Gaining experience during your Master's

Ways to build your experience while you study

Gaining experience during a Master’s degree can be more challenging than normal, due to the timing of the course. Many formal opportunities for work experience, such as summer internships, cannot be accessed while you work full-time on your dissertation. There can also be additional constraints on your time, for example if you are an international, commuter or distance-learning student.

Nonetheless, the application of your knowledge through workplace experience can be a huge boost to your CV, so here are some alternative means of fitting in CV building alongside your studies.

Virtual Work Experience, and Micro-internships

    Many employers have pivoted to hybrid means of working, allowing staff to work online where possible. This can extend to internships and work experience. Virtual opportunities may not offer the hands-on qualities of an in-person internship, but can still be valuable ways to understand how a company works. They also still offer you the chance to demonstrate the skill and insight you have gained from joining the company for a virtual project.

    International students should still carefully consider the time commitment required for a virtual project, to make sure it complies with any student visa requirements.

    Part-time work, and Volunteering

      Part-time work can often be hard to link to your studies or your career path, but can still be a valuable addition to your CV. It may also be easier to fit in around your Master's commitments than full-time work. The same can be true of volunteering work, which can be seen as a strong indicator of your work ethic and dedication to a cause.

      Insight opportunities and Spring Weeks

        While some Insight and Spring opportunities may be targeted at undergraduates, there will be others which recruit more widely. These usually take the form of short visits to company sites, or even online Open Days, and are often scheduled outside the summer months. They are designed to offer a quick glimpse of how a company operates, and so can be a versatile means for Master's students to add insight to their CV.

        Mentors and networks

          It's possible that your schedule simply will not allow time for formal work experience of the sorts listed above. In these situations, it's wise to instead keep building your awareness of the career fields you plan to target. Seeking a mentor in the first half of your Master's degree can offer you an independent perspective, as well as guidance on how to approach their sector. Meanwhile, LinkedIn, when used correctly, can offer fascinating data on the career paths of Master's graduates from courses like yours, as well as a chance to add them to your network.