It's only a word, but it's guaranteed to strike fear into the heart of any graduate looking for a job. It is "experience" and you can see it on almost every job spec that sounds remotely worth applying for. Which is a problem because most graduates don't have any, or at least they don't have the right type or amount. Of course, I realise that for many technical jobs in the industry, academic achievement is not enough. A certain level of practical knowledge, particularly in the area of health and safety, is a prerequisite. But it does seem to me that many graduates come up against unnecessary obstacles - this is something I do have experience of - and spend months or years in low-paid, low-status roles before they are trusted to take on more responsibility. Those wasted years mean the industry is missing out on a potentially huge pool of talent.
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