How to Get Work Experience in London

Try shadowing 

Shadowing is a type of work placement that lets you observe someone carrying out their role. This way, you can understand what’s really involved in a job and get a chance to see an experienced professional perform it. Shadowing tends to take place from a period of one day to a week.

When you’re considering a particular career path, it can offer valuable insights. With some companies you might also be given the chance to shadow people in different roles, which gives you a wider view of a profession or industry.

Secure a one-to-two-week placement

Work experience placements are an opportunity to gain short-term experience in a particular field. Usually, you will work full-time performing entry-level tasks. This will give you an initial feel for a job or industry so that you can assess if it’s right for you. 

As well as learning about the role you’re interested in, work placements are also a way to get yourself noticed and establish contacts. They can also boost your CV and even lead to paid job opportunities.

Apply for an internship

An internship is a more formal arrangement with an organisation and ideally, combines job tasks with structured career development. Usually, it will involve an application and interview process (take a look at our tips for answering interview questions). 

Generally, internships can last anything from a week to a year. Although you will often perform entry-level work, a good internship should include training opportunities too. With some, you might work across a variety of departments to gain a greater breadth of experience.

Bear in mind that internships can be paid or unpaid, while others might pay you a nominal amount that is not a full salary. That said, UK employers usually have a legal obligation to pay you at least the National Minimum Wage for an internship. However, there can be exceptions to this, including with shorter-term roles.

Volunteer

Volunteering is a useful way to gain experience in your chosen career or sector. It’s also a chance to network and build a reputation as a trusted, reliable and enthusiastic person. In fields that can be tricky to break into — such as the arts or media — volunteering is often a good entry pathway.

When you’re looking for volunteering opportunities, you can be industry-specific, role-specific, or both. For instance, if you want to work in healthcare then you could look for volunteering opportunities at a local hospital. Or if you want to work in marketing then you could offer communications support to a small charity. 

By being strategic with your volunteering, you can learn new skills, become more confident and pave the way for paid positions. 

Get a part-time job

Sometimes, securing your dream full-time role in London can be a challenge, especially in a competitive field. The good news is that finding part-time jobs in the same area can sometimes be more achievable. This way, you will be on the first rung of the ladder that you want to climb.

Starting out in a part-time role gives you a much better chance to progress to full-time work and higher positions, either within that organisation or elsewhere. It also means that you can add a relevant job to that all-important work experience section of your CV (take a look at our tips for tailoring your CV).

Head to company events and open days

Many organisations are on the lookout for new talent and hold open days for prospective job hunters or interns. Attending company open days shows enthusiasm and initiative, as well as an interest in the industry. However, aim to also show up to more general company events such as talks, networking evenings or launches. 

At employer events and open days you can learn about the organisation, meet people in a variety of roles and get insider advice on how to break into the industry. You will also become a recognisable face (rather than just another CV). Meeting people in person makes all the difference.

It’s key to be strategic when attending company events, so don’t be afraid to ask about jobs and internships. Even if no formal roles are available, you could still ask about opportunities for shadowing, short-term placements or volunteering. 

Draw upon your network of contacts 

Sometimes, we need a little help with breaking into our dream field. Drawing upon your network of family, friends and acquaintances doesn’t make you a “nepo baby” — it just makes you strategic. A 2023 UK job market survey found that fifty-five percent of employers were more likely to hire someone who had been recommended to them. 

Start by making a list of people you know who work in your desired field, then reach out to them. Make it clear that you’re not just interested in full-time paid roles and are also open to work experience, volunteering or ad-hoc opportunities. 

So whether you have a cousin in the music industry or a friend in IT, make the most of those contacts. From giving you tips about internships in their company to putting a word in for you about a work placement, your network can be the key that opens doors.

Start your own business

Sometimes, the best way to break into your dream career is to take the leap and start doing it for yourself. Whether it’s catering, coding or copywriting, you don’t need permission to start your own business — you just need a plan for how to make it work. 

Setting out as a freelancer in your chosen field means that you’re no longer stuck in the job application cycle. Instead, you’re working every day doing what you love and gaining valuable experience in the process. 

Go on a gap year

You don’t necessarily have to restrict your work experience to London. When it comes to developing your career skills, why not look further afield? Opportunities to work abroad come in all shapes and sizes, from agricultural projects in developing countries to internships in multinational corporations. 

Gap years can also be great CV boosters, as they show confidence and initiative. Time spent working abroad is also an opportunity to learn a new language and gain awareness of other cultures — and this can make you a strong job candidate in certain fields.

So if you can’t find your dream work experience opportunity in London then maybe it’s waiting for you on sunnier shores?

Take a career development course

Completing a relevant training course can be the golden ticket to securing work experience opportunities in London. Colleges like City Lit offer you the chance to develop new skills and knowledge, as well as professional accreditations.

Acquiring skills related to your dream field can help you to stand out from other candidates. Plus by doing a college course, you will be meeting people with similar goals and hopefully building a future career network in the process.