Types of work experience
Casual work experience is one of the best ways to find out about the job and to get over any romantic ideas you might have about what the job is really like.
Holiday jobs:
Summer or holiday jobs might just be the thing to start populating your CV. Holiday jobs might be available in your area at a photographer's studio, on a short-film production or around a production company's office. Keep your eyes open for any opportunity that comes along.
You'll need to be inventive about contacting people who could give you the experience you need. Clearly the more skills you already have (eg word processing, computing, administration), the more likely you are to find something.
It's unlikely you would get much more than the minimum wage for a holiday job.
Job Shadowing:
One of the best ways to start gaining experience is to shadow a professional as they go about their regular job. This can be done on Saturdays or during the holidays and will give you a first hand insight into what a particular professional does. See if there are any photographers, editors, make-up and hair designers, animators or any other practitioners in your chosen sector that you could get in touch with.
Many professionals are happy to have someone along for company for a change as they go about their duties. You can also phone or write to local companies or professionals directly to see if they're willing to help, although, the best way to find this kind of experience is often through a friend of the family, or a friend of a friend.
When you shadow you won't have to do much work (perhaps a bit of fetching and carrying and making the tea), but you should keep your wits about you, observe what's going on, ask questions and find out about things.
This type of work experience is not usually paid but it will give you a good idea of what future employers will be looking for.
Remember that in both cases it is you who is benefiting most from this arrangement. So be polite at all times and write to thank them afterwards. If you're lucky, the professional or employer may be willing to give you a reference, which will help you enormously in finding future work.
