About work experience

In today’s competitive job market, employers are more likely to recruit graduates with relevant work experience. No matter what type of work you try, you will gain skills and experience that employers want.

Reasons to get work experience

  • enhances the skills and knowledge you gain from your degree

  • allows you to gain knowledge of working in a particular sector or role

  • helps you build confidence and make more informed career decisions

  • boosts your CV and future job applications

Types of work experience

Part-time work

Work part-time to help fund your studies and enhance your employability. You can work in term time or during vacations. During term time, we recommend you work a maximum of 16 hours a week.

Sandwich placements

Gaining placement experience can significantly increase your prospects of securing a graduate-level job. It enhances the skills and knowledge gained throughout your degree, allows you to gain experience working in a particular sector or role, and helps you to make more informed career decisions. 

Find out more about Sandwich Placements 

Summer internships

Complete a fixed period of work experience with an organisation during the summer for one to three months. 

Apply for Summer internships

Voluntary work and volunteering

Get experience with a charity or not-for-profit organisation while benefiting the environment, individuals or groups. Options range from one-off opportunities to longer-term commitments.  

Search for volunteering opportunities with The Union

Rise at Manchester Met

Rise gives you the opportunity to tailor your studies and get involved in experiences throughout the year that will help you to learn new skills, earn credits towards your degree and shape your future career. 

Explore opportunities with Rise

Rise Internships

Get recognition for the skills and experience you gain from undertaking work experience through Rise Internships. By completing no less than 100 hours, you will earn 300 Rise points, which you can show to future employers. Any work experience can be a RISE Internship, such as part-time jobs, summer internships and more. 

Have you completed over 100 hours of work experience? Claim your Rise points and get recognition

Postgraduate 100-Hour Internships

Some postgraduate programmes in the Faculty of Business and Law offer optional internships known as Postgraduate 100-Hour Internships or the PG100 scheme. You can apply for any of the listed work experience opportunities to qualify for the PG100 scheme.

If you need an internship as a compulsory part of your programme of study, we may permit an unpaid internship of no more than 70 hours (the equivalent of two weeks’ full-time work), subject to approval.

Work shadowing

Gain insight into someone’s role by observing them informally. Work shadowing is useful if you want experience in a particular sector or location. These opportunities are usually short-term, unpaid and arranged through speculative applications (many opportunities are not advertised). 

To make a speculative application, research target companies and find out who is responsible for recruitment from their website or LinkedIn. Send a tailored CV and cover letter and ask if they will consider you. You can also find opportunities by: 

  • attending employer events

  • contacting relevant Manchester Met alumni on LinkedIn

  • following organisations on social media 

Working abroad

By gaining global experience, you can enhance your prospects and develop your skills while experiencing new cultures and perspectives. National and international companies increasingly look for graduates who:

  • have a global outlook

  • are sensitive to different cultures

  • can work well within multicultural teams

  • demonstrate resilience, flexibility and adaptability

Find out more about Working abroad

WHAT YOU WILL EARN

We encourage all employers to pay the national minimum wage or higher for work experience, placements and internships. This does not apply to compulsory activity that is assessed as part of your course.

If there is an unpaid opportunity that will benefit your long-term career goal, it should not exceed two weeks. We encourage employers to offer travel expenses or other benefits if they cannot pay you.

WHEN TO APPLY

Allow plenty of time to apply. If you are looking for work over the summer, contact employers between January and Easter. Some schemes have closing dates in the autumn, so start your research as soon as possible.

The quality of your application will determine if you get invited for interview. Our resources will help you apply for jobs and prepare for interviews.

Ready to apply for work experience?

Get help writing CVs, cover letters and preparing for interviews