Programmes - Anything you go to or do which can be put on your cv that helps demonstrate a passion for the field you will work in, or demonstrates a skill that is related to the field.
Note: If you are pursuing technology roles, you need to pair up real life experience w/ projects you have done in your free time to be most successful in applications
There are two different types of programmes that can be used in your applications:
Upskilling
A program that I talked about extensively in interviews and cover letters was when I conducted market research for charities - but hang on, that doesn’t have anything to do with technology???!!
Whilst that is right, the underlying skills I developed from that program was what was important; think skills like teamwork, leadership, communication, etc. These soft skills are very important to an interviewer and demonstrating where you have used these skills is of the upmost important.
Related programmes
These are programmes that are directly related to the area of field you apply to, and will effectively demonstrate passion and a keenness to learn more outside of your subject.
For example, I talked about my time at a technology company, Global Relay, and my experience there (shadowing, completing projects, etc). This allowed interviewers and recruiters to see I am passionate about my chosen field and have developed an eagerness to learn more and extend my knowledge on that field, outside of A-Level.
Programmes are incredibly useful, as you can always use them in interviews, helping you avoid blanking out, and demonstrate a wide variety of skills and passion.
But how do you find them?
Finding programmes