Gain Experience for a Better Job Future

Content

This activity encourages you to explore and pursue practical experiences like internships, volunteering, and project-based learning to develop the skills and confidence needed for quality employment. You’ll learn how to identify opportunities, make the most of these experiences, and use them to stand out in the job market. Participating lets you gain hands-on experience and discover how to showcase your new skills to potential employers.
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First, get inspired!Sorrel Gilbert made a quick video for National Volunteer Week on how volunteering has helped her career, what makes a good volunteer, and what you can get out of it.
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Claudia Vale da Silva, in a video testimony, describes her experience in Copenhagen, Denmark, through higher education traineeship placements in an Erasmus+ programme. Claudia is Portuguese and a former Erasmus+ trainee who is the digital content manager. Within the Erasmus+ programme, she did a 5-month internship in the social media department for Velux in Denmark.
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Now, take action!Participating in the following activities will give you practical insights into how internships and volunteering can enhance your employability and help you stand out in the job market.
Explore opportunities by researching local and international internships, volunteering programmes, or project-based initiatives. Use platforms like the EU Youth Guarantee, Erasmus+, or local non-profits to identify experiences that match your interests.
Reflect on your goals and create a personal plan for gaining practical experience. Identify which skills you want to develop and find opportunities that align with your career aspirations.
Share your story by documenting and presenting your experiences, highlighting the skills and insights you gained. Practice crafting this story to appeal to employers in an interview or resume.
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Get your badge.Complete some of the activities above and apply for a badge (=click the "Get this badge" button below). Share your experiences and reflections by submitting evidence that includes a list of opportunities you researched, a personal development plan, or a brief story about how your practical experience contributed to your growth.
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Who is behind this activity?Cities of Learning Network partners invite you to learn and take action on European Youth Goal #7: Quality Employment for All. This badge recognises your efforts and contributions.
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Contact us for more details about the Erasmus+ co-funded project “European Youth Goals for Cities of Learning.”
System&G, Greece – the project lead partner
CODEC, Belgium
Badgecraft, Lithuania
System&G, Finland
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Disclaimer: We are grateful for the ideas generated by youth leaders and youth workers during the international study visits. To create this activity, humans collaborated with AI using the Youth Goals Hub GPT custom-built version, informed and inspired by the best youth work practices.
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Get activity badge

Work-ready Experiences Get this badge

This badge recognises your initiative in seeking practical experiences like internships, volunteering, or project-based learning to enhance your employability. By completing the “Gaining Experience for a Better Job Future” activity, you have demonstrated your ability to take proactive steps toward personal and professional development.
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Skills and experiences gained:
Exploration and research: Developed the ability to identify and evaluate opportunities that align with your career goals.
Planning for development: Learned how to set personal and professional goals and create actionable plans to achieve them.
Showcasing experience: Gained skills in presenting and translating your experiences into valuable assets for employers.
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This badge demonstrates your readiness to engage with practical experiences that enhance your employability and align with your personal and professional aspirations. Your efforts contribute to achieving the European Youth Goal #7: Quality Employment for All.

You have to finish 2 tasks to get the badge

Tasks

Task no.1

Evidence verified by: one activity organiser

Explore opportunities:
Task: Identify at least three internship, volunteering, or project-based opportunities that align with your interests and career goals.
Evidence: Submit a brief report or list of the opportunities you found, explaining why you chose them.

Task no.2

Evidence verified by: one activity organiser

Create a personal development plan:
Task: Reflect on the skills you want to develop and create a plan that outlines how practical experiences can help you achieve your goals.
Evidence: Submit your development plan, highlighting your goals and how you will pursue them.

Task no.3

Evidence verified by: one activity organiser

Share your story:
Task: Document and share how a practical experience (internship, volunteering, or project) has contributed to your growth and career readiness.
Evidence: Submit a written story, video, or presentation that showcases your achievements and the skills you gained.

Career and job readiness

Added to playlist (1)

Organisers

Network of Cities and Regions of Learning

Used in playlists

Skills, Rights, and Opportunities: Your Way to Quality Career

Network of Cities and Regions of Learning

Created on European Youth Goals

Badgecraft hosts this platform and develops it together with leading educational organisations. The European Union's programme Erasmus+ granted co-funding for building the first version of this platform. Contact support@badgecraft.eu.