Changing career is a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly however a well planned move can turn out to be incredibly rewarding. Whatever you reason for wanting a change – whether you’ve reached your limits and are struggling to progress or you after a new challenge – The Apprentice Network is a great place to find resources about new opportunities.
Taking on an apprenticeship course is a great way to find an entry level position in a corporation that may otherwise seem unapproachable. This doesn’t mean an apprenticeship is easy to get, nor should the recruiting process be underestimated, however, if you find the right company you’ll be learning from the best while earning a decent wage.
The benefits of doing an apprenticeship:
Apprenticeships are structured training programmes which give you a chance to work (literally) towards a qualification. They help you gain the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in your chosen industry, from thought leaders and trailblazers. Getting into employment earlier means there’s lots of potential for you to progress in your career quickly. You can also begin to earn a good salary much earlier on in your life.
Apprenticeships give you fantastic experience in the working world and show employers that you can ‘hit the ground running’. Hands-on training gives you a real chance to put your skills into practice and helps you to gain more confidence in a working environment. You won’t have to spend all of your days studying; most of the time you’ll be working at a company getting varied learning experiences.
Scaling your impact as an apprentice:
I applied for an apprenticeship at Google so that I could learn from the best about Digital Marketing. Once in an apprenticeship you’re able to network, making connections that could lead to your next big break. Starting at the bottom can be daunting however its the first rung on the ladder.
Networking is arguably one of the most important skills when it comes to making an impact in your role. To get started, I recommend following some key companies and profiles relevant to your industry. You’ll get an understanding of the common language that is used, notified about events that may be happening and an idea of current affairs. This will all help you join in in industry relevant conversations. By getting involved you’ll naturally develop networks and communities; you never know when you’ll need a connection. This will certainly impress recruiters as well as colleagues and shows initiative which is a highly valued attribute.
We know it’s hard but selling yourself and demonstrating your worth is key to success. The first step to selling yourself is understanding your strengths. Carve out a niche for yourself that will make you invaluable to your team for instance are you creative and do you have photoshop skills? If so make this known and offer creative assistance to your team. Ensure that you promote interpersonal and soft skills in particular as companies tend to place a huge emphasis on working in teams and developing collaborative relationships.
Still unsure?
Look through The Apprentice Networks previous blog posts to hear more about the experiences of other apprentices and employers. Comment below if you have any questions
