IELTS Essay # 62 - Many schools are arranging unpaid work for teenagers to get some work experience in institutions or companies, because it is beneficial for students as well as institutions. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Essay # 62

Many schools are arranging unpaid work for teenagers to get some work experience in institutions or companies, because it is beneficial for students as well as institutions. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Many employers nowadays like to hire experienced employees, which is why many business schools are trying to get their students some intern work. While it may be helpful for the student’s profile, this essay will discuss what do the students actually learn at these unpaid jobs, and whether this is good approach.

Because of increasing competition regarding job opportunities, to make his mark, it is better for a young candidate to get some hands-on experience before working full time. Work experience can provide an insight into a different environment, even if it is unpaid. It can help young people decide if a career is for them. While some will be excited at the prospect of sampling life beyond school, others will be nervous at stepping out of their comfort zone. Whatever the case may be, this sort of internship will help them learn the bylaws of a workplace enabling them to not be completely naïve while appearing for an interview later on.

This arrangement by colleges and b-schools benefits not only the students, but also the companies they would be applying to as graduates. In corporate jargon, cost-to-company is a term used for calculating the amount a company needs to spend on each employee for his training and development. If the potential employees are already equipped with some work experience, the CTC will be significantly reduced and the time spent to train the new employees can be productively used elsewhere. This is a great advantage for any institution.

Therefore, I completely agree with getting teenagers trained for the real workplace through unpaid internships. A good placement makes young people more realistic and able to make informed career choices providing concrete evidence of interest in a particular career to both university admissions officers and future employers.

(295 words)