Work experience allows you to see why the subjects you are studying are important and it can encourage you to put more effort into getting the trades and qualifications you need. It can also be a welcome and refreshing break from school or college, and it gives you a chance to test your ideas about particular jobs before you have to make a full commitment. Work experience teaches much more about a job than any text book can and, if you are sure that this is the career for you, it can put you in touch with people in the business who may be able to offer you permanent work when you qualify. Some young people on work experience manage to create such a good impression that they are offered a job on the spot. Sandwich courses offered by some colleges of further education and higher education institutions are particularly good in this respect. By alternating study with regular work placement, you can make practical use of the theoretical knowledge you gain in the classroom while widening your range of contacts and broadening your workplace experience.
Working abroad
If you have a professional qualification it can be easy to find work overseas. There are magazines and journals for nurses, teachers, engineers and technicians in which overseas jobs are frequently advertised.
Even without such a qualification it may be possible to secure work abroad before leaving this country by approaching holiday companies and camping firms, au pair agencies, or any of a large number of organizations which specialize in recruiting volunteers willing to work abroad for pocket money or expenses.
Finding work abroad is probably easier than you think. No matter whether you are looking for a job in London, Paris, New York or Tokyo, the same general principles apply. Energy, commitment and careful planning are the keys to success. Within the European Union all citizens have equal employment status. There are no work permits and you can move freely across frontiers in your search for employment. But elsewhere there may be a number of hoops to jump through before you leave this country. Consulates and embassies should be able to help you here.
If you have some language skill try to think of areas of employment where your ability to speak English could be of use - international car- hire firms, duty-free shops in ports and airports, or companies with strong British or US connections.
When thinking of working abroad, begin your planning and preparation as early as possible. Think about the country you are hoping to settle in and make a list of the things you need to consider:
- Will you need a visa?
- Will you need a work permit or permission to stay there?
- What about injections and inoculations?
- What realistic job opportunities are there for you?
- Is it an expensive country to live in?
- Will you be welcome there?
- Is it politically stable?
- How long do you intend to spend there?
Finally, set about your careful preparation. Take on extra work or increase your overtime to get some money behind you, take language classes, try to develop a useful skill and do your research thoroughly. Many language schools, for example, recruit staff each September. You could be unemployed for several months if you arrive looking for this kind of work in June. Often, you need to get a fixed address in a country before you can get a job. Employers cannot contact you if you are moving from hotel to hotel. Before you leave try to set up appointments with possible employers and have your curriculum vitae and a standard speculative enquiry letter printed in the local language. Then establish a game plan. In many respects, once you arrive, getting a job in a foreign country is just like getting one at home. Establish a routine, use the directories, and visit every place where there is a possibility of employment. The first job you get may not be very good but it's a foot in the door. It will provide you with a base and give you time to develop your skills in the language. Working abroad is an adventure; no one said it would be easy.
