How to build work experience as a student

This scenario may sound all too familiar: You’re searching for full-time work, and as you’re reading through a job’s requirements, you tick every box. You’re ready to apply, until you read the job requires at least two years of experience. Your heart sinks, as you believe you don’t hit that mark.

But you’re probably more qualified for that role than you think. Work experience can be built progressively and proactively — not through formal internships alone. If you add up your class projects, work placements, volunteer work, and part-time work, that two-year requirement is likely met.

Every job and project teaches you something, and what matters is recognising those skills and showing employers why they make you a strong candidate. If a career in accounting or finance appeals to you, building relevant experience early can be a differentiator, even before your first full-time role. Employers value transferable skills more than job titles.

Redefining what “work experience” really means

Work experience is broader than full-time roles or placements. Work experience can take many forms — volunteering, part-time work, work shadowing, freelancing, university projects, and extracurricular activities. Even participating in sports can shape career skills.

The skills you learn in these situations transfer well across a wide range of finance roles. These are the same skills valued in roles like management accountant, financial analyst, and business partner.

Customer service in retail or hospitality translates to client communication. Handling customer interactions, questions, and complaints builds your ability to communicate clearly and maintain professionalism — core skills for client services or investor relations.

Class and work shift scheduling demonstrates time management — and juggling work with studies and a social calendar demonstrates discipline, responsibility, balance, and reliability.

Volunteering at a charity or not-for-profit organisation builds empathy as well as communication and interpersonal skills; all are useful in client-facing finance roles.

Many university projects require research, data analysis, presentations, management, and collaboration — all skills that help interpret information and communicate insights. Teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving developed in group projects become valuable skills in fast-paced finance environments.

Earning a qualification, like the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA®) qualification, helps you bridge the gap between academic learning and workplace expectations. Through the programme, you’ll advance proficiency in finance, operations, strategy, management, digital skills, and leadership, strengthening your current skill sets.

Employability is about how these skills are used and developed — not where they were gained.

Proactive effort matters when building experience

When it comes time to find relevant internships, placements, or full-time work, consistency and proactivity matter. Setting aside time to research roles and opportunities makes a difference in your search and sets you up for success.

While you may want to contact every organisation, focused, thoughtful interactions are always more effective than mass, generic outreach. Approach your research with intentionality and find organisations you’re genuinely interested in — not just ones that are good enough. This helps you develop more confident and sincere applications. Hiring managers notice when you’ve taken the time to research their company.

If you’re aiming for a graduate programme, you can start the process early, too. Understand the deadlines, prepare your applications, and apply early to graduate schemes that interest you.

Reflect on your personal career goals and what roles interest you. Make a list of your current abilities, how they’re transferable to these jobs, and which skills you’d like to improve. When you map out your skills, you’re able to see what you bring to the table and quickly spot the roles where you’d be a great fit.

At the interview, you can then clearly explain why that role, at that organisation, suits your skills and interests.

The hidden job market

Job postings are one avenue to find open roles, but strategic outreach can help you find career opportunities that are not publicly advertised. Tapping into this hidden job market is about networking, intentional outreach, and specialised searching.

This isn’t asking someone directly for a job. Instead, it’s sincere communication that is most effective when framed around learning, insight, and interest. Employers tend to respond positively to genuine curiosity about their businesses.

You can find these opportunities by building and leveraging your professional network. Consider reconnecting with former professors, managers, colleagues, or classmates. Your university’s alumni association is another great place to develop connections and seek referrals.

As you connect with more professionals, schedule informal interviews with professionals who have roles you’re curious about. During these casual chats, you can learn more about their career paths and what they did to achieve success.

Of course, a strong Linkedin profile can help you go from student to standout.

Available resources to strengthen applications and confidence

It’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed when you’re trying to build work experience and a strong professional network, but you’re not alone in this process. There are plenty of supportive resources, people, organisations, and opportunities ready to assist as you take next steps.

You likely have access to a career support hub while you’re still in university. This can connect you with upcoming career events, training opportunities, career groups, and more. Attending career events and employer-hosted sessions gives you insight into what employers are looking for and helps you build confidence.

Online resources can help you refine career ideas, strengthen applications, and prepare for interviews.

Securing full-time work experience is about demonstrating your skills and value, expressing curiosity, and knowing where you want to take your career. Using available resources is a sign of initiative and commitment to your future.

Platforms like MyFuture offer tailored career resources for those curious about business and finance roles. You can access first-person stories, insights into accounting roles, guidance on building in-demand skills, and so much more. Explore MyFuture’s free resources and learn new ways to amplify your skills and CV.

Rethinking work experience: You’re more than qualified

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Redefining what “work experience” really means

Proactive effort matters when building experience

The hidden job market

Available resources to strengthen applications and confidence

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