Apprenticeship or university? I’m guessing this is the question you are asking yourself which has led you to this page. This is the exact question I was asking myself a year ago and now having made my decision and gained lots of knowledge I hope I can help!
Making the decision at a young age of knowing what to do with your whole career can be daunting. It’s okay not to know, in fact only 27% of graduates are in a job related to their university degree.
Losing your social life
Although university can be amazing to gain knowledge and qualifications, I feel as though one of the main attractions is the social life it brings. From freshers to clubbing throughout the week, there really is always going to be something to do. I know for me this was a big deciding factor.
On the other hand, Uni life seems fun but if you are joining a company where they are hiring other apprentices within the company, you are all in the same boat! You have the opportunity to make friends from all different areas and there will always be events going on in the company where you can join in. To get the best of both worlds, I would recommend applying for roles in cities to ensure you get the best of both worlds. Social life with no student debt sounds like dream.
Real work experience
I’m sure you’ve seen the extensive amount of job advertisements that require many years of “work experience”. How are you possibly meant to gain work experience if this a requirement for nearly every job? This is where an apprenticeship is a great way to get your foot in the door and gain experience whilst being paid. During my apprenticeship I have learnt so many skills from learning the role to understanding how to respond to different people in the workplace. You are consistently in an environment of colleagues with different specialists’ areas, so it is great to build connections.
On the other hand, you get to gain experience through internships in university which is another great way to build connections. Although this not something I can personally speak about, I asked people who previously had done internships on their opinions. The overall response I received was that although it’s a good taste of what working life can bring, most you are working long hours for no pay. Also, as the team understand you are there for a short period of time, they are not as sufficient in providing proper training and a sense of friendship can be lost.
Still gain Qualification
I now personally believe experience is more valued over certain qualifications but having them behind you is always a bonus.
To put it very black and white, I see it as you must study for 3 to 4 years for a qualification, or you can still receive a qualification whilst being paid and gaining experience. Obviously, nothing in life is this simple, a university degree is so high valued, and you can gain knowledge on a deeper level but if your role doesn’t require this an apprenticeship may be a better option. You can further your knowledge but increasing your learning to level 6 and therefor gaining a high-level qualification. The Work apprenticeship life can be busy, but you are legally scheduled out time to complete it where in university this is down to you.
Making the decision of the next few years can be tough but remember you can always change your mind if you think it is the wrong one. Some jobs such a doctor will require you to go to university so please go if this is what your future role requires! I hope this has made your future decision a little bit easier…
