiles of employers with work experience opportunities.

Getting the most from your student job a working document which you can download and which allows a you to learn about work and yourself from even the most menial of tasks.