Why more companies should say yes to work experience

It’s that time of year again when the work experience applications start coming in.

Some are scattergun, others have managed to misspell my name, but there are plenty who have taken the time to track us down, work out what we do, and write something thoughtful.

You can spot them straight away.

From a business point of view, saying yes to work experience is not a big lift.

You are not hiring them or running a complicated process.

You are just letting someone sit alongside you for a few days and see how work actually works.

But there are benefits.

It forces you to explain what you do properly, it makes you stop and look at how you work, it brings in someone who is not used to your way of doing things.

That is useful.

And it’s also good for the team.

If you have younger people in the business, it gives them a chance to help someone even earlier on.

You can see them step up a bit, take responsibility, explain things and encourage someone.

And if you are a business that believes in giving people a chance, it is a simple way to do it.

It also reminds you of something easy to forget.

What looks obvious to you is not obvious from the outside and seeing that through someone else’s eyes is no bad thing.

And occasionally, someone stands out, not because they are polished, but because they are interested, switched on, and paying attention.

That’s an experience everyone remembers.

I get it – it feels easier to say no, we are all so very busy.

But saying yes is how people get that first step.

So, if you are a young person, pushing for that first look at your dream job, make the effort, it will pay off.

If you run a business, make the time when you can, it’s definitely worth it.

And if you are looking for a glimpse of life in the PR fast lane, working with international businesses that keep the world going round, take a look at our Careers page.