work experience

American  

[wurk-ik-speer-ee-uhns] / ˈwɜrk ɪkˌspɪər i əns /

noun

work experiences plural

1. time spent at one or more paid jobs, especially as detailed on a resume or contributing to one's readiness for further employment.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• work-experience
  adjective

Inflected Forms

noun

• work experiences
  plural

Example Sentences

Many teens now prioritize coursework, test prep and other pursuits to impress college-admissions officers, but a lack of work experience is worsening their employment prospects after graduating.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026

Following Milburn's report, the government said it was creating 300,000 work experience and training placements in sectors including construction, health and social care and hospitality.

From BBC • May 29, 2026

He called for work experience to be mandatory for over 16s.

From BBC • May 21, 2026

Now, they can just earn a bachelor’s degree, typically 120 credit hours, on top of other requirements, such as an additional year of work experience.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

In grade ten we had to do a week of work experience, to see what life was like in the adult world.

From "Ugly" by Robert Hoge