Work Experience, Placements, Internships What's The Difference

The term ‘work experience’ is a general term referring to any time spent experiencing what a place of work is like. The terms ‘placement’ and ‘internship’ refer to a more considered period of pre-career full-time work experience. The experience is usually obtained at a company a person has an interest in working for, and is held during or just after an undergraduate or postgraduate degree course. There are subtle differences between these terms, and they are often misused by employers. Therefore, it’s important to fully understand what type of work experience you should seek to support your career aspirations. Experience in the workplace prior to a first job has become increasingly important to employers; many consider that no amount of study can adequately prepare an individual for the world of work. Therefore, those who have real hands-on experience in the workplace often have an edge on those that haven’t.