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

Nouns

• work experiences
  plural

Example Sentences

Hiring managers say many applicants for entry-level jobs today lack a critical element on their resumes: work experience of any sort.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 18, 2026

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

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

From BBC • May 21, 2026

Scott Pulsipher, president of Western Governors University, said employers surveyed by his campus are still hiring, but they are looking for students to have work experience and AI fluency.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

I signed up to do work experience as a teacher.

From "Ugly" by Robert Hoge