Making your own experience.

​That feeling of creating that perfectly branded CV and cover letter. You have the keywords, the skills, the ambition to put in the hours and give it your all. That job description is like music to your ears YOU CAN DO THIS. You fill in all the relevant info, you’ve got high hopes. Then the dreaded words ‘at least 2 years experience required’.

Does this sound familiar to you? Unless you are some kind of time traveller and have managed to gain the ‘required experience’ that most brands and companies MUST HAVE, there is no way you have that experience whether you are a newbie to student life or coming to the end. We study, put in the blood, sweat, and tears to get the grades but there is no evidence that we can do what we say we can. 

Covid- that’s a topic and a half, and I’m not going to talk about it as I am sure we’ve all had enough of hearing about that for a lifetime. However, what I am going to say is that Covid has shown me that people are amazing and pretty resilient. Being stuck in our homes has forced us to take action and try new things, whether this is starting a dipped strawberry business or starting up an Instagram account to showcase your abilities to create exciting content that people want to see. 

That is how you get experience.

There is no one path to follow, it is about being able to pave your own and not be afraid to fall in a few holes on the way. Trust me Harvard referencing is scarier than falling down a few times. It is the first few steps that are always the hardest just like the opening line of an essay or a report but once you get into that main body you are on a roll.

So let’s talk about what you can do to be able to tick that experience box. 

Your phone is your best friend. It’s loyal. Has been there for you has your sad playlist ready for you when you just want to cry when your laptop just has to update when you are halfway through that essay. And now it is here to help you even more. 

Social media is the equivalent of the Infinity Stone once it gets your attention that’s you gone. We have all been there. We go to search for something, click on a link that leads to another and before you know it you have followed 10 new accounts, liked and saved 30 posts, and subscribed to 5 newsletters. Now it’s time for you to get the attention. 

Starting your own social media account either building on your personal or starting up a new one that showcases what you can do in the field of study you want to work in is the perfect way to get noticed. There are no limits to what you can do with the use of applications such as VSCO, Canva and Photoshop that allow you to showcase your abilities. Volunteering is another great way of getting experience. Student accounts or charities are always looking for new talent and do not even require you to get dressed or leave your bed. 

Grades are words and numbers but brands are not interested in the 74% you achieved in your report about the influence of Instagram stories on Gen Z. They want to see that knowledge into practice. It is time to get that experience and finally be able to check off that experience box. 

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