It takes six months to settle into the world of work after landing your first job, according to research. <br /><br />A poll, of 2,000 workers, found starting their first role left many feeling ‘overwhelmed and ‘out of their depth’, meaning it took months for them to feel comfortable in the workplace.<br /><br />But 44 per cent of those who had some form of industry experience before landing their first full time role, said it helped them build confidence.<br /><br />Nearly three in 10 (28 per cent) developed a vital skill set from the hands-on experience, and the same amount felt it helped them understand the importance of teamwork.<br /><br />While 24 per cent felt more on top of their time management, and 13 per cent were provided with key networking opportunities.<br /><br />The research was commissioned to raise awareness of T-levels, a two-year, career-focused qualification for 16 to 19-year-olds, which is equivalent to three A-levels and includes a 45-day industry placement.<br /><br />TV presenters Adam Henson and Oti Mabuse have joined ‘the T-Team’ [https://tlevelinfo.org.uk/t-team] to highlight the benefits of the qualification.<br /><br />Oti, who is supporting the engineering and manufacturing T-levels, said: “I started out my career in engineering, having studied it at university.<br /><br />“Although I decided to become a dancer, the transferable skills and experience I gained while working were invaluable and really built up my confidence when I decided on a career change.<br /><br />“I credit my ability to problem solve, something I’ve used throughout my career, to my training in engineering.<br /><br />“Having spoken to engineering T-level students, I’m blown away by how the curriculum has evolved and how much more accessible on-the-job experience is through industry placements.”<br /><br />The study went on to find three quarters of those polled believe they gained valuable skills from learning on-the-job - something academic learning didn’t provide them.<br /><br />These included adaptability (27 per cent), communication (26 per cent) and problem solving (19 per cent).<br /><br />In fact, 44 per cent believe their academic learning didn’t prepare them at all for real-world work situations.<br /><br />As a result, 37 per cent believe they would have settled into their first job quicker if they’d had prior industry experience.<br /><br />And 85 per cent of people who have done on-the-job experience would be likely to recommend it to someone about to enter the working world.<br /><br />In hindsight, 28 per cent of all respondents would have pursued additional internships or work placements before securing their first full-time role.<br /><br />While 37 per cent still consider ongoing professional development and continuous learning very important in their current career.<br /><br />TV presenter, Adam Henson who champions the agriculture, anvironmental and animal care T-levels, added: “Hands-on experience doesn’t need to be in someone’s chosen industry to be helpful in their future career.<br /><br />“It equips young minds with practical skills, resilience, and a deep understanding of the entire professional landscape.<br /><br />“Today's employers seek more than degrees, they seek competence and adaptability and industry placements offer T-level students the opportunity to thrive and develop these skills in a workplace setting.<br /><br />“I was lucky enough to get stuck into my career path at an early age, having grown up on a farm, but for young people who don’t have these opportunities, T-levels open up those options for them.”<br /><br />To find out more about the T-team experts, see employer and parent testimonials, and access free resources click here: [https://tlevelinfo.org.uk/]
