Work Experience

An invaluable tool

Multiple factors can help reduce rate of unemployment—education, connections, skill, and work experience. Problem of education is solved by mushrooming private education industry, and of connection by our corrupt societal structure. Skill is not much valued and seldom rewarded in our culture, thus, never mentioned in association with job. The only factor that can help boost or even substitute all, besides education, is work experience. The gulf between the number of graduates and jobs available is widening. This gap can be effectively filled with the cement of work experience. Work experience is an invaluable tool to explore one’s world—both outside and inside.

Role in job dynamics

Work experience has assumed a vital role in job dynamics. A small amount significantly increases the chance of securing a job. It has become so important that universities in the developed countries have integrated work in the curriculum. Their semesters alternate between study and work: study-work-study. Job experience, not education, occupies major part of any job interview. Why not then divert some of our energies to work experience if it has become so important a part of future job?

In our part of the world, the only undertaking that is hated more than marrying a divorced woman is to do a job in the education phase of life. Our youth seeks, rather than a place to work, refuge in pretexts: that work at this stage can affect their education; that such job does not correlate with their future plans; that it pays poorly, if pay at all; that why start early when they have their whole life to do work. Ignored are its benefits.

Donec Massa Integer

Study and Work

World of work is different from that of education. Studying hard is one thing; working hard is another. Counting house is different from classroom; ledger rarely follows textbook. Work during college gives an opportunity to look into job of your interest, its everyday problems not covered in short notes. This may increase your interest in the job or may bore you to death. In first case it gives inspiration, in the second repulsion. In any industry, eleven years are considered enough to fully absorb its culture; to master it takes all life. And if a job does not interest you, the sooner you leave the better it is. Such a transition may not be possible because of cultural restrains, but at least a switch within the same field is still possible.

Work early in education is also opportunity to make contacts. They have become inevitable. Contacts made by you are of aesthetic pleasure and moral value, whereas ones provided by your father or uncles are refusal of your own worth. With your personal contacts you may earn less money but more contentment. For the best livelihood is not that is in six digits but one earned with your own hands. Prophet Daud was praised for the very reason.

Work experience also brings you closer to your inner reality, tells you your true worth, your capacity. You might be a shining start for the professors but situation may be, I fear, otherwise with employers. They are prone to delay the praise for your work.

It gives you time to explore your skills. Your strength and weakness. This knowledge of yourself can guide you to focus on the work best suited to your skills. For Montiage, a French Essayist, says, “Soul that has no fixed goal loses itself.” Most important of all work experience helps you develop an attitude most valued in the work place namely: learn to take responsibility for your actions and align your expectations with reality.

Let not an unpaid position stop you from work. Seize the opportunity even if you have to borrow money for your commute and clothing. It may not even be intellectually challenging but will keep your mind occupied. For brain is an asset and if not used becomes a liability. Don’t be afraid of doing work at an early age, because I bet you will regret these hours spoiled on Facebook, or TV or sleep.

No substitute for experience

There is no substitute for experience. Rules written in the books are important; but lessons learned from practice are invaluable. Rules are usually limited in number but there is no limit to lessons—a delicious food for curious minds.

Degree remains a good investment in the long run, but if it is partnered with work experience brings satisfaction, contentment and happiness along with capital. It can enrich and prolong the pleasure of studies. A few months of experience on the CV shines more than stars achieved in school. Adding fuel of work experience not only increases speed but control of your career. For those who disagree are welcome to give their advice. And for those who don’t want to work at all and still want riches of the world, I would advice them to read Gazali (May God bless him) and rely on his invocations, or go to a railway station, find an “Amil Baba” and rely on his incantations.