Your university results are important to your career. But there’s something you can do right now that’s just as important. Get a job.

Employers expect more than academic ability from young graduates. They want real-life business skills that make you more productive and profitable. You can learn these skills at university. But they can only be tested and refined in the real world.

A business brain

You learn the theory at university. But you apply that combination of skills, information and instinct at work. Combine a business brain with the ability to communicate effectively with staff, management and customers and you’re on the way to success.

Work experience in retail or customer service is invaluable. It doesn’t matter whether you’re answering phones or selling shoes – you’re learning what works and what doesn’t, learning to negotiate and to sell.

Managing yourself

Work experience teaches you self discipline. You have to be punctual and polite, manage your time, take initiative, act honestly, pay attention to detail, do the boring jobs as well as the easy ones. All these disciplines are prized by employers.

Work experience tips

• Get a start – any start
  Try to find work in the business you want to work in. But if you’re having trouble finding work experience in your chosen field, take a step back. Work outside the area that interests you, take a pay cut, work for free, help out at a charity.
  
  
• Attitude matters
  It’s not what you do, but what you learn that matters. If you’re a checkout operator you don’t just scan prices and load groceries. You’re serving customers and managing cash – crucial to any business. Whatever work experience job you get – no matter how menial, don’t just do the job, learn the industry. It will come in handy. Employers are crying out for good workers – but can’t afford to pay bad ones. Prove yourself by learning valuable business skills and you’ll be surprised how happy they are to pay you and teach you, or pass your name on to a contact in another industry.
  
  
• Look around
  Tell your family and friends, your lecturers, sports coaches and career counsellor you’re looking for work. Check out Job Search for information on jobs and work experience vacancies. Don’t forget the Chartered Accountants Work Experience Program for first years and Chartered Accountants Vacation paid work for penultimate year students.
  
  
• Get involved
  Join clubs, sports teams, theatre groups and bands. The more people you know and the more experiences you have the better. It will all contribute to your resume and your graduate job.