Experience should count

In the ever challenging job market, work experience should mean something

I seem to have found myself on Dragon's Den James Caan's mailing list for press releases somehow - so I always know what he is up to. Which is nice.

However he made a good point this morning about how students should be able to gain extra marks towards their degress from experience gained in the workplace. Some universities are considering implementing this in future degrees.

Amazingly Mr Caan even has a book out on a similar subject. Available in all good bookshops I'm sure.

But jokes aside, this is something I fully agree with because I feel it shows a willlingness to learn, give your time for no financial gain and demonstrate that you are a reliable person.

Work experience was essential for me getting a foothold on my career ladder - without it I would have been struggling a lot longer to get on the bottom rung. I started doing relevant work experience when I was 15 and did learn a lot over the years.

In today's job market there is so much competition, not only from more experienced people, but from the sheer number of graduates out there.

Standing out is the only way to get noticed.

Although I'm not sure exactly what relevant work experience someone doing a degree in Lady GaGa or a module on David Beckham would get.