Introduction

Work experience is considered as an important factor for helping individuals to gather job opportunities of their choice. This essay has discussed both the advantages and disadvantages of the usage of jobexperienced as the most reliable source of learning. It has put forward the understanding of ways through which job experiences can be used as a source for learning. It has also elucidated the significance of experimentation and critical reflection in terms of learning through the medium of job experience.

Usage of job experience as a source of learning

Generally job experience refers to the workplace experience that is gained prior to starting career or graduation. Job experience as stated byCheramieet al. (2014), is responsible for complementing academic studies providing crucial knowledge, attributes and skills as well as personal attributes that the employers are looking for. In UK without work experience even the most brilliant student finds difficulty in finding a job. Work experience are of different types and one of them is sandwich course with industrial placement where university is responsible for organizing placements and the students still retain their contacts with tutor and is responsible for their engagement is work that is quite credible. Shorter work placement is also considered as the part of course study focusing on particular project like design of website for the company. Internships, work shadowing, part time and voluntary work are also considered as part of job experience. Job experience implies large number of opportunities (Jackson,, 2015). Job experience is responsible for providing different perspective and context in academic learning which is a reliable opportunity to transform theoretical learning in practice. Job experience contributes largely towards enhancing employability with the offering of opportunity to increase connectivity, assisting in the work through a wide range of employability skills comprising of adapting workplace atmosphere in terms of teamwork and management. Job experience not only assists in building skills but also works towards understanding different aspects of work to understand it better and the development of personality.

Main benefits of the usage of job experience as a source of learning

Some crucial benefits of job experience are associated with a team working, communication, interpersonal skills, organizing, planning and time management, decision making and problem-solving. In most of the workplaces team work is an essential component and therefore work experience integrates skills of collaboratively working with others by valuing each others’ weaknesses and strengths. Both written and verbal communication becomes clear through putting quick points in the thrust and cut of meetings (Kolb, 2014). Work experience stimulates the ability of setting priorities and working on different projects simultaneously.

Both IT literacy and numeracy are important skills which can be accumulated through job experience along with written and verbal communication. Stern confidence is also integrated along with making decisions from different conflicting priorities (Korschun et al. 2014). This experience is highly significant in understanding workplace culture along with understanding particular demands of workplace. Increasing commercial awareness is another aspect of work experience through proper understanding of management practices and the way through which organisation works. Particular work placement is one of the significant opportunities for gaining more insight into chosen field. Thus the individual is exposed to industry practices and modern techniques (Slaughter et al. 2014). Work experience stimulates the growth of a person through the enhancement of self-confidence and self-discipline. Experience is bound to be acquired through the performance of responsibilities and rigors.

Limitations of the usage of job experience as a source of learning

Salary negotiations often become quite tough as people often choose job for gaining experience rather than salary consideration. It often is quite good for job experience but in terms of switching the job this becomes quite adverse. Sometimes as stated byLiet al. (2013), skill and liking for the job differs with each other. In this relation work experience of other skill that is not the choice can be understood as more than actual possessed skill. So it is required to stick to earlier work experience rather than the set of skill provided by the education. Usage of work experience in terms of learning is also responsible for optimizing options. Based on the skills of work experienced opportunity for chosen job role gets reduced. Once an individual becomes experienced in skills in earlier workplace3it is expected that the particular individual;; is going to work well in that sphere only. Therefore during selection of the job numbers of option are going to get limited and the individual’s skill is definitely going to be affected by this. Opportunities for higher study also get reduced as experienced individuals are recruited for empty position business management (Manuti et al. 2015). There is even incredible pressure for meeting job goals. One of the significant disadvantages is that people often expect higher efficiency from experienced people though not all individuals are capable of running up to expectations.

The role of experimentation and critical reflection in learning through job experience

The significance of reflection is immense in terms of job experience. An individual is often required to adapt to certain learning circumstances where the objectives of learning are not quite explicit. Reflective learning is considered as the analyzing and learning process from what one is doing or has done. It exhibits the ability for learning from diverse range of events or situations not only where the individual is taught (McCauley and McCall, 2014). Critical reflection also assists in articulating what is learning and how it can be applied, learning application for self development, applying earlier acquired learning. Experimentation in job experience enables individuals not only to rely on already existing skills rather to polish them constantly in order to get better opportunities. Experiment allows the room for further improvement of skills and knowledge in order to per form the task. In this case, the individual is always involved in upgrading skills and potential through avid learning. This means that the learner is always interested in accumulating knowledge to perform a project enhancing sphere of knowledge.

Conclusion

This assignment has assisted in understanding the usage of job experience as a reliable source for learning. Main benefits of utilizing job experiences in the context of learning are understood along with discussing limitations side by side. It is also realised the importance of experimentation and critical reflection with relation to learning.

Reference List

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3. Kolb, D. A. 2014. Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development. FT press.
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