Many job seekers find experience to be a double-edged sword. It is difficult to get a job in a new industry without relevant experience, and experience can't be obtained without a job. An option that some people find worthwhile is to obtain a work experience job where the major benefit is the experience gained. This holds a number of advantages.

By focusing on the experience gained at a position instead of the pay, benefits, or other factors, an employee may be able to find a position that will offer more valuable work experience than its better-paying counterparts. Positions vary depending on the industry, but often an internship or entry level position will be available that allows novices to gain valuable industry experience. The trade-off is that the position may not pay well (or at all), may not have upward mobility, or may be for a limited duration. But this is far outweighed by the long-term benefit of gaining experience in your chosen field.

An additional benefit to a work experience job is the low amount of risk involved in committing to such a position. Before making a complete career change, or perhaps before beginning to obtain an education in a given major, it may be wise to perform work in the chosen field to see if it is appealing. Many industries seem fun or worthwhile from the outside, but working within the industry may be a wholly different experience. By trying it out with this kind of job before making a long-term commitment, a lot of discomfort down the road can be avoided.

Because a work experience job cannot always support one's lifestyle, some will choose to perform this kind of work while they are gainfully employed elsewhere. By relying on a standard job to pay the bills, and holding a work experience job in the evenings or on a prolonged lunch break, individuals can support themselves while gaining necessary experience. Bear in mind, however, that it's easy to overdo it. Placing a high demand on one's time, but becoming over-worked means that job performance will suffer, and the benefit gained from a work experience job will be minimized.

For certain fields, a work experience job may be mandatory. Certain industries expect that entrants complete their education, and then join the work force in what seems to be a sub-standard position. Bear this in mind when considering a transition between industries or when defining your educational goals. Depending on one's passion for the field, this can be seen as a passable obstacle, or a sign that a different industry should be pursued.

These are some of the benefits of a work experience job. Each individual must weigh the benefits of the work experience against the drawbacks to come to their own decision. It's important to time such a job properly - choosing to work solely for the experience when there are many other financial responsibilities to be met is a recipe for disaster. However, when the decision is made with forethought and understanding, a work experience job can be just the right choice.