Work experience 'a vital asset' for graduate job applicants

Having work experience is extremely important for candidates hoping to land jobs in the near future, according to one expert who has noted that a great academic career is no longer enough for some employers.

Mike Barnard, product manager at Milkround, noted that the jobs market is currently very competitive, and has been particularly so for the last three or four years as there is great demand for graduate jobs.

As a result, it is vital that candidates do all they can to enhance their chances of catching the eye of recruiters and gaining employment - with work experience being top of the list of attributes.

"The graduates that really stand out are the ones who've got work experience or have done an internship or placement while they've been studying. Employers want to see evidence of students thinking about their careers before they graduate," Mr Barnard explained.

He added that people who do graduate with no work experience are on the "back foot", as it can seem as though they are trying to jump straight into a job rather than building up a strong profile.

Recently, Jo Barnard, director of Quest Professional, said that it is surprising how many people omit work experience information from their CV, even though employers are always keen to see examples of this.

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Posted by Nikki Barrister

Filed: 12-01-2012