A new beginning. A fresh start. A great opportunity.
Apprenticeships are high in demand and that can often make it seem tricky to secure your dream position, but with perseverance and determination securing the role you have your heart set on becomes reachable.
I am a couple weeks into my Level 3 Digital Marketing Apprenticeship and for me personally, it is the best decision I have made in regards to my career. Before starting my apprenticeship, I was going to go to university. It wasn’t until I was in the exam hall, completing my A-levels, when I began to think of alternative options that would suit me and my learning style best. But how did I manage to secure an apprenticeship and what was the process I went through?
Research:
I started by doing research. In Sixth Form, an apprenticeship was never truly highlighted to me as an option, it was merely just a back up in case university fell through and I was stuck in regards to which direction I wanted to take. I believe this to be one of the main reasons why originally I was gravitating towards university as it had been hammered into my brain that this was the most popular option and therefore the right one.
Not to mention the stereotypes that surround apprenticeships. People told me that I would be more of a barista than a marketer, that I would not be doing any ‘proper’ work but rather doing everybody’s jobs that they didn’t want to do and that I will not make it far due to choosing an apprenticeship over a degree. They could not be more wrong.
What I realised upon research was that apprenticeships hold value, they hold qualifications which are seen as an equivalent to A-Levels, higher education, degree levels and more depending on which level you are completing. This meant that eventually I would still be able to gain my degree. This fact was never brought up with me when discussing my future plans in school and I believe strongly that this should be made aware to all students.
It is important to know what to expect in regards to being an apprentice, this includes your workload as you will not only have to make time for the tasks assigned to you at work but also your studying, as well as the commitment you are entering into. Being an apprentice requires a high degree of dedication, self motivation, time management and resilience.
Searching for the perfect role:
Once I knew what to expect and what was expected of me, I began to look at roles in which I thought I would be best suited for. I have always had a passion for social media and marketing, knowing that whichever route I took (whether it was university or an apprenticeship) I would end up in a role revolving around them.
An important thing to remember when searching for a job is to research into the company, you want to make sure that your morals and ethics align with theirs as you will be associated with the company and working for them. Although it may take longer to find a job, it is essential that you take this time to find a company you truly connect with as it will increase your productivity and motivation. This will then enable you to grow as well as the business.
I began by looking on various job sites such as Indeed, Totaljobs and Milkround for any apprenticeships that appealed to me from their role descriptions, benefits, location and company. Each time I came across a possible position for myself, I would send my CV off or complete the information that was required from me.
Hiring process:
When sending off your CV it is critical that all your information is accurate and up to date. Employers are faced with many CV’s and this is your first opportunity to broadcast your talents. Make sure that all your relevant skills and experiences are listed to ensure that you are promoting yourself as the perfect candidate.
Next steps:
The next stages of the apprenticeship process vary depending on your employer and your apprenticeship training provider. You may be asked to conduct a series of tests online that analyse your skills, knowledge and personality to make sure you are a good fit for the business. Or you may be contacted to speak through these qualities that you have via a phone call to make sure you are a match before proceeding to any interviews.
My journey consisted of the second process, phone calls with my apprenticeship training provider (Baltic Apprenticeships) to informally speak through the role that I had applied for and to make sure that I had the skills needed and my career ambitions lined up.
My first phone call was shortly after I had sent my CV off, I was contacted to speak through the role that I had applied for which was a Digital Marketing Apprenticeship with Simon Acres Group. The call was not a long one, it was just an introductory call that allowed me to become familiar with Baltic and to briefly speak over the role to make sure that it was something that I was definitely interested in before proceeding to the next step.
I found this call to be incredibly useful, it introduced me to Baltic who are my training providers and people who I need to maintain a trusting relationship with to ensure my full potential is showcased. Throughout the process of my application Baltic remained in constant contact with me (and still are through my employment) showing me that they are not only trusting but friendly and always open for a conversation if it is needed.
The next call was a more in depth call that went through my skill set, academic and personal achievements and other pieces of information about me such as my hobbies and interests. This call was the one that analysed me and assessed whether I would be a good fit for the job. Once again it took more of an informal approach, meaning I took my time to answer the questions and could go back and add details about me that I had forgotten with no pressure added. When you are in the process of going through these calls it is always important to be you and not somebody who you think they want you to be.
If you do not progress onto the next stage, do not let it get you down! You have gained valuable interview experience which will help you when applying to other positions. If feedback is not already given to you, asking for a quick summary of how you did and any improvements you could make is always beneficial.
From the calls, I then went on to my first face to face interview with the Simon Acres Group. Leading up to this I had sent some of my work over to showcase my skills and allow the team to see what I had to offer. I did this to create an introduction. An introduction to my work. An introduction into what I can offer. An introduction to me.
The interview went well. I was asked about several things such as my aspirations, why I wanted an apprenticeship and my skills, as well as talking through the work I had sent which left a great impression. Conversation about everyday topics was made, this meant that I was able to become more comfortable throughout the interview. During this interview I met the team and had my first interactions with everybody that I now work with, meeting the team gave me an insight into what it would be like in the office and the personalities I would be surrounded with. I can confidently say that I loved them all from the very beginning!
When I was asked about what my goals were in regards to my career in marketing I explained what the ultimate goal would be. I would love to keep progressing through apprenticeships until I reach Level 5 or 6. I was fully supported when speaking about this topic and to me this highlighted that I had found an amazing company who wanted their team to keep on gaining knowledge and skills which will help them to progress. Knowledge is powerful, but knowing what to do with that knowledge is even more effective.
It is good to go to an interview with questions that you want to ask, this shows your interest in the job. A good question to ask an employer is: What do you look for in your employees? This allows you to understand directly what your employer wants you to be and allows you to go above and beyond the expectations.
Once again the stages can vary in the hiring process. I was contacted by my apprenticeship training provider, Baltic, to inform me of my successful first interview and to arrange my second one. Once this was booked in I began preparing for the final step.
While the first interview revolved around me, the second one was focused on the job. I was told what tasks I would be expected to complete, what softwares would be used throughout and any other information that proved important or useful. This interview allowed me to gain an understanding of what a day in the job could look like.
Accepting the apprenticeship:
I came out of the interview with a good feeling, I got on with everybody and I was able to ask all the questions I had even though most of them had already been answered along the way. This is a great way to leave an interview. Once again I was contacted by Baltic, but this time it was to tell me that I had been offered the job!
Then the final steps began. I finished my A-Levels, signed my contract, remained in contact with Baltic, declined my university offers and awaited my first day of the job. My new journey.
