Work experience
Everyone knows that experience can help you land a graduate job, but what precisely counts as IT work experience – and what happens if you can’t get a formal placement? Work experience isn’t just about impressing graduate IT recruiters further down the line: it’s also about learning new skills and investigating whether a particular type of company would suit you. As former IBM intern Marion Ballard puts it: ‘I learned a lot more about coding on my placement than at university.’
IT employers want graduates with work experience
In a competitive graduate jobs-market it's essential to have experience of working life to boost your academic credentials. IT placements and internships are the ideal, but even a supermarket job can help if you sell the experience you gain effectively.
More...
My technology internship with Deutsche Bank
Computer science graduate Vishal Shah completed a nine-week technology internship at Deutsche Bank before his final year at university. He now works as an analyst at the bank.
More...
My technology internship with Citi
Shane Bandara’s technology internship put him on a steep learning curve as he adapted his university knowledge to the technologies used in an investment bank.
More...
My work experience placement with IBM UK
Marion Ballard reveals how her work experience placement helped to build up her coding skills and get tips for applying for a permanent graduate job in IT.
More...
My IT placement year with Microsoft
Andrew Webber's placement year gave him the opportunity to apply academic theory to real IT challenges and included a project trip to Japan. Making the coffee didn't feature.
More...
Related graduate careers advice
